Collection: Personalised Irish Water Spaniel Gifts

The Irish Water Spaniel has a striking coat of tight ringlets that makes them an attention-grabbing breed from the off, but on top of their unique look, they also have exceptionally kind temperaments and are known for their affectionate and funny characters, making them an increasing popular choice as family pets.

As with many breeds, the exact origins of the Irish Water Spaniel are unclear. Some evidence suggests their ancestry may stretch back as far as 4000 BC, but there’s written evidence of the breed existing in Ireland in the 1800s, and all of today’s bloodlines can be traced back to this period in history and a dog named Boatswain. Although considered an Irish breed, it’s possible that the Irish Water Spaniel’s ancestors were dogs that travelled to Ireland on fishing boats that came from other countries such as Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy, but whatever their origins, they became much-prized hunting dogs in Ireland.

Bred as working dogs, Irish Water Spaniels have made their way into households as family pets and companions. Fun-loving and affectionate, they bond strongly with their people and don’t like to be left alone, making them ideal adventure partners for active, outdoorsy people. Their intelligence and seeking abilities have led some into careers as detector dogs, helping to sniff out and detect items in luggage, and their kind, patient temperaments have seen others slip effortlessly into roles as therapy dogs.