Spanish Water Dog

Other name: Perro de agua espanol

Photo: adult dog of Spanish Water Dog breed
© Viktorija Zar / Shutterstock
Photo: adult dog of Spanish Water Dog breed
© John Ceulemans / Shutterstock

The Spanish Water Dog is used as a hunting, fishing or sheepdog. Docile, happy, hard-working and very well-rounded, they have a strong aptitude for learning thanks to their great capacity for understanding. This dog can adapt to all situations and conditions. They make excellent utility dogs that can also be considered as pleasant pet dogs.

Checked by animal care professional
Comment Share

Life expectancy

The Spanish Water Dog has a life expectancy of between 10 and 14 years

Temperament

Size

Medium

Adult size

Female Between 16 and 18 in
Male Between 17 and 20 in

Adult weight

Female Between 31 and 40 lb
Male Between 62 and 49 lb
Coat colour
Black White Brown
Type of coat
Long
Eye colour
Brown

Purchase price

The Spanish Water Dog costs between £810 and £830

Good to know

In their country of origin, they are used as search dogs along firefighters (searching for lost persons) and the police (searching for drugs and other illegitimate items at airports)
In the United States, they are used for the search of bodies and in Holland, they are used especially for the search of dead bodies in marshy grounds.
Finally, in Spain, an educational project managed by the Ministry of National Education and led by the president of the Spanish breed club has made these water dogs a therapist dog for the elderly and disabled children.

More details about the Spanish Water Dog

Spanish Water Dog: Origins and history

The existence of this dog in the Iberian Peninsula dates back to a very long time ago. It’s even said that the Spanish Water Dog could be the oldest out of their category. The largest number of them is found in Andalusia, where they have been known for centuries as a “Turkish dog” and are used as sheepdogs. Their genetic characteristics haven’t really changed through selection until today thanks to their numerous and versatile working qualities.

FCI classification of the Spanish Water Dog

  • Group 8 - Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs

  • Section 3 : Water Dogs

Training a Spanish Water Dog

Particularly docile, this dog’s learning abilities are almost endless. It’s often said that the Spanish Water Dog alone possesses the qualities of three or four other dogs, so their capabilities are very diverse.

Very easy to train, this dog understands what is expected of them extraordinarily quickly, as long as teaching methods are respectful and kind toward them.

With this breed, the basic principles quickly sink in but beware, regular and consistent hard work is necessary in order to have a Spanish Water Dog as perfect as they seem on paper.

Spanish Water Dog: Purchase price

The price of a Spanish Water dog varies according to their age, origin and sex. The average cost of a pedigree is around £830.

Regarding the average budget required to meet the needs of a dog of this size, it costs around £35 a month.

Name ideas for a Spanish Water Dog

  • Woody
  • Jax
  • Xia
  • Indy
  • Liam
See all dog name ideas

Do you have a name idea to suggest?

Do you want a Spanish Water Dog dog ?

Oh no...
There are no Spanish Water Dog adoption profiles at the moment...

Animals for adoption
Do you have a question about the Spanish Water Dog ?

Is the Spanish Water Dog right for you?

take the test

Did you find this breed sheet useful?

Leave a comment on this breed
Connect to comment
If you want to share this profile: