Water dog

A water dog is a type of gundog bred to flush and retrieve game from water. Water dogs are considered the progenitors of most modern retriever dog breeds.^[1]

Description[edit]

Water dogs are usually medium-sized, active dogs; their most distinctive feature are their tight waterproof coats and their strong desire to swim. Traditionally many long haired water dogs breeds have their coats clipped with a bare midriff and hindquarters to assist in swimming by reducing drag, whilst retaining a long coat around their torso to prevent thermal shock when jumping into freezing water. This classic clip is seen to this day in dog shows with some breeds such as Poodles retaining a variation of this clip. Paintings by artists like Francisco Goya and Albrecht Durer in the 15th century depict early Standard Poodles, which were used for retrieving bird games from water.^[2] ^[3]^[4]

History[edit]

Water dogs are an ancient type of dog, used by ancient mariners to retrieve objects lost overboard as well as to pass messages between boats, they were known to the Romans who called them "lion dogs" after the distinctive clipping of their coats. Water dogs continued to be seen aboard ships until modern times. They were known to be prevalent in the Spanish Armada and could still be seen through to the 20th century aboard fishing vessels, particularly in the waters around Spain and Portugal.^[3]^[4]

In addition to their roles as ships' dogs, in Medieval Europe water dogs were used quite widely by hunters to retrieve ducks from water that had been shot with a bow and arrows, as well as the arrows and bolts that had missed their mark.^[3]^[4]

With the invention of modern firearms the need for dogs to retrieve arrows disappeared and many of the European water dogs breeds became predominantly ornamental, such as the poodle, whilst others adapted into modern gundogs, like the Wetterhoun. It is believed that water dogs were used, along with other types, in the breeding of most modern retriever breeds.^[4]

List of breeds[edit]

This is a list of dog breeds usually considered water dogs.^[3]^[4]

Breed	Alternate name(s)	Country of origin
American Water Spaniel	American Brown Spaniel & American Brown Water Spaniel	United States
Barbet	French Water Dog	France
Cantabrian Water Dog	Perro de agua cantábrico, Perro de lanas & Merlucero	Spain
English Water Spaniel †	Water Dog & Water Rug	England
Irish Water Spaniel	Whiptail, Shannon Spaniel, Rat Tail Spaniel & Bog Dog	Ireland
Lagotto Romagnolo	Romagna Water Dog & Water Dog of Romagna	Italy
Poodle	Pudelhund & Caniche	France, Germany
Portuguese Water Dog	Cão de Água Português & Cão de Água Algarvio	Portugal
Pudelpointer ‡		Germany
Spanish Water Dog	Perro de agua Español	Spain
Tweed Water Spaniel †	Tweed Spaniel & Ladykirk Spaniel	England
Wetterhoun	Otterhoun & Dutch Spaniel	Netherlands

* Often considered a pure retriever
† Extinct breed
‡ Often considered a versatile gundog

References[edit]

^ Suburban, Judie Amyot, The. "Judie Amyot: Gone like the Dodo". The Suburban Newspaper. Retrieved 21 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ali, Rana Haider (17 January 2024). "Moyen Poodle In US: Moyen Meaning, A to Z Guide". Animal Uploads. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Dr. Bruce Fogle, The Encyclopedia of the Dog, New York: DK Publishing, 2009, ISBN 978-0-7566-6004-8.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e David Hancock, Gundogs: Their Past, Their Performance and Their Prospects, Marlborough: The Crowood Press, 2013, ISBN 978-1-84797-492-1.

[1] Suburban, Judie Amyot, The. "Judie Amyot: Gone like the Dodo". The Suburban Newspaper. Retrieved 21 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[2] , Rana Haider (17 January 2024). "Moyen Poodle In US: Moyen Meaning, A to Z Guide". Animal Uploads. Retrieved 19 January 2024.

[Fogle-3] Dr. Bruce Fogle, The Encyclopedia of the Dog, New York: DK Publishing, 2009, ISBN 978-0-7566-6004-8.

[Hancock-4] David Hancock, Gundogs: Their Past, Their Performance and Their Prospects, Marlborough: The Crowood Press, 2013, ISBN 978-1-84797-492-1.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e Gundogs
Pointers and setters	Ariège Pointer Blue Picardy Spaniel Bracco Italiano Braque d'Auvergne Braque du Bourbonnais Braque Français Braque Saint-Germain Brittany Burgos Pointer Ca Mè Mallorquí Cesky Fousek Drentse Patrijshond English Setter French Spaniel German Longhaired Pointer German Roughhaired Pointer German Shorthaired Pointer German Wirehaired Pointer Gordon Setter Irish Red and White Setter Irish Setter Large Münsterländer Old Danish Pointer Pachón Navarro Picardy Spaniel Perdigueiro Galego Pointer Portuguese Pointer Pudelpointer Saint-Usuge Spaniel Slovakian Roughhaired Pointer Small Münsterländer Spinone Italiano Stabyhoun Vizsla Weimaraner Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Wirehaired Vizsla
Retrievers	Chesapeake Bay Retriever Curly-coated Retriever Flat-coated Retriever Golden Retriever Labrador Retriever Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Spaniels	American Cocker Spaniel Boykin Spaniel Clumber Spaniel English Cocker Spaniel English Springer Spaniel Field Spaniel German Spaniel Kooikerhondje Pont-Audemer Spaniel Russian Spaniel Sussex Spaniel Welsh Springer Spaniel
Water dogs	American Water Spaniel Barbet Cantabrian Water Dog Irish Water Spaniel Lagotto Romagnolo Poodle Portuguese Water Dog Spanish Water Dog Wetterhoun
Extinct breeds	Braque Dupuy English Water Spaniel Norfolk Spaniel Old Spanish Pointer Tweed Water Spaniel

v t e Dogs
Types	African village dogs Feral dogs Pye-dogs Street dogs Hairless dogs Herding dogs Collies Livestock guardian dogs Sheepdogs Hunting dogs Curs Feists Lurchers Gun dogs Pointers Retrievers Setters Spaniels Water dogs Hounds Scenthounds Bassets Coonhounds Foxhounds Sighthounds Longdogs Terriers Bull-type terriers Pinschers Schnauzers Mastiffs Bulldogs Spitz Huskies Laikas Tugous Toy dogs Bichons Turnspit dogs
Breeds	List of breeds List of crossbreeds Mixed-breed dogs Crossbreeds Extinct breeds Most popular
Roles	Assistance dogs Autism dogs Guide dogs Hearing dogs Medical response dogs Seizure dogs Mobility assistance dogs Therapy dogs Psychiatric service dogs Attack dogs Bay dogs Carriage dogs Catch dogs Companion dogs Detection dogs Fighting dogs Guard dogs Lap dogs Meat dogs Mercy dogs Pet dogs Police dogs usage by country Search and rescue dogs Sled dogs War dogs
Behavior	Communication Barking Howling Human–canine bond Intelligence Dog–cat relationship
Human–dog interaction	Animal testing Baiting Breed-specific legislation Dog bite Dog fighting Dog park Dog show Human–canine bond Dog sports Dog walking Dog daycare Dog grooming Therapy Fear of dogs Dog licence Dog meat Dog food dog biscuit 2007 recalls Dogs in religion Dogs in space Origin of the domestic dog
Health	Aging (List of longest-living dogs) Anatomy Breeding Coat Conformation Diseases Dog food Odor Rabies in animals Rage syndrome Reproduction Skin disorders Vaccination
Training	Clicker Crate training Training Housebreaking Socialization
Related	List of individual dogs List of fictional dogs
Category Portal