Water dogs are an official FCI dog breed classification that places water dogs in the same group as retrievers and scavenger dogs.
And no, that doesn’t include the Labrador, who has his splashing fun in every puddle, no matter how dirty…
The mostly medium-sized dogs are all characterized by their ability to swim. They also have a strong hunting instinct, which is why hunters and fishermen alike like to use them as working dogs.
Not every water dog needs to live in a hunter household. Are you athletic and are you excited by the idea of offering a home to an unusual, very intelligent dog?
Then you might find your new best friend in this article!
1.American Water Spaniel
The American Water Spaniel wins every beauty pageant with its chocolate brown coat and curly ears. He is probably a descendant of the Irish Water Spaniel, although his concrete breeding only began in the 1920s.
Rarely encountered and bred outside of the United States. There, however, he is quite popular and in the US state of Wisconsin he is even considered a state dog, i.e. the national dog.
Typically for a hunting dog, the American Water Spaniel needs a lot of exercise and activity. Nevertheless, he does not necessarily have to be used as a working dog on the hunt, but also enjoys dog sports.
Danger:
The American Water Spaniel barks a lot, but also loudly. But with a good education you can get a handle on it.
2. Spanish Water Dog
Spanish: Perro de Agua Espanol
The Spanish Water Dog may have sheep herding ancestors, and in appearance it also resembles a sheep.
His fur is frizzy all over and needs regular and thorough grooming to avoid matting. But he is one of the non-shedding dogs and is therefore usually also suitable for an allergy household.
A Spanish water dog is quickly integrated into a family life because they are very uncomplicated and affectionate. However, it should not be forgotten that they have a high need for physical and mental exercise.
Danger!
While the thick fur protects the four-legged friend very well against the cold, it can become a problem in the heat. In summer you should therefore consider clipping.
By the way, you can look up more exciting Spanish dog breeds in the article 13 Stunning Spanish Dog Breeds!
3. Lagotto Romagnolo
Italian/dialect of Romagna, in German: dog with curly hair for hunting in the swamp area
The Lagotto Romagnolo is the truffle pig among dogs. Originally used in swamp and moor areas to hunt waterfowl, it has become more and more a sniffer dog for the valuable truffle mushrooms due to the increasing drainage of the areas.
Therefore, his hunting instinct has also been greatly reduced in breeding and is hardly present today. Nevertheless, he demands a lot of exercise and, due to breeding, has a passion for hidden object games.
In terms of health, the Lagotto Romagnolo has not benefited from the breeding of the last century: Epilepsy is widespread in the breed, almost a third of all dogs show a genetic, inherited disposition to it. In addition, the lysosomal storage defect occurs more often than average in the breed.
4. Barbet
The Barbet is a very old breed of dog. He doesn’t look like a poodle, but a poodle looks like him: Representatives of his kind were already mentioned in the 6th century when they probably came to Spain and Portugal with the Moors. However, it was only given the French name Barbet in the 16th century.
Breeders across Europe have crossed the Barbet with local gundog breeds over the centuries, giving it a large international family.
The hunting instinct is still deep today, which is why it is best kept in hunter households or in families with hunting dog experience and a large fenced property.
5. Portuguese Water Dog
Portuguese: Cão de Água Português
The Portuguese Water Dog has a quirky quirk: it has webbed toes. As a result, he can move excellently in the water and does so with great pleasure.
Today, however, it is used very differently. Since he is very relaxed and stress-resistant, he is often found in animal-assisted therapy as a visiting dog or as an assistance dog. Since he is also one of the allergy-friendly dogs that do not shed, many trainers resort to this breed.
However, he is not a sofa stool, but wants to be challenged and exhausted. Thanks to his intelligence, however, he can be used in many different ways and can also complete training to become a rescue dog or avalanche dog.
A celebrity Portuguese water dog is Barack Obama’s dog, Bo, who was born with i during his master’s reignm White House lived and who made a major contribution to the international fame of his breed.
6. Wetterhoun
The Dutch Wetterhoun owes its name only in the broadest sense to the Frisian constant rain, because the Frisian word «weather» means «water».
It has been documented as a house and farm dog since the Middle Ages, without a clear breeding line being known. He is believed to be the result of crossing a Portuguese Water Dog and several Eastern European Retrievers.
Almost 70 years ago, the Wetterhoun was almost extinct, meanwhile an international association is trying to preserve the breed and brought the number to currently about 800 living specimens.
A Wetterhoun quickly gets bored and then independently looks for new tasks such as chewing shoes, which is why consistent training and a lot of workload to keep them is necessary.
Be careful around other pets: the Wetterhoun has also been used to repel moles and muskrat so will need to be accustomed to having rabbits or guinea pigs in the house!
7. Irish Water Spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel also has an impressive curly coat that is surprisingly easy to care for. Usually weekly combing and brushing and clipping every two months is sufficient.
The ancestors of this breed have long been known in Ireland, the oldest evidence was found in excavations from the 8th century.
As a real cold shower he does not shy away from water even in winter, which is why he quickly spread to the northern European mainland and from there also moved into the world.
If you decide to get an Irish Water Spaniel, you should be prepared for a lifelong education. Because the stubborn dog can get very creative when it comes to ignoring commands.
Don’t be alarmed: Your Irish Water Spaniel isn’t shedding! This breed has straight hair at the end of the tail instead of curly hair, giving the tail an almost bare appearance.