Spanish Water Dog

Briefly about the breed

• Spanish Water Dog is happy, docile and quite active.
• The breed can be good family and working dogs, but needs sufficient physical and mental stimulation.
• Mental challenges should be given already from the puppy stage.
• Some individuals can be experienced as reserved, which is part of the breed’s nature.
• The breed requires some grooming, but does not shed.

Characteristics and mentality

The Spanish Water Dog is a versatile, balanced and adaptable dog with inherent qualities such as herding, hunting and guarding. The breed is complex and requires training and follow-up throughout its life. Reservedness in some individuals should not be interpreted as negative, but as a natural part of the breed.

Size and appearance

The Spanish Water Dog is robust and harmoniously built with an athletic body and well-developed muscles. It has a straight profile and good senses of sight, hearing and smell. Male dogs have a withers height of 44-50 cm, bitches have a withers height of 40-46 cm, and the weight varies between 18-22 kg for male dogs and 14-18 kg for bitches.

Fur grooming

Spanish Water Dogs do not shed, and the amount of grooming required depends on the frequency of clipping. Long fur usually requires more grooming than short-cut fur. There is great variation within the breed when it comes to coat type, but in general it is recommended to keep the coat slightly short-cut unless you are participating in an exhibition.

History

Spanish Water Dog is an old Spanish breed with an uncertain and disputed origin. It probably came to the Iberian Peninsula in the early 7th century. The breed has had different looks and tasks depending on where it was bred. It has been used as a herding dog, water fetcher, guard dog and more. The breed is known by various names such as “Perro Turco” (Turkish dog), “Lanas” (wool), “Rizados” (curly) and “Pateros” (duck dog).

The Spanish Water Dog was recognized as a breed by the Spanish Kennel Club in 1985 and later by the FCI in 1999. The breed has varied in appearance and area of use, which influenced the design of the breed standard. In Norway, the Spanish Water Dog has become popular as a family dog and is also used in various dog sports such as obedience, agility, exhibition, water work and track. For more information, it is recommended to contact the Spanish Water Dog breed club. The breed club has the expertise on the breed, has an overview of breeders and can provide knowledge about the breed’s health.

The breed club

We wish you the best of luck with any plans to become the owner of a Spanish Water Dog puppy!

Supporting Sources: Dyrebar , Wikipedia