Water Spaniel: characteristics, types and details of the content

Water Spaniel is one of the largest dogs in the world and at the same time one of the most ancient. These animals are hardy, brave and quite playful. They are distinguished by high intelligence and ability to hunt, that is why a pet often gives birth as a reliable family or sports dog.

Water Spaniel is one of the oldest dogs of the whole family of spaniels. During the archaeological excavations near Lake Lagor, the remains of such an animal were discovered - according to rough estimates, they date back to the VII-VIII centuries. These animals could be found in southern Ireland on the banks of the River Shannon. According to the surviving chronicles, several water spaniels were presented to the King of France by Sir Robert Cecil in 1598.

In 1607, the very first description of spaniels who love to splash in water was given. The distinctive features of such an animal were long hair in small curls and a smooth tail - it was for this unusual appearance that the dogs were called rat-tails.

In the XIX century, in the countries of the Old World, dog breeding began to grow rapidly, during this period most breeds were crossed. The spaniel didn’t avoid a similar fate - it was crossed with an Irish setter, a poodle and a curly retriever. Since 1859, these animals began to take part in international competitions and exhibitions, and in 1866 representatives of the breed managed to take first place and receive worldwide recognition. However, the official standard of the breed was approved only a century later - in 1990, and in 2001 some amendments were made to it.

The rat-spanning spaniel has received the maximum distribution in Ireland, England, and also in America. The animal is recognized as an excellent water game hunter, these dogs are hardy and strong swimmers.

Water spaniels have a number of distinctive features that distinguish them from other breeds. These are medium-sized dogs of the most noble type. A characteristic feature is curly wool. The hull is large, but at the same time not so much that the animals seem cumbersome.

The temperament of the water spaniel is quite balanced, they always find a common language with the kids, often behaving like older nannies and tutors. The cheerfulness of such a pet can be envied by any other pets - spaniels are ready from morning to evening to please their owners with optimism and friendliness. These dogs are truly attached to the owner and all members of his family, trying to be happy every time they are close.

Water spaniels and in our time are often used to hunt waterfowl birds, while at the same time they are given the task of driving birds out of the thickets of aquatic vegetation - the hunters take up the matter. However, on land, these pets will be a good help.

Water spaniels extremely curious, they show great interest in knowing the new and the unknown. Keep in mind, these dogs absolutely do not tolerate harsh education, hard dressing using whip techniques.It is not allowed to raise the voice and physically affect the dog. When training should give preference to a consistent repetition of the lesson, otherwise the dog will grow aggressive, nervous and potentially dangerous to humans.

The breed is different high activity, therefore, the owner must provide a pet constant presence of sports loadseveryday walks with the ability to run and frolic. Prolonged incubation in the aviary and in the solitude of a city apartment does not lead to anything good - the animal begins to languish, becomes apathetic, and may even become seriously ill.

In accordance with the standards of the breed, the length of spaniels at the withers usually does not exceed 46 cm, the mass of bitches corresponds to 18 kg, and males - about 20 kg.

The head must necessarily be proportionate to the body. The muzzle is elongated, its expression is very intelligent and clever. The skull has wide and strong outlines. The nose usually stands out, it is rather wide with large nostrils of a dark brown, almost black shade. The lips are close to the teeth, their surface is rather smooth.

Eyes slightly rounded, as a rule, widely set. The iris is yellowish-brown or dark. The eyelids are very tight to the eyeballs. The ears fall at the level of the eyes of the animal.

The length of the tail is average, it curls in an arc. The front legs are of moderate size, well developed and strong, straight and very strong. The muscles on the hips developed. Wool is curly, soft, necessarily undercoat.

The following species are the most common.

• Irish. This is a dog a little more than all the other relatives. Body weight reaches 30 kg, and growth reaches 60 cm. A characteristic feature of such animals is the rat tail. The body is covered with rather small curls entirely, with the exception of only the muzzle and the lower parts of the extremities - there the fur is smooth and rather short. When you feel the dog, you can feel a slight crunch of wool. A small forelock hangs from the dogs' heads of this variety - it protects the eyes.

• Dutch. These spaniels are brown or black, less often suits with whitish spots. The dog has an aggressive disposition, because it is suitable for breeders with a strong and tough character, able to short out the disobedient nature of the pet.

• English. The dog is black-and-piebald or chocolate-piego-colored, the body is covered with hair with curls, in the parietal region it is longer.

If you intend to purchase a water spaniel, then it is best to contact foreign nurseries. The fact is that in Russia and the CIS countries the number of nurseries can be counted on the fingers, and the announcements of the offer of such puppies float infrequently - not a single specialized pedigree nursery has been registered.

You can find a good puppy by contacting American and English clubs or FCI. In the US, the puppy price starts at $ 900, and in England you can buy them for 1000 pounds.

Feed water spaniels preferably high quality natural products. This not only contributes to a better state of health of the dog, but also allows you to maintain the normal state of her coat. If, by virtue of your employment, you do not have the opportunity to go in for groceries and preparing mash bags, then you can turn to ready-made feeds, but certainly premium or super premium.

When feeding any water spaniel, you should follow certain rules:

• it is forbidden to give pets sweets, fatty and smoked food;
• it is desirable to avoid bread and other bakery products;
• feeding should be balanced - about 70% of the diet should be meat products (veal, beef and mutton);
• Once or twice a week, you can add to them high-quality offal - liver or heart;
• from time to time you can give chicken and turkey meat, but you shouldn’t completely transfer your pet to poultry meat;
• once in 10 days fish is allowed, but surely white low-fat varieties;
• the remaining 30% should fall on cereals, as well as vegetables and fruits;
• it is necessary to add chopped greens or sprouted grains of cereals to the bags;
• Once a week, the inclusion of eggs and low-fat cottage cheese is allowed.

Puppies up to six months are fed 4-5 times a day. When they reach 6 months of age, the number of feedings is gradually adjusted to 2, and the volume of the proposed portion, on the contrary, increases.

Keep in mind that Spaniels are tall dogs with powerful sternum, so it can be difficult for them to eat from a bowl located on the floor. It is advisable to use a stand whose height corresponds to the height of the sternum.

Half an hour after feeding, the bowl must be removed even if the proposed feed is not finished.

It is preferable to keep a water spaniel in a private house with a large garden. Allowed to place a pet in the aviary, in this embodiment, the booth must be insulated. But in any case, the animal should be able most of the day free to walk around the yard.

It should be noted that water spaniels can adapt to living in an apartment quite easily, but in this case the owners must provide them with constant physical activity - 2-3 single walks lasting at least an hour, preferably on a specially equipped for training dog area. The dog should be able to run and at least once or twice a week to swim. Welcome active games that mimic the hunt, issuing tasks to search for objects and contacts with other dogs.

Very important properly care for wool, grooming is quite simple, but it should certainly be frequent. The advantage of the breed is the weak expression of seasonal molting, however, the wool needs to be combed regularly. If you do not pay enough attention to this procedure, the dog's curls will begin to fall off and close access to the skin to check for the appearance of parasites - ticks and fleas.

Wool combed at least 2 times a week. First, use a brush with a medium-hard bristle, which collects the accumulated dirt, and then a comb with fine teeth is used - with its help, dead hair is removed and hair follicles are massaged.

In the warm season should regularly allow the dog to swim in the pond - It contributes to the formation of curled locks. In cold weather, the dog needs to be bathed under a shower, special shampoos for dogs are suitable for this, but the conditioner is not desirable, as it leads to unwinding of the curls.

The water spaniel is a quick-witted and very intelligent dog that, in good hands, is excellently trained and educated. An animal of this breed needs early and comprehensive socialization, it needs a soft, but confident approach. It is not necessary to lower the pet's lack of desire to obey, but at the same time, coarse physical effects and a cry only lead to the fact that the animal is locked in itself and no longer wants to continue learning.

It should be borne in mind that Irish Spaniel well manifests itself in a variety of sports, as a rule, they participate in competitions in agility.

Only the owner should train the dog, who will seek to respect the dog with his calm but confident actions.A standard mustera, a recurrent repetition of the same lesson does not lead to good results - the dog starts to get bored and simply refuses to carry out the commands given to her.

In general, water spaniels live 10-14 years. They have a good immunity from nature, these dogs were distinguished by their endurance and excellent health. They quickly adapt to the most unfavorable life situations and therefore rarely get sick.

However, there are typical pathologies for this breed, which can occur in the lines with a certain periodicity, they include:

• hyperthyroidism;
• hip dysplasia;
• volvulus century;
• tumor processes;
• epilepsy;
• ear pathologies;
• skin diseases.

On how to care for a spaniel, you can find out further.