Irish Water Spaniel Rescue Information: Irish Water Spaniels are excellent retrievers of waterfowl and are usually used as working dogs in that capacity. Irish Water Spaniels are very smart and trainable, and though they have a stubborn streak they are truly eager to please their masters. Irish Water Spaniels do well with older children. Early socialization is important. Irish Water Spaniels bark only when necessary and make good watchdogs. This breed is best suited to life on a farm or in a home that has a large fenced yard.

Irish Water Spaniel Trivia: Some Irish Water Spaniels are nearly purple in color. The Irish Water Spaniel is the largest of the Spaniels. Irish Water Spaniels are descended from Poodles and Irish Setters. Irish Water Spaniels were originally bred by Justin McCarthy of Dublin, who is considered to be the father of the breed. Modern Irish Water Spaniels were developed in Ireland in the 1830s.