Dog Breeds that Especially Enjoy the Water

Numerous dogs enjoy taking a swim on a hot day, but there are many breeds that are known as water dogs. Most of those fall into the sporting or working group categories as administered by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Labrador Retriever
One of the most noted types of water dogs is the Labrador Retriever. A member of the sporting group as classified by the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Lab, as it’s called, originates from Canada; it is the most popular dog breed in the United States according to AKC registration statistics. The Lab is known for its gentleness and intelligence. It is a familiar pet in family households and it is used as a service dog for the blind and disabled. Labs are also part of many search and rescue teams.

The Labrador Retriever comes in three coat colors: yellow, black and chocolate. It is noted for its friendly, eager-to-please demeanor and has been used as a hunting dog for many years, specializing in waterfowl and game bird hunting.

The short, dense, double-coat is weather resistant and, therefore, conducive to the water. The well-known “otter tail” helps Labradors navigate rivers and lakes while swimming, and both coat and tail make them an excellent water dog as they retrieve ducks and geese for their human hunters.

Portuguese Water Dog
Another well-known water dog breed is the Portuguese Water Dog. Bred to be a companion and helper for Portuguese fishermen on their boats, this dog’s waterproof coat can be curly or wavy and is often black, white, brown or a combination of black or brown with white; it requires regular grooming.

This breed is noted for its excellent swimming and diving capabilities. It’s an active breed, and therefore, needs daily exercise. The Portuguese Water Dog also noted for its intelligence and performs well in obedience trials. This loyal, friendly dog makes an excellent family pet. In fact, a Portuguese Water Dog named Bo currently lives in the White House.

Generally this breed of the AKC’s Working Group weighs 35 to 60 pounds (15 to 27 kilograms) and stands 17 to 23 inches (43 to 58 cm) tall at the shoulder. Females are usually smaller than males.

Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retriever
The AKC recognized the Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retriever in 2003. It is considered a medium-sized dog and is a member of the Sporting Group. Origins of this breed are uncertain, but some think it came from the red decoy dog, brought to Nova Scotia by early European settlers then crossed with other breeds such as spaniels and setters, possibly even collies. It was originally known as the Littler River Duck Dog or the Yarmouth Troller. The breed’s playful actions of retrieving a stick or ball along the shoreline stimulates the curiosity of ducks off-shore, luring them within shotgun range; the dog is later sent to retrieve dead or wounded waterfowl for the hunter.

The breed’s water-repellant double coat is generally reddish in color, sometimes with white markings. Its soft coat doesn’t need much grooming or maintenance, just general brushing and bathing on occasion. The Troller has a heavily feathered tail that constantly moves when it works.

This dog needs a lot of activity and is considered very intelligent, outgoing and affectionate as well as good with children; therefore, it makes an excellent family pet for active people.

Irish Water Spaniel
Another sporting water dog is the Irish Water Spaniel. Its liver-colored, curly coat is dense and water-repellent with tight ringlets; it has a topknot of long, loose curls and a rat-like tail that is also curly at the base then tapers to a fine point of short, smooth hair. The coat requires regular brushing and needs to be trimmed every few months. Irish Water Spaniels are considered good for allergy sufferers as they have hypoallergenic coats.

Known as the tallest of the spaniels, this breed stands 21 to 24 inches (53 to 61 cm) tall at the shoulder. Irish Water Spaniels usually weigh 45 to 65 pounds (20 to 29 kg) and are considered strongly built and intelligent.

Many believe this breed goes back to the 7th century AD and were sometimes called Shannon Spaniels, Rat-tail Spaniels or Whip-Tail Spaniels.

Today’s Irish Water Spaniels are used not only for hunting waterfowl but also to hunt upland game birds. Its easy-going, eager-to-please personality makes the Irish Water Spaniel very trainable, but this dog is also quite energetic; therefore, it needs regular exercise.

American Water Spaniel
Another water dog of the Sporting Group is the American Water Spaniel. This is considered a rare breed, but it is also the State Dog of Wisconsin. The breed was developed in the Great Lakes area of the United States during the mid-1800s; its ancestors include the Irish Water Spaniel and the Curly-Coated Retriever. American Water Spaniels were the first breed developed in America as an all-around hunting dog that could retrieve from boats. The AKC  recognized the breed in 1940.

The breed’s short coat can be liver color, brown or dark chocolate and is either wavy or curly. It requires regular brushing.

A fairly small dog, the American Water Spaniel ranges from 15 to 18 inches (38 to 45 cm) tall at the shoulder and weighs only 25 to 45 pounds (11 to 20 kg).

It is considered energetic, muscular, intelligent, and friendly, a dog that responds well to obedience training. The American Water Spaniel makes an excellent family pet as well as an outstanding retriever.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Another American-bred water dog is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. This state dog of Maryland, often called the “Chessie”, is a hardy retriever, bred specifically to bring waterfowl to the hunter. It possesses a unique coat – a short, wavy, tough outer coat with a dense, fine wooly undercoat. The coat’s color can be brown but must be, according to AKC standards, as close to the color of the dog’s surroundings as possible. A Chessie’s coat requires regular brushing.

Considered a medium-sized dog, this breed stands 21 to 26 inches (53 to 66 cm) tall at the shoulder and weighs 55 to 80 pounds (25 to 36 kg).

A distinctive feature is its eyes, which are yellowish or amber in color.

This breed developed from Newfoundland being bred to local retrieving dogs; the original Newfies were rescued from a shipwreck off the coast of Maryland in 1807. Chessies are considered happy, courageous and intelligent dogs that do well with active, outdoorsy families. However, a Chessie can be somewhat protective.

Curly-Coated Retriever
This hardy, hard-working dog is noted for its black or liver-coated coat that features small, tight water-resistant curls. Developed in England to hunt both waterfowl and upland game birds, this breed is believed to be one of the oldest of all retriever breeds. It descended from the English Water Spaniel, the Newfoundland, the Poodle and possibly Setters. It is a relentless, persevering dog.

Considered intelligent and easy to keep, the Curly as it’s called is known for its energetic and active demeanor; the Curly needs regular exercise. This breed is easily trainable, and the coat is easy to maintain with occasional bathing and brushing.

Although somewhat independent, the Curly-coated Retriever makes a fun, loyal family companion as well as an excellent hunting partner.

Flat-Coated Retriever
Like its curly-coated cousin, the Flat-coated Retriever was originally bred to retrieve both upland game birds and waterfowl; it was also bred as a flushing dog, startling live birds from cover for the hunter to shoot.

Its flat, straight coat is either black or liver in color, of medium density that is easy to maintain with occasional brushing and bathing.

The Flat-coated Retriever has a drive to work but also likes to please its human. The dog’s friendly disposition and constantly wagging tail make the flat-coated retriever a fine family friend. These dogs do well in obedience, hunt and agility trials not only because of their intelligence, but also because of their energetic drive and friendly demeanor. The Flat-coated Retriever is described as happy and confident as well as persistent.

Newfoundland 
A member of the Working Group, this large dog is an excellent long-distance swimmer and possesses the instinct to save people who are drowning. A heavy coat protects the Newfie, as it’s known, from icy waters. The breed originates from Newfoundland, where it was used as a working dog, pulling nets for fishermen and hauling wood and also powering a blacksmith’s bellows. Today, this breed’s working skills are put to the test in obedience, agility, draft, carting, and tracking events. The Newfie is also a wonderful companion animal and is known for its sweet temperament, making it a great family pet.

The Newfoundland’s coat color ranges from black, brown or gray to white and black (known as “Landseer”). The coat requires regular brushing, and the dog requires regular exercise. Newfies are known as intelligent, easily trainable dogs. They range from 26 to 28 inches (66 to 71 cm) tall at the shoulders and weigh between 100 to 150 pounds (45 to 68 kg).

American explorer Meriwether Lewis took his Newfoundland, Seaman, on the 2 ½ year trek across the western United States during the early 1800s.

Otterhound
A member of the Hound Group, this unique dog possesses webbed feet and a rough, double coat. Many believe the breed originated in France.

The English used this breed to hunt otters because they were preying on fish in the rivers and streams of that country (otter hunting is now banned, however). The otterhound first came to America around 1900 and became an AKC-recognized breed in 1909.

A large dog, the male Otterhound stands 27 inches (68.6 cm) tall at the shoulders and weighs about 115 pounds (52.2 kg); females are smaller.

This breed is outgoing and talkative with a deep braying voice that neighbors may not appreciate. Like most scent hounds, the Otterhound likes to follow its nose, and therefore should be exercised on a leash or in an enclosed area.

The dense, rough outer coat needs weekly brushing and occasional bathing for it has a tendency to mat and collect mud and dirt. The undercoat is generally softer and shorter and water-resistant. Otterhounds possess a beard that also needs maintenance.

This breed is considered friendly and affectionate but stubborn, so training is essential but may take more time than other breeds.

Other water dogs
Other breeds of dogs can be considered water dogs due to their ancestry or to their desire to hunt. For example, both the Poodle and the Golden Retriever’s lineages are water dogs; the Poodle was originally bred in Germany as a water retriever, and the Golden Retriever was developed in Scotland through breeding of the now extinct Tweed Water Spaniel with a Yellow Retriever. Additionally, some hunters use their Setters and Springer Spaniels not only to hunt upland game birds, but also to retrieve waterfowl.

Water dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Most are part of the Sporting or Working Groups within the AKC, but most importantly, these athletic, intelligent, friendly breeds are incredible companions to people around the world.