Gundog Training Forum

This is my crew and i love them to bits. Sometimes i go nuts and feel like strangling them but most of the time i enjoy having them around, loving them and being loved back.



Helene

I like my colours the other way round, yellow labs & black cockers

PERCE wrote:I like my colours the other way round, yellow labs & black cockers

Meeeh, lots of yellow hairs around for you then. If i ever manage to finish that dog house i might consider a yellow labrador - until then i prefer black, yep. And little miss Sunpower was supposed to be brown, at least in my dreams but hey ho - at least she's photogenic.

Helene

Crackers all of them, but do love the curly one!

Gorgeous dogs Hepe. What to you use the Irish Water Spaniel for? I do like the look of them except for their tails!

Jelinga

Jelinga wrote:Gorgeous dogs Hepe. What to you use the Irish Water Spaniel for? I do like the look of them except for their tails!

Jelinga

Picking up and flushing ducks up from ponds and ditches. We got quite a few heavy reed belts so a long legged strong spaniel is an asset. Also the dreaded , 'can someone send their dog along the ditch to see if there are any birds left'? That's him then, the labradude isn't especially interested in unshot game and god forbid little miss Sunpower would learn that trick, oh no! .

Aside that, the IWS is the breed closest to my heart, they can drive you nuts but also make you laugh at least once a day. Plus they look super cool! *sighs happily*

Helene

Hepe your Irish Water Spaniel is very interesting -- never knew they could be used as a flushing type dog I just assumed they were more like a lab for retrieving etc -- thats just my ignorance to the breed not a challenge to what they can do.
I presume by the name they originated in Ireland? I live in Ireland and never seen one in the flesh just in pictures they must be very rare and hard to come by? I would love to watch one hunting and learn more something to put on the to do list -- have you any video of him hunting etc would be interested in seeing same?
Cheers
Andy

Thats a fabulous shot. Gorgeous dogs.

Love the photo

086*downey wrote:Hepe your Irish Water Spaniel is very interesting -- never knew they could be used as a flushing type dog I just assumed they were more like a lab for retrieving etc -- thats just my ignorance to the breed not a challenge to what they can do.
I presume by the name they originated in Ireland? I live in Ireland and never seen one in the flesh just in pictures they must be very rare and hard to come by? I would love to watch one hunting and learn more something to put on the to do list -- have you any video of him hunting etc would be interested in seeing same?
Cheers
Andy

Yes they are quite rare and it's not the first choice for most people be it for hunting or other tasks. There have been problems with both health and temperament but i'm happy to say that it seems much improved on both accounts. It's not that difficult to find a pup but of course as always, make sure it's from dogs being worked, it's not a split breed but some lines are a better choice obviously. Not a first choice breed if you want to trial but if you look for a strong big dog to do a bit of this and that with - perfect. If interested seeing IWS working i'd contact The sporting Irish water spaniel club in UK to see if you got some in your area. http://www.siwsc.org.uk/

This is my third IWS and all three have been a mix of spaniel and retriever in regards to hunting style. Great picking up dogs with superb marking skill but more 'birdy' than a retriever so very interested in flushing too. I tried to squeeze my other IWS into a spaniel hunting pattern but naah... it both looked and felt silly for both of us so we gave that up. I don't have any video's unfortunately, i shall have to think of that next duck season or maybe just try to record a snippet when we are training. And now, sorry for the IWS spam, given half a chance it's very easy to gush about this odd, quirky and wonderful breed. Most of my doggie training friends are into trialling either with retriever or spaniel (or both) so they aren't really interested in the ugly ducklings. It's very popular to holler 'go home with the poodle' when we show up, to everyones amusement.

My 'previous' IWS/labrador combo waiting to get out and pick up - both in dog heaven now



Ture my current IWS, see the purple tinge in his coat? This is why the coat color is named liver puce!



Beneath the curls



And last one of Tures sister Smilla, photograper is Tina Johansson. This is how i think an IWS should be presented - unfortunately i have a tendency to go nuts with coats full of seeds and weed so i trim the feathering on all of my dogs - the cocker too.




Helene