Spanish Water Dog standard - 2021

The Spanish Water Dog is very old breed from Iberian peninsula. The most of population came from Andalucia called as "turco", "laneto", or "churro". RUSTIC - ROBUST - MEDIUM SIZED dog, well proportioned, dolichocephalic, of rather elongated harmonious shape and attractive appearance with well developed muscles. 

PROPORCIONES IMPORTANTES | IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:

Males size:  45-50 cm (ideal size in males is 48 cm) - tolerant is - / + 1 cm

Females size: 41 - 46 cm (ideal size in females 44 cm) - tolerant is - / + 1 cm

Teeth: scissors bite. Level bite is also allowed in dogs of higher quality or older dogs. Standard allows missing of teeth: PM1 a M3.

Teeth: medium size, triangular shape, setting in medium height, slightly above the level of eyes

Tail: natural short tail in all lenghts, depends from the number of vertebrae, there can be also "anuros" dogs born with no tail at all. In case of long tails, is required tail in shape of sabre (straigh tail), carried on in medium height. The curly tail carried on the back is disqualifying fault.

Angulations: medium angulation, overangulation is highly undesirable

Underline/belly: slightly tucked up 

ABOUT SWDs: Behaviour, Temperament and Socialization = MULTITALENTED DOGS

After gaining 10 years of experience in this breed, I can better describe you how Spanish Water dogs really are. Why did Spanish Water Dogs win my heart? Well, they are very funny, INTELLIGENT, loyal, faithful, obedient, gay, hard working and family dogs. They are great companion to other dogs or animals because they are not dominant or agressive breed. It´s able to adapt to any type of setting, whether it is urban village or apartment complex. In Spain were used like herding dogs, help of fishermen or working dogs. Today they are multitalented dogs used like agility dogs who love to work and jump, herding dogs, hunting dogs (in water) or gundogs, companion dogs, assistance dogs looking for bombs, drugs (police dogs) and they can handle many other activities like frisbee, obedience, caniscross, dog diving (they can dive 6m!) etc. They are suitable for families with children (smaller or older), active pairs or people who love walks in the nature. They are not hyperactive dogs, but they require some activity, walk, running or brain activity. They love to learn and listen to owner.

As a negative things in this breed (yes, each breed has positives and negatives) I might mention the shyness and protection of territory, because the breed was originally used for herding, some lines or combination of parents-dogs can still produce the herding genes and first time owners or very sensitive owners may not handle the training. You should be dominant over your dog, not dog over you! There are many positive training methods for using. Spanish Water dogs are very intelligent and they learn quickly. Yes, they bark on their territory, but they do not bark when it is not necessary. Some dogs after growing up, might not like the strangers. They are not labradors jumping on every stranger, but the family is in the first place for them. Usually they are fixed to only one person (adult one) in the family. In conclusion, I would say that everything depends from the owner: correct puppy socialization, taking take them as much as possible out of the house, on the street to meet new people, other dogs, cars, noisey things, take them to training halls, to puppy-kindergarden and do dog activities and trainings so they get skills for what they were bred - functionality. 

ABOUT SWDs: coat, colors and care about coat

The coat of Spanish Water Dogs is always curly (in short or long lenght too). They must have the same length all over the body. The maximum recommended length for shows is 15cm and minimum 2cm to show the quality of the curls. The coat for shows is never brushed nor scissored, we can see that some exhibitors are using scissors or combs especially around neck, angulations or topline. Such dogs should be penalized. Myth 1:   SWDs have hair - no, every dog has a coat.   Myth 2: SWDs have no undercoat - well, they have the undercoat.    Myth 3: SWDs have swimming membranes - no, they have normal paws and fingers like other breeds.

SHAVING/HAIRCUT: Spanish Water Dogs are usually shaved once or twice a year, but it depends from the owner´s preferences or show timing. In our kennel we use hairmachine MOSER-MAX45 + OSTER 7F blade (3,2mm). The body, ears, muzzle, head, legs and paws must be shaved with the same blade. We make final corrections with grooming scissors (between fingers, around eyes, ears, intimate parts etc). 

COLORS RECOGNIZED BY FCI:  In Spanish Water Dogs we can see a lot of types of coat and colors. The black, brown, cream and white. All of them can be in combination with white. Since 2021 the SPANISH KENNEL CLUB recognized another color: tan. We can see it in combination like black-tan or brown-tan.

COLORS NOT RECOGNIZED BY FCI:  Gris or blue, tricolor and albinism are colors which should never be used in breeding or seen at shows. They are not standard colors.