Spanish Water Dogs
Breed Group: Herding Group
Size Group: Medium Dog Breeds
Origin: Spain
Height: 17.5”-19.75” (male) 15.75”-18” (female)
Weight: 40-49lbs (male) 31-40lbs (female)
Color: Black, Black & white, Brown, Brown & white, White & black, White & brown
Lifespan: 12-14 years
Temperament: Energetic, peppy, protective
Set Your Pup Up For Success
Overview
Spanish Water Dogs are known for their intelligence and reasoning skills. These attributes make them excellent waterfowl retrievers and herding pups. For over 800 years on the Iberian Peninsula these pups could be found charming shepherds and farmers alike. Their signature curly coat should not be brushed or cut but completely sheared like sheep. Their coat is considered hypoallergenic.
SWDs need lots of exercise and will be as happy running as swimming to burn off some steam. These pups are playful, loving, and loyal to their family.
Smartest Dog Breeds
- If you need someone to take the SATs for you, we have you covered
- Intelligence is something you're born with. And these ones were.
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Celebrity Owners
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Fun Facts
The Spanish water dog is also known as Perro de Agua Español, Barbeta, Turco Andaluz, Laneto, Perro Turco, Perro de Lanas, Churro, Perro Rizado, and Andalucian Turk.
Health
SWDs are generally healthy pups. Some health conditions to be aware of include hip dysplasia, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroid ism, Addison’s disease, glaucoma, and allergies.
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
Family Dog Breeds
- They have the right patience and temperament for your family
- Vigilant and loyal, these dogs will protect their own
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Grooming
SWDs’ thick coats should never be brushed. Their hair never stops growing and can be best kept by clippering it evenly all over to one quarter of an inch periodically. Regardless of how long you allow the hair to become shearing should take place once a year. Some owners prefer to grow the curls out and allow them to naturally chord. Chords should be inspected regularly to make sure the hair is not collecting and hiding debris.
When you bathe your SWD massage shampoo, no conditioner, into the matts evenly as though you were washing a thick sweater. Do not rub the coat. Rinse and rinse and rinse until the water runs off clear. Using a towel squeeze out water, again do not rub the coat. Then allow the coat to air dry. As with all dogs, keep your pup’s ears and eyes clean and clear of debris. Clip your pup’s nails regularly and brush your dog’s teeth several times per week.
Cost
$1,500 – $2,000
Exercise
SWDs need lots of exercise mentally and physically. Giving your dog a source of water to burn off some steam is a great choice. These pup’s make exceptional jogging and biking partners. Games of fetch or trips to the dog park will also satisfy your pup’s needs.
Nutrition
Spanish Water Dogs eat around 1.5 cups of food per day. The exact requirement will depend on your dog’s age and activity level.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
- Low shedding dogs that will attack the allergies less
- These dogs come in all shapes, sizes and temperaments
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Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other dogs is essential. SWDs excel with positive reinforcement training. Methods that are too harsh will cause your dog to shut down. This breed has a strong prey drive, working on a strong recall command in early training is highly recommended.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
Cute Dog Breeds
- I mean, come on. These dogs will have you wanting one.
- Guaranteed to make you instagram famous (or at least your pup!)
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Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
Hunting Dog Breeds
- Energy and a willingness to get the job done, these dogs love outside
- Their traits and unique skillsets have them separated from the pack
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The Good
Low maintenance grooming
Great with family
The "Ruff"
Strong prey drive
High exercise requirements
Companion Breeds
- Their loving and caring spirit makes them great compadres
- A passion for giving back to their owner is in their DNA
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