Can Irish Water Spaniels Be Guard Dogs?

Looking to adopt an Irish Water Spaniel puppy and need to know whether an Irish Water Spaniel can be a good guard dog or if Irish Water Spaniel Dogs are protective of their owners?

According to pet trainers, Irish Water Spaniel Dogs score 4 star out of 5 in the scale of breeds that are considered the best watch dogs.


Can Irish Water Spaniels Be Guard Dogs?

Can Irish Water Spaniels Be A Watch Dog?

    This dog is not recommended to be a watchdog.

    Training an Irish Water Spaniel To Be a Watch Dog

    A lot of people get a pet dog because they want extra safety and security around their houses. A guard dog, or a pet dog that will really stop an intruder, generally takes unique breeding and training, but there are many dogs that are excellent watch dogs.

    A watch dog basically alarms their owner to somebody coming close to their property. Even though your dog isn't a police dog, most barking dogs will discourage an intruder even if they aren't big. Most guard dogs also make excellent watch dogs, but not all watch dogs make great guard dogs.

    Top 5 Best Guard Dogs

    1. Doberman Pinscher - The Doberman Pinscher is German breed initially used for protecting, police and military work. They are large, strong dogs that will alarm their owners to suspicious activity and can make good guard dogs as well.

    2. Cairn Terrier - Although little, the Cairn Terrier is intense. They are strong-willed, feisty little terriers that are very watchful of their surroundings and will alert their owners to any novel activity in no time. Because of this, they make exceptional watch dogs.

    3. Rottweiler - The Rottweiler is a big German guard dog breed that is greatly loyal to its family but wary of strangers. Although, they are not a great choice for novice dog owners.

    4. German Shepherd - They are outstanding guard dogs that will inform their owners of any strangers just a little too close to their homes.

    5. Akita - They will quickly alarm their owners to any unusual activity. They are powerful dogs that are not well-suited for the novice owner, but are almost unparalleled in their loyalty to their owners.

Can Irish Water Spaniels Be Guard Dogs

Irish Water Spaniel Information

The Irish water spaniel is built like no other spaniel, being much taller and racier. The body is of medium length, the whole dog being slightly rectangular in appearance. The general appearance suggests both dash and endurance. The gait is smooth and ground-covering. The coat is one of the breed's distinctive features. The body is covered with a double coat consisting of crisp ringlets. This combination imparts water, weather and thorn resistance to the dog, enabling it to hunt in the harshest of conditions. The Irish water spaniel's expression says it all: alert, intelligent and quizzical.

Like most dogs of the American Kennel Club Sporting group, the Irish Water Spaniel is essentially an active, willing and energetic companion. Because it has been bred from stock used to fetch game and return it to hand without a fuss, it has the natural instinct of wanting to please. Its keen sense of working as a team makes it a relatively easy dog to train and discipline. Because of its great intelligence and quizzical nature, it has the reputation of being the clown of the spaniel family and will do ordinary things in extraordinary ways to achieve that which is asked of it. Some individual dogs can be very wary of strangers and not every IWS can be trusted to get along with other pets. Early socialisation and training is a must.

What to do if you lose your Irish Water Spaniel

If your Irish Water Spaniel Dog or any other pet has gone missing and it does not have an identification tag with a phone number, you can:

1. Register your missing pet details at Pet Reunite website here.

2. Report the lost pet on the Local Lost Pets Facebook Groups Here.

3. Visit the nearby vet clinics to see if someone has brought in your missing pet.

4. Call the RSPCA or Visit the RSPCA Lost Pets website and complete a Lost Pet Report.

5. Visit Lost Pets Pages of Animal Shelters.

What to do if you find a lost Irish Water Spaniel

If you find a Irish Water Spaniel Dog or any other pet and it does not have an identification tag with a phone number, you can:

1. Report the found pet details at Pet Reunite website here.

2. List the missing pet on the Local Facebook Lost Pets Groups.

3. Phone the Local Council to collect the lost animal.

4. Take the animal to the local Animal Pound near to your suburb.

5. Take the animal to the local Vet Clinic who normally scan the animal’s microchip and phone the registered owner of the pet.

Laws Regarding Missing Pets

1. It is against the law to keep any animal that you find.

2. Pets are generally considered property and it is illegal to take and keep someone else’s property.

3. You must call your local animal control unit and file a FOUND AN ANIMAL report for any dog or cat you find.

4. To reclaim your lost dog, cat or other pet from the animal shelter you must pay a release fee.

5. If your dog or cat is unregistered, you will have to register your pet before you can take it home.