An ancient herding breed, Spanish Water Dogs have been cherished in the Iberian Peninsula region of Spain and Portugal for centuries as working and family dogs. Also known as Perro de Agua Español, Turco Andaluz, Perro Turco, Andalucian Turk, or simply "The Turkish Dog," one theory suggests that Spanish Water Dogs were introduced to Spain by Turkish traders. However, the origins of the breed are still debated today.
While we may not know exactly how the Spanish Water Dog originated, today, they're versatile working dogs skilled in waterfowl retrieval, herding, hunting, and protection, as well as affectionate and playful family pets.
Read on to learn if a Spanish Water Dog might be a good fit for your family.
Characteristics of Spanish Water Dogs
Spanish Water Dogs have a distinguishable coat of wooly curls from head to toe that covers their eyes at full length. Spanish Water Dogs come in various solid colors — white, black, brown, and beige — or a mix of white and another hue. Sturdy and athletic, Spanish Water Dogs have a rustic appearance with drooping triangular ears.
In the U.S., Spanish Water Dogs often have docked tails, but tail docking is illegal in much of Europe and many other countries, where it's considered animal cruelty. Docked tails are traditionally docked between the second and fourth vertebrae. Natural tails can vary in appearance from almost nonexistent to full tails.
Spanish Water Dog Size
Spanish Water Dogs are medium dogs. Males average 17.5 to 19.75 inches in height and 40 to 49 pounds in weight. Females average 15.75 to 18 inches in height and 31 to 40 pounds in weight.
Spanish Water Dog Temperament
Spanish Water Dogs are high-energy dogs that thrive with lots of mental and physical stimulation. They're very personable dogs, and they need lots of human contact and bonding time with their human families.
Spanish Water Dogs often act as family protectors and can have a guard-dog demeanor about their owner, family, property, and territory. While they're not shy, Spanish Water Dogs are naturally wary of strangers but highly affectionate and loving toward their families.
Spanish Water Dog Personality
Spanish Water Dogs are brilliant, observant dogs that are keenly aware of their surroundings. Their natural awareness, combined with their loyal, protective nature, makes them excellent watchdogs.
Spanish Water Dogs are affectionate and tend to be good with children, but as herding dogs, Spanish Water Dogs have the instinct to herd anything that moves, including kids. Spanish Water Dogs kept as family pets will need to be trained out of common Spanish Water Dog characteristics like circling and nipping.
Naturally curious, Spanish Water Dogs are driven to investigate anything that catches their interest. Their curiosity and intelligence can make Spanish Water Dogs natural escape artists. They'll climb, jump over, or dig under fences if given the opportunity, and they can squeeze their bodies through tight openings.
Common Spanish Water Dog traits include:
- Loyal
- Biddable (docile, willing to please)
- Aware
- Intelligent
- Affectionate
- Protective
Caring for Spanish Water Dogs
Despite their long curly coat, Spanish Water Dogs require minimal grooming. Spanish Water Dogs are highly trainable, but they're active, energetic dogs with high needs for mental and physical stimulation.
Spanish Water Dog Grooming
Spanish Water Dogs have unique wooly coats that should never be brushed or combed. How often you trim their coat is a matter of personal preference, but two to three times a year is typical for household pets, while show dog owners only clip their Spanish Water Dogs once a year.
You should wash your Spanish Water Dog with dog-friendly shampoo. You should never rub a Spanish Water Dog's coat, so it's best to put your shampoo in a pitcher and run water into it to form the bubbles needed to wash away dirt and oil. Squeeze the shampoo mix into the coat rather than rubbing or massaging it in.
Rinse completely after shampooing until the water runs clear. Spanish water dogs don't need any conditioner or cream rinse after bathing.
Squeeze excess water out of your Spanish Water Dog's coat after bathing, blot with a towel, and allow your dog to air dry. You should never rub a Spanish Water Dog's coat with a towel to prevent matting.
You can allow your Spanish Water Dog's coat to cord if you like. Corded coats don't need trimming, but you need to watch out for any mats that pull or cause skin irritation. Uncomfortable mats can be untangled or removed by hand. The back legs, behind the ears, and the fur under a collar are all areas prone to matting.
Like all dog breeds, Spanish Water Dogs need regular nail trims and dental care. Their teeth should be brushed daily with dog-friendly toothpaste. You should trim their nails before they touch the ground when walking.
You should give your Spanish Water Dog a tick and flea preventative. Tick and flea preventative products are available in chewables, sprays, topical treatments, powders, and flea prevention collars, both over-the-counter and by prescription. Talk to your vet if you have any questions about how to choose a flea and tick preventative product for your Spanish Water Dog.
Petting Your Spanish Water Dog
Most Spanish Water Dogs love to be petted, but their sheeplike coat can make them prone to matting. You can help prevent mats if you pet your dog with your fingers open, letting the dog's coat run between your fingers like a comb. Don't rub your Spanish Water Dog in circles.
Spanish Water Dog Exercise
Spanish Water Dogs are active, high-energy dogs that do best when allowed to run at least once a day. Once they reach maturity, Spanish Water Dogs have excellent endurance and enjoy strenuous exercises such as running and hiking with their owners. Spanish Water Dogs are typically good swimmers and enjoy water games. They also excel at canine sports like agility and tracking.
Spanish Water Dog Training
Spanish Water Dogs are very biddable and strongly desire to please their owners. Positive reward-based or clicker training methods are effective for these curious, intelligent dogs. Harsh training strategies will backfire with a Spanish Water Dog. Spanish Water Dogs should be socialized from a young age due to their natural inclination to be wary around strangers.
Spanish Water Dog Medical Care
Like all dog breeds, Spanish Water Dogs need regular veterinary care. Spanish Water Dogs should visit the vet every 3 to 4 weeks as puppies and annually after 1 year of age and more frequently once older (usually twice a year).
Like all dogs, Spanish Water Dogs need standard core vaccines, and some will need noncore vaccines. Your vet may give noncore vaccines if your dog has a higher exposure risk. Talk to your vet to decide if your Spanish Water Dog needs any noncore vaccines.
Core vaccines include:
- Canine parvovirus
- Distemper
- Canine hepatitis
- Rabies
Noncore vaccines include:
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Borrelia burgdorferi
- Leptospira bacteria
You should give your Spanish Water Dog a heartworm prevention medication regularly. Heartworms are a potentially deadly parasitic infection that's spread through mosquito bites. Puppies are typically started on a heartworm preventative by 8 weeks of age. Heartworm preventatives are prescription medications that come in oral, injectable, or topical forms. Your vet can help you choose which prescription is right for your Spanish Water Dog.
Health Problems to Watch for With Spanish Water Dogs
The average Spanish Water Dog lifespan is 12 to 14 years. Spanish Water Dogs are generally healthy and hardy dogs, but some Spanish Water Dog health issues to watch out for include:
Ear Infections
Ear infections are more common in dogs than in humans because of their L-shaped ear canals. Spanish Water Dogs have floppy ears, making them more prone to ear infections than other breeds. Additionally, Spanish Water Dogs often enjoy playing in water, and moisture can lead to the growth of bacteria or yeast that causes ear infections. Signs of an ear infection include:
- Scratching at one or both ears
- Head shaking
- Discharge or crusting
- Foul odor
- Pain
- Redness
- Swelling
If your Spanish Water Dog has an ear infection, your vet will recommend an appropriate treatment. Most of the treatments for ear infections include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications in the ear drops prescribed.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is when your Spanish Water Dog's thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones. Spanish Water Dogs are prone to compensative autoimmune thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid, and congenital hypothyroidism with goiter (CHG). In this genetic defect, the dog's thyroid can't make enough thyroid hormone. CHG is typically detected in the first two weeks of life.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- Excessive shedding
- Fur loss or thinning
- Weight gain
- Reduced activity
- Reduced cold tolerance
- Thickening of the skin
- Frequent ear or skin infections
- Facial droop
CHG also causes an enlargement on the neck, called a goiter.
Your veterinarian can make a hypothyroidism diagnosis with a blood test. Hypothyroidism is treated with a synthetic thyroid hormone that will need to be given for the rest of your dog's life.
Special Considerations for Spanish Water Dogs
Spanish Water Dogs need a structured routine. Spanish Water Dogs are intelligent and observant, quickly picking up on patterns in their day-to-day life. Your Spanish Water Dog will be better behaved and more straightforward to train if they have a daily routine that allows them to know what to expect next.
Spanish Water Dogs can have a high prey drive. As herding dogs, Spanish water dogs can try to herd anything that moves: children, small animals, even cars. Spanish Water Dogs aren't trustworthy off-leash and should be contained in a secure area. Spanish Water Dogs can make great family dogs, but they need to be well-socialized with children, and you shouldn't tolerate herding behaviors like nipping around children.
History of Spanish Water Dogs
Spanish Water Dogs are an ancient breed, mentioned in historical literature as early as 1110 A.D. While their origins are hotly debated, Spanish Water Dogs were popular working dogs in Spain for centuries, used for herding, hunting, and water work.
When the industrial revolution reduced the need for traditional working dogs with modern technology, Spanish Water Dogs began to be used in more modern ways — search and rescue, K9 drug and bomb detection, and as household pets.
