Dogs, Group VIII FCI, section 3 – water dogs
Lagotto Romagnolo is not the only race described as water dogs. Below you will find brief descriptions all of them.
American Water Spaniel
Weight: Male – 25–40 lb (11–18 kg); Female – 25–40 lb (11–18 kg)
Height: Male – 15–18 in (38–46 cm); Female – 15–18 in (38–46 cm)
Coat: Double coated, curly exterior layer; Color: Shades of brown
The American Water Spaniel (AWS), is a breed of spaniel which is one of a small number of breeds originating in the United States. Developed in the state of Wisconsin during the 19th century from a number of other breeds, including the Irish and English Water Spaniels. An excellent sporting and family dog, the American Water Spaniel possesses great energy and eagerness for the hunt yet is controllable in the field. Similarly, he loves his daily exercise, but also enjoys just hanging out with his family. Friendly and eager to please, the AWS responds well to obedience training. His short coat requires regular brushing.
French Water Dog – Barbet
Weight: Male – 40-60 lb (18-27 kg); Female – 30-50 lb (13.5-23 kg)
Height: Male – 21-25 in (52-65 cm); Female – 20-23 in (50-53 cm)
The Barbet is a prototypic water dog, with a long, woolly, and curly coat. Their coats grow long and must be groomed regularly, otherwise the coat can become matted and the barbet may lose small tufts of hair like tumbleweeds. The accepted colours of the breed are solid black, brown, fawn, grey, pale fawn, white, or more or less pied. All shades of red-fawn and pale fawn are permitted. The shade should, preferably, be the same as the colour of the body. The most common colors are black or brown with white markings. The Barbet’s personality is described as companionable, joyful, obedient, and intelligent. They are a great with children, families, and the elderly. Barbets will bond with their family and prefer to be in the same room with the family at all times.
Wetterhoun – Dutch “Spaniel”
The Wetterhoun is a medium sized dog between 55 and 59 centimeters (21.6-23 inches) at the withers. They weigh between 25 and 35 kilo, 55 and 77 pounds]). Their coat is thick and curly except for the head, ears and legs, where the coat is smoother; the water repellant coat is described as having a greasy feel. The breed standard describes the breed’s temperament as reserved and “an ideal guard-dog” though never aggressive, which makes it an excellent family-dog. Although described as “strong willed” the Wetterhoun is never stubborn or wilfully disobedient. Perseverance is a much better term, because they finish what they started, whatever it takes. Imperturbable they finish what they think to be their task. Thereby the breed is sensitive and should never be treated or trained harshly. Brought-up en used to children they are tolerant to children to the point where the dog should be protected against the children instead the other way around.
Spanish Water Dog – Perro de Agua Español
Height: Males – 44-50 cm (17-20 in); Females – 40-45 cm (16-18 in)
Weight: Males – 18-22 kg (40-49 lb); Females – 14-18 kg (31-40 lb)
It has a distinctive curly coat which is woolly in texture and may form cords when long. The coat should not be clipped or groomed for aesthetic purposes. Instead, it should look entirely natural, as though it is not groomed at all. It should never be trimmed, but sheared down at least once a year. SWD puppies are always born with curly hair. The SWD is diligent, loyal, affectionate, and intelligent. They have very strong natural herding and guarding instincts, leading them to become the “self-appointed” guardians of their homes. SWDs thrive on work and play. Their athleticism and extremely hard working nature leads them to excel at any number of tasks. They can be wary with strangers, and early and continuing socialization with a variety of people and other animals is essential for a well-adjusted, social dog. Good socialization at an early age greatly helps them cohabit with small children.
Irish Water Dog
Height: Males – 22-24 in (53–59 cm); Females – 21-23 in (51–56 cm)
Weight: Males – 55-65 lb (25–30 kg); Females – 45-60 lb (20–25 kg)
The Irish Water Spaniel is a sturdy, cobby dog native to Ireland. The coat, consisting of dense curls, sheds very little. The colour is liver/puce and has a very definite purple hue unlike the colour of any other known breed. The non-shedding characteristic of the coat means that people usually allergic to dogs might have less of an allergic reaction to Irish Water Spaniels. The Irish Water Spaniel is essentially an active, willing and energetic companion. Because it has been bred from stock used to fetch game and return it to hand without a fuss, it has the natural instinct of wanting to please. Its keen sense of working as a team makes it a relatively easy dog to train and discipline. Some individual dogs can be very wary of strangers and not every IWS can be trusted to get along with other pets. Early socialisation and training is a must.
Portuguese Water Dog – Cao de agua portugues
Height: Males – 20-23 in (51-58 cm); Females – 17-21 lb (43-53 cm)
Weight: Males – 40-60 lb (18–27 kg); Females – 35-50 lb (15-22 kg)
Portuguese Water Dogs are more robustly built, with stout legs, and can have a wavy coat instead of tightly curled. If comparing the structure to that of a Poodle, there are significant differences between the two breeds. The PWD is built of strong substantial bone; well developed, neither refined nor coarse, and a solidly built, muscular body. Most PWDs are entirely black, black and white, brown, or silver-tipped; it is common to see white chest spots and white paws or legs on black or brown coated dogs. They are loving, independent, and intelligent and are easily trained in obedience and agility skills. While they are very good companions to people who understand what they need, PWDs are not for everyone. Because of their intelligence and working drive, they require regular intensive exercise as well as mental challenges. They are gentle and patient — but not “couch potatoes”, and boredom may cause them to become destructive.
By:
Wikipedia,
American Kennel Club.
