Spanish water dog
The ancestor of the Spanish water dog is the old dog Barbet, which is also the origin of other breeds, such as poodle (poodle) and the different breeds of water dogs (Spanish, Portuguese, French or Romagna, among others).The Iberian Peninsula exists at least since 1100 a.C., but it is not known exactly what the exact origin is and whether there were other races in its development.
- In the eighteenth century.
- The Spanish water dog was used as a working dog in activities such as breeding and hunting.
- Due to its ability to swim.
- Fishermen from northern Spain sometimes used it as an aid.
- Its population was mainly in Andalusia and was known as “the Turkish dog”.
Subsequently, and with the appearance of other breeds in the country, the Spanish water dog ceased to be the helper in the breeding and hunting work, thus decreasing its population, being replaced mainly by the German shepherd and the Belgian shepherd Malinois., the Spanish water dog remains popular and well known, but his work has changed, currently being one of the most popular sports dogs in Spain.
The Spanish water dog is very physically similar to the current French Barbet for its common origin, It is a dog of medium size, rustic, athletic and very muscular, strong head, elegant and with a flatned skull.depression (stop) is soft and shallow. The eyes are usually brown, the ears medium, triangular and drooping.
The body is medium, robust and slightly longer than large, although it is a very proportionate dog, the spine is straight and strong, while the rump tilts gently vertically, the chest is wide and deep.The belly is slightly inwards.
The measurements and weights of the Spanish water dog are usually
The tail of this dog is medium insertion and, unfortunately, the FCI standard of the breed indicates that it should be amputated between the second and fourth vertebrae, which we do not recommend in Animal Expert.Fortunately, this cruel and unnecessary custom is lost in the world and is even illegal in many countries.In addition, the CFI currently accepts dogs of all breeds with full tail, although its standards indicate that the tail should be amputated.
The coat of the Spanish water dog is long, curly and hard.It should be noted that although there are tricolor, black, brown and reddish dogs, those accepted by the FCI are as follows:
The tradition of the Spanish working dog water dog therefore reflects an obedient behavior, with a natural predisposition to learning, this is due, in part, to your intelligence, which we must periodically stimulate through trainings and other appropriate activities, both physical and mental.
It is a dog very faithful and attached to its owners, brave and with a very balanced personality, which in general usually show instincts of hunting and breeding, heritage of the activities that have developed over the generations.
The care of the Spanish water dog hair requires an effort on the part of the guardians, since tangles and accumulation of dirt are frequent, we recommend leaving a length of between 3 and 12 centimeters, however, the fur should be brushed almost every day.day, if you want to keep looking good, without embarrassing yourself. For a perfect fit, ideally go to the pet shop every other month or so. Still, we can wash them at home with nourishing shampoos and conditioners that soften hair and make brushing easier.
Another aspect to highlight is the physical exercise that this breed of dogs needs, are active and require at least two to three daily walks, combined with games (globe, frisbee or race) and mental stimulation activities (mainly canines and obedience).The activity that combines the two aspects mentioned is agility, a very complete sport and recommended for this breed.
Because of its faithful and attached character, the Spanish water dog needs socialization from puppy, that is, the process in which it will learn to relate to different people, animals and environments, a process that occurs throughout life and is essential to avoid fears and adverse reactions in adulthood.Through socialization, the dog learns to understand and understand the “rules” of human, feline and canine communication.
Also remember that socialization begins when the puppy is still a puppy close to its mother, so separating it in advance can make learning from this process difficult.In general, a well-socialized Spanish water dog gets along well with other animals and strangers, although it is somewhat reserved compared to other breeds.
The Spanish water dog is very intelligent, easily assimilates the basic teachings and orders of obedience, in addition to improving the relationship with him and encouraging good communication, teaching orders of obedience to your pet is very beneficial for him, since it is a breed of dog that requires regular mental stimulation.It is very interesting to teach the dog skills or tricks, such as: teaching him how to kick.All these exercises will help you get distracted and avoid negative behaviors.
It should be remembered that the Spanish water dog has developed a lot of herd instinct, so you can have such behaviors with different family members, especially children, we always recommend monitoring the games and be attentive if you behave like this.
The Spanish water dog is considered one of the healthiest dogs in the world and does not usually suffer from hereditary problems, however, as with all dogs, the most common diseases recorded are:
To avoid late detection of any of these diseases, we recommend that you go to the veterinarian every 6 months or when necessary, also follow the schedule of vaccinations and periodic dewoers (external and internal). If you follow our advice, you will have healthy health.and happy companion between the age of 10 and 14.