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Gundog · Spain

Spanish Water Dog

A walker's guide to the Spanish Water Dog: how much exercise they need, what to expect on and off the lead, and what to ask the owner before the first walk.

Medium, 14 to 22 kgHigh energyCurly coatLoves waterHerding and retrievingOne-family dog
Exercise a day90 min plus
Energy4 of 5
Walk styleBusy, bouncy, working
With other dogsVariable, often selective

Overview

The Spanish Water Dog has worked across Spain for centuries as a herder, a retriever and a fisherman's helper, which is why the UK Kennel Club places it in the gundog group despite its herding roots. It is medium-sized and athletic with a woolly, curly coat that is traditionally left to cord and never brushed. The breed has grown steadily in Britain among active owners.

The temperament is intelligent, loyal and workmanlike. Spanish Water Dogs bond closely to their own family and can be suspicious of strangers, sometimes slow to accept a new walker. They are also quick to learn and quick to invent their own entertainment when bored.

Exercise and walking needs

An hour and a half a day of real activity suits most adults. The breed is agile and tireless, enjoys swimming, agility, fetch and scent work, and needs a mix of physical and mental exercise to stay even-tempered.

Water is a given. If a pond, river or sea is within reach, the dog will be in it, so plan routes and drying time with that in mind.

Daily minimum90 minutes
Ideal2 walks a day
Off-lead timeGood with training

On the walk

  • Recall: Good with training, as the dog wants to work with its handler. Herding instinct may pull it towards runners or bikes, so watch and redirect.
  • Pulling: Moderate and mostly from eagerness. Settles well once the dog is used to the routine and the handler.
  • Other dogs: Variable. Some are sociable, others aloof or reactive, and many have a strong sense of personal space. Follow the owner's guidance on groups.
  • Strangers: Wary rather than friendly. Allow the dog to approach you in its own time and do not let members of the public rush in.

Tips for professional walkers

  1. Do your first visit with the owner present and let the dog decide when to engage with you.
  2. Never brush the coat; towel it dry and leave it. Ask the owner about their routine after swimming.
  3. Build in a task, such as a retrieve or a hidden toy, to give the walk a purpose.
Every dog is an individual. Treat this as a starting point and go with what the owner tells you about their dog. Anything to do with health belongs with the owner and their vet.

What to ask the owner

  • How does the dog react to new people, and what has helped it accept others before?
  • Is the dog allowed to swim, and how does the owner want the coat handled afterwards?
  • Any history of herding runners, cyclists or other dogs, and how is it managed?
Portuguese Water DogA strongLagotto RomagnoloItaly's curly-coated truffle dog: busyBarbetThe French water dog: a woollyCantabrian Water DogA curly-coated fishermen's dog from the north coast of Spain