The Irish Water Spaniel originated in Ireland and was bred to retrieve game from lakes or rivers. It is thought that this breed is a mixture of the Barbet, Poodle, Portuguese Water Dog and Curly Coated Retriever but this is not certain. Although they make great working dogs both alone and along side their master, they also make excellent family pets, they are just not as well known as some of the more popular breeds of today.

This breed has a very unique coat being made up of all tightly coiled ringlets. This will help protect them from cold weather, as well as cold water making it much easier for them to hunt/retrieve. The Irish Water Spaniel has a lean, muscular body, a slender long tail, and strong toned legs making the swim to retrieve game faster. They have large floppy ears and a long powerful muzzle to carry birds in, but should be noted that they are quite gentle with their owners catch!

The Irish Water Spaniel is a head strong, willing, and happy dog that will be a great pet as well as a hard working partner. They get along well with children and smaller family pets as long as they both treat the dog with respect. This breed is not for a family or owner that has had no experience raising or training dogs because they have a stubborn attitude at times and will require more exercise and attention than the everyday house pet.

Breed Group

Sporting

Size

Males: 20-24 inches high
Females: 20-24 inches high

Weight

Males: 45-65 lbs
Females: 45-65 lbs

Color(s)

The Irish Water Spaniel will come in one colour only which is the rich brown. There is to be a purple-ish hue in the light making their coat unique only to them. Some lines will be a darker brown and other lines will be a more rich light brown.

Coat

These dogs have a tightly curled coat that will have the same texture throughout their entire body! Their fur is double layered with the outer layer being the curls which are a soft, clean texture and the under layer being thick and plush. They have this specific coat because they need extra warmth when swimming in extremely cold water.

Life Expectancy

About 10-12 years.

Personality

This breed will need a lot of socialization as a puppy, especially around other dogs and people so when in social situations they will not become timid or aggressive. The Irish Water Spaniel is a comical breed that will make a wonderful companion as long as they are raised by an owner who is firm yet fair. Training this breed will need to start as soon as they are brought home to ensure they understand what is acceptable in the household and what is not. The Irish Water Spaniel is a clever breed and will make a great addition to the right owner or family!

These dogs are protective, loyal and independent but still quite affectionate towards their masters. People they have never met before will in a sense, not matter unless they are formally introduced to the dog. Generally they are a goofy dog that has a charming personality and excellent demeanor. This agile and beautiful breed will be a great pet for people that enjoy physical activity or just enjoy the outdoors!

Care

The Irish Water Spaniel will need a moderate amount of grooming to keep their coat looking great. Brushing 4-5 times per week and bathing when the owner finds this necessary will be perfect. These dogs tend to be quite clean so the only real supervision should just be towards tangles developing in their coats. The Irish Water Spaniel is prone to ear infections, and hypothyroidism. Generally this breed is quite healthy but the parents medical history should be checked just for the potential owners awareness of any inheritable diseases.

Training

The Irish Water Spaniel will need an owner with experience to raise and train them in obedience. They have a stubborn side which will sometimes make them more difficult to train but consistency and repetition are always the key. These dogs are incredibly smart and have the motivation to please their owners, but need gentle yet firm guidance in order to follow commands. It is suggested that these dogs be given short training lessons multiple times per day so they have time to think about the commands and have the concepts sink in.

Activity

This breed will need at least an hour per day of exercise and this can be done at an off-leash park where they can run and stretch their legs or just by swimming! They will burn off much more energy being off-leash roaming, or chasing after a ball than on a walk. The Irish Water Spaniel will be better off in a household environment that has a backyard because they need as much indoor and outdoor space as possible to live in.

The Red and White Setter isn’t too well known outside of it’s native Ireland. There is two known Irish Setter breeds and it has been documented that the Red and White is the older of the two breeds. There has always been a slight confusion about the Irish Setter’s proper color because they were often confused for each other. It was commonly thought that they were; in fact, the same breed, but they later noticed that the Red and White dogs were fading away. The breed was thought to be in extinction but during the late 1920s there was a lot of efforts being made to revive the breed. The hard work led to the breed being separately classified and given a champion status by the Irish Kennel Club.

Breed Group

Sporting

Size

Male dogs: 24.5 to 26 inches

Female dogs: 22.5 to 24 inches

Weight

Male: 50-75 lbs

Female: 50-70 lbs

Color(s)

As the name of the dog breed states; Red and White.

Coat

The Irish Red and White Setter has fine silky hair called feathering located on legs and a decent amount on the flank extending to the chest and throat. On the Setter’s head, legs and other parts of the body the hair is flat, short and straight. Curly hair is a disqualifying quality, but a slight wave of the hair is accepted.

Life Expectancy

About 11-15 years.

Personality

Irish Red and White Setters are an energetic, intelligent breed. They are very affectionate, tend to get along well with other animals and are great with children!

Care

A known health condition that affects many Irish Red and White Setters is Posterior Polar Cataract (PPC). They will not cause the dog to become blind, but it is present in this dog breed. Give these Setters a good amount of exercise and they should live a healthy life.

Training

These dogs can be very difficult to own without the proper training. Give these dogs a lot of exercise, firm handling and good communication and you will enjoy owning a Red and White! Make sure that you start training the dog at a young age to prevent it from developing any bad habits. Enforce the fact that you are their master because you don’t want to lose control of your dog.

Activity

It is difficult to manage an Irish Red and White Setter who doesn’t get much exercise because the breed will tend to become restless. A long walk is recommended daily and a big yard to run around safely is a plus.

The Irish Setter derived from a variety of spaniels, setters, and pointers. He is probably older then the English Setter, but both are ancestors of the heavier Old Spanish Pointer breed.

The Irish Setter is both a pointer and retriever, who has a rich, exuberant red mahogany coat and a communicative expression. He is a fast field dog sturdy over any terrain and in any climate and nice hunting companion with an excellent sense of smell.

Breed Group

Sporting

Size

24 – 28 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

60 – 75 lbs

Color(s)

The color of the Irish Setter is rich red from mahogany to chestnut.

Coat

The Irish Setter’s smooth coat is short and fine on head, forelegs and ear tips while moderately long and flat elsewhere.

Life Expectancy

About 11 – 15 years.

Personality

The Irish Setter has boundless energy, very impulsive this dog is full of life. Typically Irish with is friendly “sense of humor”, the Irish Setter seem ignoring apparent danger or difficulties, joyous, woozy and stubborn are used to outline this impulsive and lovable breed.

Good natured, intelligent and very affectionate the Irish Setter enjoy being around people, he is excellent with children and not aggressive towards other dogs, however, due to its boisterous and headstrong personality this breed is not recommended for the average home.

Care

The Irish Setter is especially prone to epilepsy and allergic skin diseases. They also suffer from elbow and hip dysplasia, PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) and hypothyroidism.

Unfortunately this breed tends to bloat, it may be wise to feed them two or three small meals a day instead of one big one. The Irish Setter require only a daily brushing and combing to keep its coat in excellent condition free of mats or tangles. Bathing and dry shampoo only when necessary, this breed is a medium shedder.

Training

Often difficult to train because of their flighty and giddy personality the Irish Setter requires patient, firm and consistent training at an early age to prevent development of bad habits. The Irish Setter is a fine well-rounded hunting dog who does well on any terrain even on wetlands, some of its many talents include hunting, tracking, retrieving and pointing.

Activity

The Irish Setter is mostly more active than the other breeds and is best suited to country environment rather than apartment life. Without any outdoor activities scheduled or not given enough exercise the Irish Setter will become hyperactive and difficult to manage.

The Irish Terrier originated in Ireland and were bred to hunt rodents and otters but can also be used for retrieving. Today they are primarily companion dogs but still have their hunting instincts! Their most obvious ancestors were the Black and Tan Terriers that originated in Britain.

This breed has a long rectangular muzzle and small floppy ears. Their body is lean yet muscular and their legs are straight but toned to allow them quick starts to hunt down their prey. Naturally their tail is long and slender but for show purposes will be docked. The Irish Terrier has a scruffy appearance but was intentionally bred to have these characteristics.

These dogs are brave, temperamental yet completely free-spirited. They have a deep connection with their owners and will show affection and loyalty to them at all times. These dogs are curious little creatures and enjoy exploring new territory as well as hunting for small animals because they have such a very high prey drive!

Breed Group

Terrier

Size

Males: 18 inches high
Females: 18 inches high

Weight

Males: 25-27 lbs

Females: 25-27 lbs

Color(s)

The Irish Terrier will come in a solid wheat, red or a gold colouring. Most commonly seen is the golden colour.

Coat

This breed has a short, harsh textured coat that consists of two layers. The top coat is dense and wiry to the touch while the under coat is much softer and thicker keeping this breed warm during the colder temperatures.

Life Expectancy

About 12 – 15 years.

Personality

The Irish Terrier is an energetic, fun loving dog that loves to be around their families. They have a bit of a temper and can be quite stubborn if a situation doesn’t suit them. This breed will be an excellent dog for families but would be best suited if there are no other pets in the household. Irish Terriers tend to be a bit more aggressive around other dogs and will consider small pets such as hamsters, mice, and guinea pigs etc. prey.

These dogs are not barkers but have good reason to when they do, making them good watchdogs. This breed is not only a great working and family dog, but they will also excel in agility, obedience, and tracking trials.

Care

This breed will need very minimal grooming as their coat is short and will not mat. Brushing should be done about once per week just to remove the dead fur and bathing about once every 2-3 months. The Irish Terrier is prone to cataracts, hip dysplasia, and hypothyroidism. They are generally a very healthy breed with few genetically inherited diseases.

Training

The Irish Terrier will need a firm owner who is consistent with basic obedience. They are intelligent dogs but need repetition and gentle training methods to grasp the obedience concept. If short sessions are made enjoyable they will encourage the Irish Terrier to want to learn as they have a high motivation to please their owners.

Activity

The Irish Terrier will need a long walk every day and also time spent in an off-leash area where they can run around. They are quite energetic dogs so about an hour or two of exercise daily will be needed to tire them out. These dogs will do well in an apartment if they get daily exercise. A fenced in backyard would be perfect so they can have an outdoor area at home to roam around in.

The Irish Wolfhound originated in Ireland, just as its name suggests. They were used to hunt wolf and were very capable of doing so as they are a large, agile breed that hunts using their sight. They are considered the largest dog in the world as they can grow up to a whopping 35 inches high!

The original blood lines of the Irish Wolfhound came from a dog called the Cu. They were used to hunt boar, elk and wolves as well. They were dogs owned by Irish nobility and were given as presents to royalty. This breed was so efficient that they eventually killed off wolves entirely in Ireland. From then on they were seen less and less as their job had been done!

The Irish Wolfhound is a regal and athletic breed of dog with a famously shaggy coat. They are an extra large breed that is gentle and sweet although they may not look it. They love people, children, and if raised with smaller pets will co-exist well as they are very loyal and love to be part of the pack.

Breed Group

Hound

Size

Males: 28-35 inches high

Females: 28-35 inches high

Weight

Males: 90-150 lbs

Females: 90-150 lbs

Color(s)

The Irish Wolfhounds most popular coat colouring is a solid gray. Solid white, red, black, brindle, fawn and brown are also acceptable colours.

Coat

This breed has a hard, bristle-like coat texture that is designed to keep them warm in cold temperatures. They have a distinctive face that is slender with fringed eyebrows making them look like big friendly dogs. Their coat will require weekly brushing and at least 2-3 times per year it will need to be plucked of the dead fur.

Life Expectancy

About 6 – 8 years.

Personality

The Irish Wolfhound is a loyal, loving companion that greatly enjoys the company of their owners. They are perfect for families as they love children and are generally well behaved and calm individuals. Friendly towards everyone, this big dog is an oafish giant. As puppies, they will grow at a very quick rate so premium food will be needed, and loads of it. Exercise should be kept to a moderate level as too much can be hard on their bodies which will affect them when they reach adulthood.

As a puppy, the Irish Wolfhound may seem to grow up quickly. Leash training will need to be started at an early age to get them used to walking at the owners pace or else when they’ve reached full grown size, there will be a large dog walking a person at the end of the leash!

Care

The Irish Wolfhound will need to be brushed about once or twice per week. Plucking their coat should be done about 2 or 3 times per year just to make sure all the dead fur is removed. This breed is prone to bloat, cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and bone cancer. During the first 6-8 month period of their life, the Irish Wolfhound will need to be monitored when exercising as over doing it at this age could result in overly stretched limbs. Unfortunately the bigger the dog doesn’t mean the bigger the lifespan. These dogs only live to around 8 years old.

Training

This breed is a relatively easy dog to train. They love to please their master so as long as basic obedience is taught in a firm but positive manner, there will be no problems. Negative training methods will not aide this dog. On the whole, this breed is very bright and will be able to understand and grasp training quickly.

Activity

This breed will need at least 1-2 long walks per day. They would not do well in an apartment as they need as much space as possible because they are very big dogs. Either a yard or even acreage would be perfect so they have room to run around. Oddly enough, daily walks will be sufficient for this breed but as puppies the exercise should be kept to a minimum.

The Ibizian hound is thought to have been originated in Egypt and there after were distributed throughout Spain in early 700 BC. This breed is a very rapid hunter and was used mostly to hunt game and rabbit. As well as finding and catching their prey, the Ibizian Hound retrieves it and “points” out the find to their master, which are more characteristics of Retrievers or Pointers.

This ancient breed of dog is elegant, agile, and very clever making them perfect working dogs for the sport of hunting. They are a sight hunter, and are very efficient in doing so. Today the Ibizian Hound is more used for racing or lure hunting or coursing. Their speed and agility make them great competitors among the lure racing sport.

Slender and athletic, the Ibizian Hound has the body of a hunter. They have a long muscular neck and a thin face. Their body is compact yet light, giving this dog steadfast speed. The Ibizian Hound has large ears that are pricked upward to enhance their already acute hearing. This breed has 3 coat types, smooth, wire and long haired with smooth being the most popular among breeders and fanciers alike.

Breed Group

Hound

Size

Males: 24-29 inches high

Females: 22-29 inches high

Weight

Males: 45-55 lbs

Females: 42-55 lbs

Color(s)

The Ibizian Hound comes in a variety of 2 colour patterns. Tan and white, solid white, solid red, red with white patches or a mixture of red and white. Their nose is always a light pink colour.

Coat

The smooth haired variety of Ibizian has a very short, glossy coat that is smooth to the touch. The wire haired has a tougher wiry coat that is coarsely dense, and the last variety is the long haired which is very uncommon but is thought to be a type of wire haired Ibizian. During colder temperature the short coated variety will need to be indoors at all time and have some layering when going outside as they have no protection against the cold.

Life Expectancy

About 10 – 12 years.

Personality

The Ibizian Hound is a well mannered, sweet and energetic dog. Good with people, children, dogs and even cats if they are raised with them, this stable breed is a great worker and family pet. Smaller pocket pets, such as mice, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs etc, should be monitored around the Ibizian as they consider these prey.

They enjoy the company of the family but can be independent as well. They are protective of their domain, and are more reserved around people they don’t know but will warm up to that individual quickly after the first meeting.

Ibizian Hounds are dogs that need to be included in the family. They will not do well left alone often as they thrive greatly on being part of your pack. They can become very comfortable in daily routines, so when introducing new people or animals to the household, this breed will have a harder time adjusting. This is a very clean dog often being compared to the cleanliness of a cat.

Care

The Ibizian Hound is a low maintenance breed to groom. Although there are 3 variations of their coat textures, the smooth, long, and wire haired will need to be brushed about once per week just to remove dead fur. This breed is prone to seizures and sensitivity to drugs which makes it medically harder to give treatment. They are also known to have muscle and nerve diseases.

Training

The Ibizian Hound will need firm yet positive training methods when practicing basic obedience. Negative methods will not help this dog excel so patience will be needed. They are a swift breed that will excel in agility trials or lure coursing as this would be fun exercise for them and great practice!

Activity

The Ibizian Hound will need a large amount of exercise daily. Daily walks or jogs will needed at least 3 times per day or trips to the off-leash dog park so they can run and socialize with other dogs. This breed needs to run and they enjoy chasing after a ball or running alongside their owner.

The Ibizian should not be kept off leash as they are a hound after all that could potentially chase after any small animal at a moments notice. This breed will do well in an apartment as long as they are exercised daily. A yard would be preferable but a very high fence will be needed as they can jump high from a standing position and have been known to clear fences!