Irish Water Spaniel – History

In 1990, the IWSCA had just a few ways to recognize versatility in Irish Water Spaniels. At the time, the number of different venues that an IWS could title in was limited to conformation, obedience, tracking, and field. Field included AKC Retriever Field Trials and AKC Retriever Hunt Tests, making it only five venues to title the breed in.

The then Board of Directors thought it was important to strive for honoring IWS that could meet the breed conformation standard, demonstrate trainability by achieving an obedience title, and show that the dog possessed the understanding needed to do what it was bred to do: find and retrieve birds.

So, early in the 90s, the IWSCA board approved a parent club award called the “AKC All-Around.” It’s awarded to an IWS earning an AKC title in conformation, obedience, and retriever hunt tests. In the 20 or so years this award has been available, 109 IWS have been so honored.

Since that time, the AKC has introduced agility titles in 1994, and Rally became a titling event in 2004. Just last year, the AKC opened Spaniel Hunt Tests to IWS, and we already have a Master Hunter Upland and numerous JHU and SHU titles. Today, there are a total of 11 venues that an IWS can obtain an AKC title in, with more to come.

Irish Water Spaniels can work in many other venues as well, in addition to the original ones. They are therapy dogs and participate in freestyle events. The AKC offers versatility certificates that recognize dogs with obedience, tracking, and agility titles, and the IWS have achieved those as well. Outside of the AKC, there are several working IWS service dogs, as well as successful flyball, dock-diving, and hunting dogs.

The IWS, as a breed, is able to participate in all these venues for two very notable reasons. First, they are not an extreme breed from a conformation perspective. The standard calls for a moderate and balanced dog of medium size. A proper IWS should be an athlete that can swim strongly, run with speed and grace, and be strong enough to carry large birds while also navigating tough terrain. They should also be a hardy dog that can withstand harsh conditions, including very cold water swims.

Secondly, IWS are wonderful companion-minded dogs. Their temperament enables the IWS to be versatile and capable of excelling in most venues. They love to work with their people, and it shows in their performance. They may not offer ultimate precision, but they always bring enthusiasm and inventiveness to the task at hand. All they ask in return is a fair and sharing owner, preferably one with a sense of humor and very little ego.

Today’s IWS can be found in Best in Show lineups, achieving OTCHs, MACHs, PACHs, and CTs, and competing in the Master National. Many more can be found as companions of owners who often stand grinning as their beloved IWS creates yet another amusing story to share with friends and family.

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Louisa Nally – Thoughts of an Irish Canine Painter

I am an Artist. Like all Artists, I am extremely emotional and sensitive. When I paint, I fulfill an essential need to express my innermost feelings. Painting enables me to feel good about myself.

I am often asked why I have become so involved in painting dogs; in particular, the Irish Native Breeds and Gundogs. The answer is quite simple: I see dogs as part of our everyday lives and an extension of the people who have them.

For all of you who show them and own them, and indeed, work them and also compete with them in the field, just think for a moment how happy you feel when they succeed in competition. Well, that is exactly how good I feel when I am satisfied with a painting I have completed. I have a need to immortalize these precious moments for the future.

I see Gundogs as an essential link between man and nature. Think about it. They were evolved by man because of our need to become closer to the Earth and to the animals around us. Apart from hunting, imagine all the things that we would miss if we went walking in the countryside without our dogs. If our dogs even sniff the scent of a rabbit, one can immediately visualize the animal having been there. It shows us how insensitive humans would have otherwise become to the world around us. In a way, the dog has become our sixth sense. This is what appeals to me and what I try to capture when I paint.

I love to capture the incredible concentration and harmony between a dog and handler, whether showing or working—or just being with each other. This is why a dog is often with its owner or human companion, be it a child or an adult, when a picture builds up in my mind.

The Irish Water Spaniel, among the eight other Native Breeds, is part of our Irish Culture and Heritage. Many of the Irish Breeds are very popular in the US, as people consciously (or even unconsciously) keep in touch with their ancestral roots through their love for these dogs.

The beautiful Irish Breeds are so loyal, loving, and intelligent, each with its own very special Irish personality. It’s been said that they like the odd drop of Guinness… and sure, why not?

Love to all you in the US and in other countries, for helping to secure the future of our Native Breeds.

Sláinte!

Connemara

Here's Looking at You

Quiet Contemplation

Heathcliff's Kids

Bog Dog

Contentment

American Lady

About the Artist

Louisa Nally is a professional Dog Artist living in the West of Ireland. She moved there 20 years ago from Dublin, where she lived high in the Dublin Mountains. Now she’s happy in the Mayo Mountains, in Knocknageeha, Newport, near the tourist town of Westport. The famous Dr. Trench O’Rourke (an Irish Water Spaniel Breeder at turn of the 20th Century) lived in this lovely little town in “River House” on the banks of the Black Oak River. The house is still there, standing proudly. It’s a guest house now and a wonderful place to stay, especially if you’re an IWS person.

Louisa has been painting Irish Water Spaniels for over 40 years. She specializes in all the Irish Native Dog Breeds and accepts commissions. Louisa paints in her Newport studio accompanied by her faithful “rat-tailed” Spaniel and Mayo Mountain Sheepdog.

louisa.nally@gmail.com

tel: +353 852164451

The post Louisa Nally – Thoughts of an Irish Canine Painter appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

His viewpoint may help to explain the extraordinary attention given to runway models from New York to Milan, but it might just as easily apply to the fashionistas of the purebred dog world. Chinese Cresteds, Komondorok, and Poodles certainly appear as if dressed by an eccentric, creative genius with considerable vision and, just perhaps, questionable taste.

The coat of the Irish Water Spaniel (IWS), likewise, is curiously individual. Each and every distinguishing characteristic as described in the General Appearance section of the Breed Standard pertains to this Irish original’s coat: “… a topknot of long, loose curls and a body covered with a dense, crisply curled liver colored coat contrasted by a smooth face and a smooth ‘rat tail.’”

To understand the importance of the breed’s coat, it is best to begin with the following words from the Standard’s section on coat: “Proper coat is of vital importance to protect the dog while working.”

The breed’s traditional “work” has been that of a waterfowl retriever in the cold and wet (and often treacherous) environments of its native Ireland. The IWS can (and does) perform its traditional role wherever it is found, so the correct coat is essential for the dog’s health and welfare.

Fundamentally, there are three aspects to the IWS coat:

• texture
• pattern
• color

Perhaps the most important of these is texture, which in this breed refers to two distinctly different types of hair. The first type is a long curl known as a “ringlet” which covers the skull, ears, beard, neck, body, legs, feet, and base of the tail. The curls of the topknot and on the ears may be “loose” and the leg coat may appear as “waves,” but the neck, body, and base of the tail are to be covered with “dense, tight, crisp curls.”

Here, density refers to the insulating quality of the hair which should be so abundant as to make the skin impervious to water. The tightness means that each curl, comprised of perhaps hundreds of individual hairs, has a rather small diameter which traps air and provides further insulation in the water. The crispness indicates a springy quality and is present only when those curls possess both sufficient length and a natural oiliness. “Crisp” does not refer to the texture of the individual hairs, which should be neither woolly nor coarse.

The IWS can (and does) perform its traditional role wherever it is found, so the correct coat is essential for the dog’s health and welfare.

The second type of IWS coat texture is “short and smooth.” When considered with the crisp curls, this hair forms the second aspect of the breed’s coat; its unusual pattern. The IWS face and throat, a small portion of the rear legs, and the majority of the tail are ideally smooth-coated. “Face” refers to the entire muzzle (including the lower jaw) up to and including the eyes but not exactly between them where a long, curly “widow’s peak” grows. The “throat” includes the area from the back of both sides of the mandible down to the prosternum or… from “behind the beard to the breastbone,” thus creating a “V-shaped patch” of smooth hair.

On the front of the hind legs, below the hocks, and on the tail beginning two or three inches from its origin, the hair is short and smooth. The coat’s “patterning” should occur naturally and is ideally limited to the aforementioned areas. Extreme examples would include smooth hair on the sides of the neck, on the shoulders, and/or on the front of the forelegs or the back of the hind legs. Sparse hair on the throat or tail is not uncommon; however, a bare rear is undesirable, as are curls on the face or throat and curls along the length of the tail.

The third aspect of the breed’s coat which deserves attention is its unique color, described as “puce” liver. The brown of this self-colored breed possesses a “purplish tinge” that is best observed at dawn or dusk, especially in a wet environment. Young dogs and dogs that have not been permitted to spend a great deal of time in the sun will appear especially “in bloom.” Only one color is acceptable and it is referred to as being “rich” to “dark.”

Variations in color (as well as in texture and pattern) do occur, even on the same dog, so it is essential to part the coat to determine its true color. White hairs, however, may only appear due to “the graying of age.” White hair interspersed throughout the curled coat of a young dog, commonly referred to as “frosting,” is faulty. The condition is similar in appearance to the faded coats of some Lagotti Romagnoli and occurs most often on the IWS at the base of the ears, below the elbows, on the rear legs above the hocks, and on the feet.

There is no denying that the coat of the Irish Water Spaniel is peculiar; however, it is the breed’s hallmark and has always generated sufficient interest to keep the breed from going the way of the leisure suit.

Irish Water Spaniel Breed Magazine

Showsight Magazine is the only publication to offer dedicated Digital Breed Magazines for ALL recognized AKC Breeds.

Read and learn more about the Irish Water Spaniel dog breed with articles and information in our Irish Water Spaniel Breed Magazine.

If you enjoy the Irish Water Spaniel Breed Magazine, help us educate the community by sharing it.

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Interview with Stacy Duncan, Breeder of Flintcrest Irish Water Spaniels

Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder?

Stacy Duncan: I live in Snohomish, Washington. I was born into dogs as my parents were showing dogs long before I came along. Very lucky to be a second-generation breeder, owner, handler. My father, Tad Duncan, was a professional handler, so I was raised in the world of dog shows. My mother, Barbara Duncan, was incredibly skilled at kennel and breeding program management.

As any professional handler will tell you, especially coming from the generation of my parents, they can have a great influence over (and work in partnership with) their clients’ breeding programs, and so, at a very young age I was exposed to all elements of being a breeder.

My mother was a breeder as well, so it was part of the household growing up—all pieces of a successful breeding puzzle, from reading and understanding pedigrees, analyzing phenotype and genotype, breeding, whelping, dam and puppy care, puppy raising, home vetting, and puppy evaluations to placing the correct puppy with the correct home and being there for the life of that puppy and available to the owners for any questions, support, advice, and guidance.

I have been listed as a co-breeder on various breedings for many different breeds, starting from a young age. I’ve influenced many Irish Water Spaniel (IWS) breedings, including as a co-breeder alongside world-renowned Irish Water Spaniel breeder Colleen McDaniel, under the Whistlestop kennel name. I have supported the breeding, whelping, and raising of puppies before breeding my first, homebred litter of Irish Water Spaniels in 2014.

What is my kennel name? How many dogs do I currently keep?

Stacy Duncan: When I decided it was time to breed my first homebred litter, I asked my parents how they would feel if I continued with their kennel name for my IWS. They both agreed without hesitation. So, in honor of them, I use Flintcrest as my kennel name. Right now, I have three dogs at home, two are intact and will be used in my breeding program. I plan to breed my girl this year; hopefully she plays along on the timing, but anyone who breeds dogs knows that things don’t always time as planned.

Which show dogs from the past have been my noteworthy winners?

MBIS/MBISS/NBISS GCHB Poole’s Ide Got Water RN JH (Keegan), bred by Greg Siner of Poole’s Ide IWS, was my first big-winning IWS and set an incredible foundation for me and my future in the breed. Keegan was a 13-time All-Breed Best in Show winner, 5-time Best in Specialty Show winner, 2-time Group Placer at Westminster Kennel Club, and had many more accolades. Always Owner-Handled by me.

MBIS/MBISS/NBISS GCHS Whisltestop’s Fire & Ice JHU (Annah), bred by Colleen McDaniel and me, was a Keegan daughter out of CH Whistlestop’s The Wind Moriah CD RA JH (Moriah). This specific litter was truly a once-in-a-lifetime litter. The Keegan/Moriah breeding produced five Best in Show winners, which also includes the most-winning IWS in the history of the breed in both the US (Riley – GCH Whistlestop’s Riley on Fire, also a Westminster Kennel Club Group 1 winner), and the UK (Merlin – AM CH/SH CH Whistle Stop’s Elements of Magic CD RN SGWC, also a Crufts Gundog Group 1 winner). Breeder/Owner-Handled by me.

BIS/MBISS GCHB Stanegate It’s Showtime CD RN JH SHU DS (Ruckus), bred by Judith Carruthers in the UK, was a Keegan son out of Stanegate Sparks Will Fly and a stud puppy back to me for the breeding. Ruckus is my first All-Around Irish Water Spaniel as awarded by the IWSCA to recognize dogs that succeed by finishing their AKC Championship (CH), earning a Companion Dog title (CD), and a Junior Hunter title (JH). Ruckus accomplished an amazing feat by earning his final pass for his Junior Hunter title and winning Best in Specialty Show at the Irish Water Spaniel Club of Puget Sound on the same day. Now this was only possible due to the proximity of the Hunt Test and Specialty, but it was pretty impressive to see him transition between tasks without effort. Always Owner-Handled by me.

MBIS/MBISS/NBISS GCHB Flintcrest Five Star General CGC TKN (Grant) was bred by Colleen McDaniel and me out of GCHB Flintcrest Fully Monty and CH Madcap Cutty Sark CD RE SH. Grant is only four years old and, after a short show career that has been put on hold due to an injury to his neck, he has already accomplished so much. He is a 7-time Best in Show winner, 3-time Best in Specialty Show winner, and we had started field training with one HRC test passed. We are working very hard to get Grant fully recovered so that he can again do all the things he loves and fulfill his full potential. Always Breeder/Owner-Handled by me.

BISS GCH Flintcrest Flying Trapeze (Kelly), bred by Mary Westlake and me, is a Keegan daughter out of GCH Whistlestop’s Madame Butterfly CGC TKN (Sheena). I had been waiting for the perfect granddaughter to take back to Keegan to create the ever sought-after granddaughter/grandsire breeding. Sheena was the perfect girl to accomplish this breeding. Born in December 2020, Kelly is still young but is well accomplished. She finished her Championship at 18 months in July of 2022 with all points being earned from the Bred-By Class at either IWS Specialties/Supported shows or Sporting Dog Specialty shows, and with only being shown at ten (10) total shows, eight (8) with points available. Kelly went on to earn her Grand Championship in August of 2022 and has earned numerous Breed wins and Group placements since earning her Championship. Always Breeder/Owner-Handled by me.

Which have been my most influential sires and dams?

Stacy Duncan: Keegan started my program off on the best possible foot. He sired one of the most memorable litters that had the most incredible, record-breaking success (see above). Annah had one litter, and in that litter of 13 she produced eight champions. Grant has been used once, only siring one very promising puppy, and has a few more planned breedings on the books for 2023. I hope that Kelly will be an influential dam, but time will tell, hopefully, this year as well.

Can I talk a bit about my facilities? Where are my puppies whelped? How are they raised?

Stacy Duncan: My puppies are whelped and raised in the house. As they grow, their environment grows, and exposure changes to try to make them as prepared as possible for their forever homes.

What is my “process” for selecting Show Puppies? Performance Puppies? Field Puppies?

Stacy Duncan: Having been raised in the world of dog shows, I picked up the skills my parents had for puppy selection. But honestly, the puppy’s personality is the first factor I consider when looking at each puppy and the available homes. There is no point in putting a beautiful show puppy with a soft personality in a show home that has no IWS experience. My job for my puppies is to place them correctly, so I use temperament testing in addition to the day-to-day observations of the puppies in different situations. For true hunting homes, I do like to expose puppies to bird wings, and if possible, a live bird to gauge interest. Raw instinct in an eight-week-old puppy is amazing to watch.

Do I compete in Companion Events? Performance Events?

Stacy Duncan: I strongly believe in Performance and Companion events, but am not a diehard participant. I’ve personally participated in Dock Diving, Rally, and Field Training/Running Hunt Tests (both waterfowl and upland) and have titled dogs in those events. I’ve had a personal dog achieve their companion dog (CD), but at the hands of a far more talented trainer.

Are Field Trials or parent club Hunt Tests important to me?

Stacy Duncan: I fully believe that an IWS with natural instincts should be given the opportunity to participate in field training. Many years ago, I was told that Keegan was too “pretty” to hunt. Well, within a month or so of that statement, I had started working with a field trainer to prove that show dogs can do what they are bred to do. It’s very important to me that Irish Water Spaniels do not get split between show dogs and field dogs. That divide has not proven healthy for any breed that has experienced it. Each of my IWS are given the chance and introduced to birds. If they respond well, we continue with training.

Are there any health-related concerns in my breed? Any special nutritional needs?

Stacy Duncan: IWS are seeing a notable rate of cancer in the breed. The challenge is that it is different types, triggered at different age ranges, and presents no clear patterns in parentage either.

Do I think my breed is supported by a sufficient number of preservation breeders?

Stacy Duncan: Simple answer – NO. As a rare, low entry breed, I do worry about the future of the Irish Water Spaniel.

Is my breed well suited to be a family dog? Who are the best candidates to own my breed?

Stacy Duncan: I usually misquote the Spiderman movie when I talk to potential homes about an IWS puppy. I like to say, “With GREAT intelligence comes GREAT responsibility” (instead of “with great power comes great responsibility” like in the movie). IWS are smart, and if intellect is not guided and exposed to the world, it can create challenges. I encourage all puppy buyers to understand the need for exposure and training at a young age. If you put in the energy, you’ll create an amazing companion. I also like to express the need for an IWS to have a job. If an owner does not pick that job, the puppy will pick it and the owner might not like their selection. Harness that intelligence, give it job, and make the best dog possible.

What is the biggest misconception about my breed? What is my breed’s best-kept secret?

Stacy Duncan: The biggest misconception is that the IWS is not suitable to be a family pet. This is simply not true. Do puppy owners need to put in some work? Absolutely. IWS do not have the same personalities as a Golden Retriever, but with a little effort they can make wonderful family pets.

The breed itself is the best-kept secret of the Sporting Group. Our community jokes and says, “You don’t have to hunt with an ugly dog.” (No offense intended to any other hunting breeds.) The Irish Water Spaniel is a wonderful breed, truly the clown of the Sporting Group, a highly intelligent dog with unlimited potential to be trained to do just about anything asked of it.

If I could share a comment or two with judges of my breed, what would I like to say to them?

Stacy Duncan: Size matters. The IWS Breed Standard is clear on size, including direction on height and weight, but it’s also important to keep in mind that the breed should have sufficient bone, a barreled ribcage, and be balanced. Tall, lanky animals with no ribcage are not the ideal IWS. The breed needs the proper amount of bone and rib spring to do its job. Picture hunting in the muck, mud, and other tough conditions of an Irish Bog and you’ll see why the IWS Standard is written to describe a dog that can withstand such conditions.

Do I have any words of wisdom to pass along to newer breeders?

Stacy Duncan: Work with a mentor. Learn about this amazing breed and do your very best to stay true to what an IWS is intended to be as you create the next generation.

For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever experienced with a Sporting Dog?

Stacy Duncan: Looking back, I can laugh about this event, but at the moment it happened I was completely mortified. I was showing an Irish Water Spaniel named “Woody” (MBISS SH CH, Fin CH, Dk CH, N CH, S CH, Am CH, Fynder Freethinker) who was here from England to finish his American Championship and be used at stud while here (one of which created my heart dog, Keegan, who is mentioned above).

Woody was, to put it nicely, very enthusiastic in and outside the show ring and was a significantly-sized dog who was strong and motivated to be in the ring at all times. I was trying to do some training with him outside the Group ring to harness his drive, but he simply couldn’t stand being ringside and not in the Group ring. So, he broke the leash he was on, jumped the fence, and ran around the Group ring during the Hound Group at a local show. He was having his own little party and enjoying every second of running free.

Luckily, all of the Hounds were welcoming to their Sporting Dog intruder. Very funny, looking back (and so Irish in his antics). Woody was an amazing dog and he never lost that zeal for life, fun, and freedom.

Are you looking for an Irish Water Spaniel puppy?

The best way to ensure a long and happy relationship with a purebred dog is to purchase one from a responsible breeder. Not sure where to begin finding a breeder?

Contact the National Parent Club’s Breeder Referral person, which you can find on the AKC Breeder Referral Contacts page.

Want to help rescue and re-home an Irish Water Spaniel dog?

Did you know nearly every recognized AKC purebred has a dedicated rescue group? Find your new best friend on the AKC Rescue Network Listing.

Irish Water Spaniel Breed Magazine

Showsight Magazine is the only publication to offer dedicated Digital Breed Magazines for ALL recognized AKC Breeds.

Read and learn more about the brave Irish Water Spaniel dog breed with articles and information in our Irish Water Spaniel Breed Magazine.

If you enjoy the Irish Water Spaniel Breed Magazine, help us educate the community by sharing it.

The post Stacy Duncan | Flintcrest Irish Water Spaniels appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

Interview with Mark Barker, DVM & Sondra Barker, Breeders of Sycomore Irish Water Spaniels

Where do we live? How many years in dogs? How many years as breeders?

We live in Oklahoma. We both grew up with purebred dogs, Mark with a Lhasa Apso, Standard Schnauzer, Rough Collie, and Labrador Retriever, and Sondra with a Shetland Sheepdog and Pomeranians. Since being married, we have had Labrador Retrievers, a Standard Poodle, and now, Irish Water Spaniels. We became involved with the sport of Conformation in 2014 with our first Irish Water Spaniel, GCHB Quiet Storm My Boy’s Wicked Smart CGCA TKA (BAYES), bred by Dan Sayers.

Being involved in veterinary medicine, Mark as a veterinarian and Sondra as practice manager, and owning a purebred beef seedstock herd, has given us a solid foundation in animal health, nutrition, husbandry, reproduction, and evaluation. We have utilized these experiences in breeding Irish Water Spaniels and preparing them for the Conformation ring.

What is our kennel name? How many dogs do we currently keep?

Our kennel name is SYCOMORE. We currently own and co-own six bitches and four dogs.

Which show dogs from the past have been our noteworthy winners?

Although our past in show dogs is relatively short, we have put multiple all-breed Bests in Show on our first Irish Water Spaniel as well as on a daughter from his first litter.

Noteworthy winners to date include:

• GCHB Quiet Storm My Boy’s Wicked Smart CGCA TKA (BAYES), Multiple Best in Show Winner and Best of Opposite Sex at the 2018 IWSCA National Specialty;
• GCHB Réalta Sycomore Spry CGC (SPRY), Multiple Best in Show Winner and Best in Specialty Show winner;
• GCH Sycomore Ballad of Blue CGC (BLUE), Best of Winners at the 2021 IWSCA National Specialty and a Multiple Group Placer;
• CH Sycomore Irrepressible CGC (KICK), 2021 National Specialty Best in Sweepstakes.

Which have been our most influential sires and dams?

GCHB Quiet Storm My Boy’s Wicked Smart CGCA TKA (BAYES) has been our most influential sire. Although we are not his breeder, he is the foundation of SYCOMORE Irish Water Spaniels. We have co-bred two litters with Réalta and leased a bitch from Poole’s Ide.

Our latest co-bred litter is out of a BAYES son, GCH Sycomore Ballad of Blue CGC, and we are very pleased and excited about his potential to be an influential sire for us.

Can we talk a bit about our facilities? Where are our puppies whelped? How are they raised?

Our puppies are whelped and raised in our home. We use a combination of Puppy Culture and Avidog rearing programs. We do both Early Neurologic Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI). We keep our puppies until they are at least 10 weeks of age.

What is our “process” for selecting Show Puppies? Performance Puppies? Field Puppies?

The puppies are continually evaluated, freely moving about to assess their proportions, structure, movement, and carriage. At six weeks the puppies are introduced to birds. We temperament test and do a formal evaluation for conformation at seven weeks.

Do we compete in Companion Events? Performance Events?

We have dabbled in Obedience classes, Dock Diving, Scent Work classes, and Fast CAT to give our dogs experiences, but do not actively compete in those events. We encourage all of our puppy homes to find an activity or event to engage in with their dogs.

Are Field Trials or parent club Hunt Tests important to us?

Yes, although we do not compete in Hunt Tests, we are fortunate to have a co-breeder, Rosemary Sexton, whose passion is field work. Réalta’s Élan! MH (ÉLAN), a BAYES daughter, is the youngest Irish Water Spaniel to obtain the Master Hunter title and receive an invitation to the 2022 Master National. Unfortunately, she did not get to compete because she came into season.

How would we define “conditioning” as it relates to our breed?

For us, “conditioning” of an Irish Water Spaniel includes mental and physical training as well as coat care and maintenance.

Mental Conditioning:

This starts at an early age with exposure to a variety of controlled experiences. We also use classical conditioning methods in training.

Physical Conditioning:

Our preferred method of physical conditioning is swimming, and Irish Water Spaniels love to swim.

Coat Conditioning for the Show Ring:

Although we are not showing every weekend, we do weekly brushing, baths, nail trims, and teeth scaling along with sound nutrition.

Are there any health-related concerns in our breed? Any special nutritional needs?

Cancer is currently a concern in most all breeds. As a veterinarian, I have not experienced any one health issue within the breed that seems to be more exaggerated than the general population of dogs I see. In our dogs, we have not found any special nutritional needs aside from providing a high-quality kibble blended with a raw topper and fresh water in clean water bowls.

Do we think our breed is supported by a sufficient number of preservation breeders?

In purebred dogs in general, and in rare breed dogs specifically, we feel there is a need for more informed and dedicated new breeders.

Is our breed well suited to be a family dog? Who are the best candidates to own our breed?

The Irish Water Spaniel is a wonderful family dog when placed in the appropriate home. They do best in families or with individuals who provide both physical and mental stimulation for the dog.

What is the biggest misconception about our breed? What is our breed’s best-kept secret?

The biggest misconception is that the Irish Water Spaniel is hypoallergenic and non-shedding. The breed’s best-kept secret is its keen intelligence.

If we could share a comment or two with judges of our breed, what would we like to say to them?

The Irish Water Spaniel is not a refined breed. Per the AKC Breed Standard, they are “strongly built and well boned.”

Do we have any words of wisdom to pass along to newer breeders?

As newer breeders ourselves, we do not feel we can pass along any words of wisdom that might come with spending a lifetime in dogs. However, with our past experience in cattle breeding, we would encourage an understanding of what you are breeding for and to determine your breeding goals; that phenotype and genotype are both important factors to make a breeding decision. Find mentors within your breed as well as outside of your breed who have been successful.

For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing we’ve ever experienced with a Sporting Dog?

Daily life with an Irish Water Spaniel is filled with amusement, so picking the most amusing experience is hard. One thing does come to mind. We were at a show and our young male decided to escape his pen at our RV set-up. When we went to look for him, a fellow exhibitor yelled, “The Water Spaniel is in the WATER!” The dog had gone to the pond behind our RV set-up. (This dog had never escaped his pen before nor since.) We now pay attention to any body of water that may be at a show site.

Are you looking for an Irish Water Spaniel puppy?

The best way to ensure a long and happy relationship with a purebred dog is to purchase one from a responsible breeder. Not sure where to begin finding a breeder?

Contact the National Parent Club’s Breeder Referral person, which you can find on the AKC Breeder Referral Contacts page.

Want to help rescue and re-home an Irish Water Spaniel dog?

Did you know nearly every recognized AKC purebred has a dedicated rescue group? Find your new best friend on the AKC Rescue Network Listing.

Irish Water Spaniel Breed Magazine

Showsight Magazine is the only publication to offer dedicated Digital Breed Magazines for ALL recognized AKC Breeds.

Read and learn more about the brave Irish Water Spaniel dog breed with articles and information in our Irish Water Spaniel Breed Magazine.

If you enjoy the Irish Water Spaniel Breed Magazine, help us educate the community by sharing it.

The post Mark Barker, DVM & Sondra Barker | Sycomore Irish Water Spaniels appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

It is great to have a dog that has high-level titles on both ends. But how does one go about doing this when, in reality, there is limited time and most people have limited resources?

The first step is being honest with yourself about which venues and titles are most important. If the attainment of high-level titles in specific venues is most important, then the first step is setting the goal and ensuring that it is realistic.

Not every dog or breed is cut out for every Performance venue. Some breeds excel in particular venues due to their structure and/or what they were bred to do. You have to be honest about what you are committed to doing. Where is your passion and why are you doing it?

Then you have to prioritize. (There is only so much time and money for most people.) Most venues require an enormous amount of commitment (time and money) when you want to achieve the highest-level titles, whether that be campaigning a special (national ranking, the various levels of grand championships), achieving a MACH, OTCH, or high-level field or herding titles, etc. Again, as there is only so much time, you have to prioritize where you spend your training time and which events you can enter. But it is achievable if you take advantage of the various stages of the
dog/handler team.

I start with an extensive amount of puppy foundation training and socialization. Even with this foundation, I prioritize what kind of foundation I put on my dogs. Then I work to achieve their breed championship. Most likely, they have to mature a bit more before being specialed. So, that is when I focus on bringing the dog out in a Performance venue. They start earning titles in that venue and, for me, that is Agility.

When they have matured, I will then special them. During this time, I will still train and maybe trial in Agility trials a bit, but the main focus is the Conformation ring. When they are done with the Conformation ring, then I go back to the Performance events. Typically, my dogs have run Agility up to and past 11 years of age, so there is time to achieve the highest levels.

Foundation is key to achieving titles on both ends. Socializing a puppy and exposing them to a ton of different settings so that they can be confident in any situation is very important. A high-quality Puppy Foundation class is also very important to provide positive experiences. A good Basic Obedience class, so that the puppy learns to love learning, is also incredibly important—if you have a good instructor. Dogs need to learn to love training and working with people. (And yes, a great Conformation dog can learn a “sit” as a puppy and still have a beautiful free-stack in the ring.)

But it is not just about classes. Not everyone has access to quality instructors, and most training occurs outside of the class, including going to different environments. I am lucky as I have older dogs that are competing, and the puppy always comes along. I showed my young girl in Conformation while I trained her Agility foundation. That taught her to love to learn and work with me, and now she just started to compete in Agility and she already knows how to handle a crazy dog show environment.

It does take a team to achieve titles on both ends. It starts with the breeder, and that is one of the most important relationships during the life of the dog. Having a partnership with the breeder who understands and supports your goals is incredibly helpful. You need to be honest with the breeder about what you want to achieve. That will help you select the puppy that will give you the best shot at achieving your goals. Then there are the instructors, from the Puppy Foundation class, Basic Obedience class, and Agility (or whatever sport) classes. Going to an instructor who has an awesome relationship with their dogs, where you can learn the skills to develop that same type of relationship, makes for a wonderful experience for you and that dog.

Then there is the handler. Entrusting someone to take your dog on the road, a dog that you have spent so much time training and developing that relationship, can be difficult. But if it is the right handler, they can develop the same relationship with the dog. I am incredibly fortunate in this area.

We know there is not a financial reward to all of this. The expenses far outweigh any potential “prize.” The reward is the journey, and the relationship that is developed with that dog on the journey toward the titles is priceless. The bond that is developed is incredible. And finally, achieving that title is immensely rewarding. The feeling of accomplishment that is achieved when you finally get there is magnificent.

Photos by Jeremy Kezer Photography & Rich Knecht Photography.

The post A Balancing Act – Achieving Titles on Both Ends appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

1. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder?
2. What is your kennel name? How many dogs do you currently keep?
3. Which show dogs from the past have been your noteworthy winners?
4. Which have been your most influential sires and dams?
5. Can you talk about your facilities? Where are your puppies whelped? How are they raised?
6. What is your “process” for selecting show puppies? At what age do you make your decision?
7. How do you prepare your pups for the show ring?
8. Are Performance and Companion titles important to you as a breeder?
9. In your opinion, is your breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern?
10. Do you feel that your breed has a promising future as a family companion?
11. Do you have any thoughts you’d like to share about the sport of dogs in general?
12. For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing experience you’ve ever experienced with a Sporting Dog?

Get to Know Sporting Group Breeder Dan Sayers

Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? I live in Merchantville, New Jersey, near Philadelphia. I went to my first dog show in 1980 and got my first Irish Water Spaniel (IWS) in 1985. I bred my first litter in 1988.

What is my kennel name? How many dogs do I currently keep? My kennel name is Quiet Storm, which I chose because it perfectly described the character of my first Irish Water Spaniel. My dog limit is three, with the occasional visiting dog.

Which show dogs from the past have been my noteworthy winners? My most notable conformation show winner has been MULTI BIS, BOSS GCH Quiet Storm My Boy’s Wicked Smart CGC CGCA TKA. “Bayes” was groomed, conditioned, and handled throughout his show career by Mark and Sondra Barker of Oklahoma City. I don’t, however, specifically breed “show dogs.” My goal is to preserve IWS breed type, as I interpret it, for the future. If one of my IWSs has success in the show ring (under judges whose opinions I value), that’s especially gratifying. If that same dog manages to bring new supporters to the breed, that’s even better.

Which have been my most influential sires and dams? CH Mirkwood Cameo Appearance CD was my first brood bitch and the dam of eight champions. “Teala” produced CH Quiet Storm The Devil In Darby CD CGC and CH Quiet Storm Reggae Dancer CD WC TT CGC TDI, the foundation bitches of Dede Selph’s Ballyhoo Kennel. Ballyhoo’s Kurre O’Quiet Storm, co-owned with Dede, is the dam of Bayes and his littermate, CH Quiet Storm Triple Mocha. “Mocha” is the dam of my most recent litter from which two puppies, Quiet Storm Koffi With Cream and Quiet Storm Alchemy, are showing promise.
More important to me than show ring success is a dam’s ability to produce healthy puppies that are “nearer to perfection.” My goal with each litter is to select a dog and a bitch that are an improvement on the qualities of their sire and dam, respectively—without sacrificing breed type.

Can I talk about my facilities? Where are my puppies whelped? How are they raised? The IWS is not a “kennel dog” in the traditional sense, and does best when integrated into the day-to-day activities of the household. As a breeder with limited space, I only keep bitches at home. (Grandmothers, mothers, and daughters can make for equitable roommates.) Each dog enjoys daily excursions outdoors individually and with her housemates, and each has her own sleeping spot in the house. Puppies are whelped in the bedroom and remain there until they are weaned. They are then moved downstairs to a large ex-pen where they can greet visitors and learn about the world at large. My last litter was raised utilizing the Puppy Culture program.

What is my “process” for selecting show puppies? At what age do I make my decision? Although I have occasionally made my personal selection on “day one,” I prefer to wait until the puppies are up on their feet, interacting with each other and the world around them. Seeing, as they say, is believing, and simple observation has always been my best puppy placement tool. I observe the pups at play as they learn how to walk, run, and overcome obstacles. I look for puppies that use their senses and seem comfortable in their own skin. I want to see a pup use its nose and listen curiously as the birds sing. I want to see how each pup responds to visitors and greets strange dogs. I want to see how a puppy carries its head “out” and its tail “horizontal.” I look for natural balance, front and rear, and I want to see four good legs. (I don’t care much for “stacking” young puppies, other than to understand how amenable they are to being manipulated.) I want to see how each puppy trots, in every direction, and how it stops on its own. This last point is especially important to me, as it provides a great deal of information about a pup’s physiology and its emotional “bandwidth.” I want to know that a puppy can move “freely and soundly” and stand four-square—on its own—by 7 or 8 weeks of age.

How do I prepare my pups for the show ring? Admittedly, I’m not the best person to give advice on preparing puppies for the show ring. I’ve found that some IWS pups are simply not ready to show until they’re good and ready. Of course, early and consistent socialization and show handling classes are the best ways to condition a pup for the conformation ring. However, the IWS can be reserved with strangers and some need time (and a personal diary of positive experiences) to be convinced that judges have the best of intentions. Once an IWS’s suspicion has been raised, the show ring can become either a battleground of wills or a comedy show with only one headliner.

Are Performance and Companion titles important to me as a breeder? Due to the breed’s innate intelligence and boundless energy, the IWS can excel at virtually any activity. Many compete in Performance Events at the highest levels. This smart and enthusiastic breed is limited only by the handler’s experience and commitment. My skill level in this regard is, sadly, not up to snuff.

Nevertheless, I have enjoyed taking my dogs to Agility and Rally classes and to Dock Diving sessions, and I’ve always appreciated their ability to swim, flush, and retrieve enthusiastically, without the need for a single lesson. Generally speaking, the breed’s instincts to function effectively as a personal gun dog remain strong.

In my opinion, is my breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern? Historically, the survival of the IWS as a recognizable breed has been dependent on an exceedingly small number of dedicated individuals. This remains the case today, with a minuscule number of breeders producing what might be considered “lines” within the breed. As a result, the consistency of type within the breed is subject to the vision and capabilities of a handful of breeders who must work together across state, provincial, and international borders.

In my opinion, based on recent entries in the US, quality within the breed is “holding steady.” Several young-to-mature dogs are doing well in the show ring and are also producing nicely. This bodes well for the future. Also, a number of puppies on the ground are showing promise, being free of the “drags” that can plague the breed. These faults include light-colored eyes and wooly coats.

As a breed, the IWS is defined by the qualities of its coat—not by the styling of its hair. Ideal exhibits will have the correct coat texture, pattern, and color. These are “must-haves.” Equally important are the qualities of the eyes. Color is preferably “medium to dark brown, dark amber,” size is “comparatively small,” shape is “almond,” and placement is “set almost flush.” Expression is “keenly alert, intelligent, direct and quizzical” and should not suggest the kind of soft, melting, kindly, trusting, or somber expressions that typify various Spaniel breeds that hail from Great Britain. And unlike the American Water and Boykin Spaniels, the IWS is not defined by its size. Those US breeds are largely expected to work from a skiff or a canoe, where a larger dog would be a hinderance. The IWS, by contrast, is expected to perform in wet environments as rough as the North Atlantic and as saturated as a peat bog. Consequently, the breed must be “strongly built and well-boned.” Unfortunately, many of today’s dogs lack adequate substance and rib spring. Likewise, they frequently lack the essential “large, round, somewhat spreading” feet and a tail that is “low set,” “thick at the root,” and “carried level with the back.” The breed’s unique silhouette is also essential, so please don’t be put-off by an IWS that appears to be “slightly higher” in the rear. Remember, the IWS is a waterfowler, and a good water dog NEVER has a descending topline.

Do I feel that my breed has a promising future as a family companion? The IWS makes an ideal companion for active individuals who are willing to exercise the dog’s mind and body. Conversely, the breed is a poor choice for anyone who enjoys a sedentary lifestyle or expects a dog to keep itself entertained. The IWS craves interaction with its people, so outdoorsy folk often provide the best homes. Be forewarned, however, that the breed’s peculiar intelligence and beguiling sensitivity can prove challenging for all but the most experienced dog people. Harsh training methods can sow the seeds of distrust in an IWS, and a lack of training altogether will result in an otherwise fine dog becoming bored and destructive. It may seem obvious, but active people are always the best match for any dog that enjoys plenty of activity.

Do I have any thoughts I’d like to share about the sport of dogs in general? Ever since Agility was embraced by purebred dog enthusiasts in the 1990s, the Sport of Dogs has broadened in scope significantly. Performance and Companion Events continue to grow in both number and popularity, leaving Conformation enthusiasts in the US searching for ways to remain relevant. In the years to come, several realities are likely to continue: An aging population of club members will mean the discontinuation of more all-breed shows; the vacancy created will be filled with more 2-day shows by those clubs that have active memberships; show entries will grow at these events as the number of dog shows on a given weekend decreases; the number of clusters will expand at the few remaining show sites around the country that still welcome dogs and can accommodate large numbers of RVs; televised/live-streaming shows such as Westminster, Morris & Essex, The National Dog Show, and the AKC National Championship will increase in value, and specialty shows will grow in importance as the most reliable means by which breeder-judges can evaluate breeding stock according to the breed standards.

For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing experience I’ve ever experienced with a Sporting Dog? Many years ago, I was in the Sporting Group with an IWS that had springs on her feet. (Most IWS have springs on their feet.) As I tossed another treat into the air for her to catch, she jumped and missed, turning in mid-air before landing awkwardly on the ground. As I bent down to pick up the bait, she proceeded to roll around on the grass, and when she stood up, her coat was liberally sprinkled with thousands of grass clippings. We didn’t make the cut that day, though I did learn how to expeditiously remove dead grass from a curly coat.

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The Post Oak Lodge and Retreat, situated in the rolling hills of Northeastern Oklahoma, proved to be the perfect spot for a gathering of the “Rat Tail Spaniel” clan. The facility, which normally hosts corporate getaways and wedding receptions, offered breeders and exhibitors of the Irish Water Spaniel aka Rat Tail Spaniel a chance to remove their masks as the nation slowly re-emerged from a global shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The property’s verdant and rolling hills, replete with hiking trails and fresh water ponds, provided an ideal gathering place for exhibitors who’d been waiting patiently for more than a year for the reunion.

Co-Chairs Mark and Sondra Barker demonstrated their ability to get things done—with style, efficiency, and an exceptional attention to detail—by delivering on their promise of a single site, capable of accommodating the demands of a parent club in need of indoor/outdoor facilities for every conformation, companion, and performance event as well as a variety of meeting, lounging, and dining spaces. At the Post Oak, individual lodges allowed exhibitors to stay together in smaller groups, and the main lodge provided the perfect meeting place throughout the week for guests and their dogs to gather in greater numbers. The facility’s staff could not have been more professional and welcoming, and a few employees even showed up on their day off to watch the dogs run in the agility ring and retrieve birds just a few yards from the retreat’s front door.

A full week of events was scheduled to begin on May 10th with a Regional Specialty judged by Mr. Eugene Blake, who was accompanied to the afternoon show by Julie Mueller. Sunny skies and mild temperatures allowed the dogs to truly shine, as most were returning to the ring after a year-long hiatus. For those who couldn’t travel to attend this year’s events, IWSCA President Dana Louttit provided livestreaming throughout the week. On this day, Mark Crews kept things running smoothly as Steward in a ring set-up that was provided by the Mid-Continent Kennel Club. A “welcome” social was held that evening where exhibitors could feel comfortable enough to get reacquainted up close and in person. A greeting commonly extended was, “I’ve been vaccinated!”

Agility exhibitors awoke Tuesday morning to cooler temperatures and an unfortunately soggy field. Though a few runs did take place, it soon became apparent that conditions were unsafe for both the dogs and handlers. So, with the blessing of judge Pamela “Candy” Nettles and every exhibitor (and with approval from AKC), agility was postponed until the following afternoon. Later that evening, a scrumptious Italian dinner was enjoyed followed by my well-attended breed presentation titled, “The Irish Water Spaniel, 1834-Present: Observations from an Inquisitive American.”

On Wednesday, Rally Judge Ms. Dovie Ryan and Obedience Judge Ms. Helen Smith worked with the show committee, the exhibitors, and the AKC to adjust the day’s schedule to accommodate Agility. In the evening, a Parade of Rat Tail Spaniels proved a big draw in the main lodge’s Evergreen Room where Barry Rose and Tracy Turner stewarded. The waning light of day provided a bit of drama that carried through to Sweepstakes. Judge Betty Liitschwager-Rego enjoyed the company of six excitable puppies and nine experienced veterans. A loud and lively dinner followed in the Main Lodge’s Dining Room; a Cinco de Mayo fiesta in celebration of the day’s winners and qualifiers.

A Judges Education presentation was given by Linda Deckard on Thursday morning before the start of the long-awaited National. (Due to the pandemic, the club’s 2020 event was postponed until 2022.) Judge Ms. Pluis Davern made exhibitors and their dogs feel comfortable in her ring, despite the many sudden gusts of wind. Steward Lisa Bowers kept everyone organized and on schedule throughout the regular and non-regular classes. The IWSCA General Meeting was held afterwards in the Main Lodge, followed by a silent auction and an evening reception arranged outdoors under twinkling lights. “The Road to Oklahoma” gathering was sponsored by the Oklahoma Beef Council.

On Friday morning, Pluis Davern judged the Working Certificate (WC) test alongside fellow Judge Mr. Joe O’Brien at the lodge’s Sunset Ridge (land double) and Willow Pond (back-to-back water double). Three of the 15 IWS entered in the non-competitive test, designed to demonstrate the dogs’ natural retrieving abilities, passed. Later, with so many of the dogs fresh from their swim, a match was held on the property’s North Meadows where Laurel Baglia and I determined the winner of an informal Wet Dog Contest.

As the week-long Specialty drew to a close, friends old and new enjoyed another evening under the stars for an outdoor Cowboy Cookout, where Dana Loutitt presided over the Awards Banquet and the always entertaining Greg Siner raised funds for the club through his infamous Live Auction. Co-Chair Mark Barker spoke on behalf of his committee members who surely outdid themselves this year to make the “Oklahoma Specialty” a fun and informative week that certainly delivered on its promise.

As everyone said their goodbyes, many were wondering, “Can we come back to Tulsa and do this again?”

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