Irish Water Spaniel

The Irish Water Spaniel (Irish: An Spáinnéar Uisce) is a breed of dog that is the tallest of the spaniels. It is one of Ireland's nine native dog breeds, also known as a "bog-dog". As a common hunting dog, they were often kept by historic landowning classes along with minor gentry, who commonly hunted and shot game. Performing a wide range of skills, such as the combined duties of pointers, setters, retrievers, and spaniels, they were a good fit for people who were unable to keep a team of dogs. The breed thrives in a working environment. They often love to please their owners, hunting and retrieving game happily. They are characterized by their curly coat, a distinctive "rat tail", and webbed feet, being very active and intelligent. They have a lifespan of about 10–12 years. Their inquisitive nature has earned them the nickname the "clown" of the spaniel family, and they'll often find surprising methods to complete tasks. Historically bred to hunt animals in marine settings such as marshes, today, their webbed feet make them skilled swimmers and are still used to hunt waterfowl. Now considered a rare breed, only a few thousand exist today, classifying them as a vulnerable native breed.

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