Spanish Water Dog

Spanish Water Dogs are calm, kind, and balanced. They are truly versatile dogs because they can be faithful companions for the owner, a guardian of the house, and even a nanny for children. The Spanish Water Dog is playful, quickly gets used to a new family, and is loyal to the end. They like to spend a lot of time with people.

Breed Photos

Origin History

There is no exact information about the origin of the Spanish Water Dog. Scientists believe that two versions are the most plausible. The first is that the dogs came to the Iberian Peninsula thanks to the Turkish traders when they sailed on the Mediterranean Sea. The second version says that the breed is native to northern Africa.

The Spanish Water Dog is the ancestor of all water dogs. Originally they were used to herd herds. But then the native shepherds became popular, which pushed the water dogs to the south of Spain. The main advantage of these dogs was their ability to work in mountain climates and poor conditions. They were also used extensively by fishermen to catch fish and bring them to the nets.

Now at home, dogs are used by the police and fire department, and they are also involved in rescue operations. The modern name the breed got in 1985, and the official standard was registered in 1992.

Appearance

The dogs’ physique is strong, the chest is wide and deep, the skull is flat, and the paws are cat-like. In childhood, puppies’ hair is wavy and short, but it is already curled in adulthood. The color of the coat is black, white, or brown; sometimes, there may be spots of these colors. The nose bridge is always of the same color as the color of the coat.

The eyes are set obliquely, their color hazel or brown. The ears are triangular, floppy. The tail is usually bought, but there are puppies, which are born kuchtailed.

Growth of males is 40-50 cm, bitches are a bit smaller – 38-45 cm, weight from 12 to 20 kg. The limbs are straight, strong and allow the dog to swim easily.

Character

Spanish Water Dogs are calm, kind, and balanced. They are truly versatile dogs because they can be faithful companions for the owner, a guardian of the house, and even a nanny for children.

The Spanish Water Dog is playful, quickly gets used to a new family, and is loyal to the end. They like to spend a lot of time with people. Distrustful and wary of strangers, so with courage will defend its territory. It does not conflict with other animals but may want to play, which can negatively affect cats.

Treat small children with respect and awe. Can play with them for hours, tolerate their antics, and protect them.

As in all hunting dogs, it has developed qualities of independence and self-sufficiency. It is necessary to teach her from an early age that the master is alone in the house and obeyed.

Care

The Spanish Water Dog will feel great in the countryside because it is very active, constantly in motion, and not inherently lazy. But in apartment conditions, it will be harder; then, it will have to spend a lot of time with it outdoors and provide physical activity. Caring for the dog is not complicated; just a little attention to the hair, comb it once a week. Particular attention should be paid to the dog’s ears because they love to swim, and water can make them sick. It is also important to remember to check the eyes and mouth regularly. At signs of illness, you should not put off going to the veterinarian.

Bathing often is not recommended. Two or three times a year is enough. For these dogs, a sufficient amount of physical activity is necessary; walks should be long. And also you should not forget about games with the pet and competitions. They have a well-developed competitive spirit.

Training

Representatives of this breed are easy to learn, memorize commands and constantly demonstrate their working qualities. From early childhood, you need to provide socialization, introduce the puppy to other people, dogs, cats.

Spanish water dog is very curious, so try to conduct training in different places and train memory by different walks. It is recommended to start training from 6 months of age, constantly alternate training with games and competitions, and not make the class monotonous.

Common Diseases

In general, dogs’ health is good; they rarely get sick and have almost no genetic diseases. However, it is worth remembering about ear diseases, so make sure your pet’s ears are always clean. There may also be vision problems.

At an early age, due to activity and exertion, puppies can get injured. Make sure everything is in moderation, and the dog is resting.

Nutrition

The Spanish Water Dog is unpretentious about food. The diet should be balanced and complete. The basis of nutrition should be protein. Additional vitamins and minerals can be added to the diet. There should always be clean drinking water in the bowl.