Breed library

Spanish Water Dog

Also known as Perro de agua español.

Hiszpański_pies_wodny na Światowej Wystawie Psów Rasowych w Poznaniu
File:Hiszpański pies wodny 999.jpg by Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/); source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hiszpa%C5%84ski_pies_wodny_999.jpg. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The Spanish Water Dog or Perro de Agua Español is a Spanish breed of water dog. It was traditionally used for a variety of tasks: as a herding dog for sheep or cattle; as a gundog to find and retrieve game in marshlands; and as an aid to inshore fishermen on the Cantabrian coast. In the twenty-first century it is kept principally as a companion dog. Three sub-populations of the breed were identified in the late twentieth century: the Marismeño ('marsh dog') of the Marismas del Guadalquivir at the mouth of the river of the same name; the Serrano ('sierra dog') of southern Andalucia; and the Norteño ('northern dog') of Cantabria and Asturias. This last was recognised in Spanish law in 2012 as a separate breed, the Cantabrian Water Dog.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.

Breed facts

  • The population is thought to have remained fairly stable until the 1970s and 1980s, when - as a consequence of changes to methods of both agriculture and fishery - numbers fell sharply, to the point that the dogs were considered to be at risk of extinction.
  • Until this time there had been no scientific study of the breed; in the 1980s a study of the dogs in the province of Malaga was carried out, and further work was done by researchers at the Universidad de Córdoba in the 1990s.
  • Three sub-populations of the breed were identified, on the basis both of observed differences in physical size and of differences in the distribution of coat colours; the characteristics of the head were found to be similar in all of the dogs.
  • The sub-groups were: the Marismeño ('marsh dog') of the Marismas del Guadalquivir, at the mouth of the river of the same name in western Andalucia; the Serrano ('sierra dog') of southern Andalucia; and the smaller Norteño ('northern dog') of Cantabria and Asturias.
  • The Perro de Agua Español was recognised by the Real Sociedad Canina de España, the Spanish kennel club, in 1975; it was definitively accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1999; and was recognised in Spanish law by Royal Decree in 2001.

Size and appearance

The head is strong and carried with elegance. The skull is flat and the top is parallel with the top of the muzzle. The nose, eye-rims and paw pads are the same colour as the darkest part of the coat or darker. The eyes are set fairly wide apart, and are hazel, chestnut or dark brown in colour, depending on the coat colour. The ears are set at medium height on the skull, and are triangular. It has a distinctive curly coat which is woolly in texture and may form cords when long.

  • Body mass reference: 14 - 18 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 14 - 18 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: Up to 18 kgBreed reference body mass. female, maximum.
  • Body mass reference: 14 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. female, minimum.
  • Body mass reference: 18 - 22 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 18 - 22 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: 18 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. male, minimum.
  • Body mass reference: Up to 22 kgBreed reference body mass. male, maximum.
  • Height reference: 41 - 46 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 41 - 46 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: Up to 46 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
  • Height reference: 40 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
  • Height reference: 45 - 50 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 45 - 50 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 44 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
  • Height reference: Up to 50 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.
  • Coat texture: curly
  • Height category: medium
  • Weight category: medium

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat texture: curly

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Breed history

The Perro de Agua is a traditional dog population of Spain. It was always a minority breed, present in smaller numbers than some other Spanish dogs. The population is thought to have remained fairly stable until the 1970s and 1980s, when - as a consequence of changes to methods of both agriculture and fishery - numbers fell sharply, to the point that the dogs were considered to be at risk of extinction. Until this time there had been no scientific study of the breed; in the 1980s a study of the dogs in the province of Malaga was carried out, and further work was done by researchers at the Universidad de Córdoba in the 1990s. Three sub-populations of the breed were identified, on the basis both of observed differences in physical size and of differences in the distribution of coat colours; the characteristics of the head were found to be similar in all of the dogs. The sub-groups were: the Marismeño ('marsh dog') of the Marismas del Guadalquivir, at the mouth of the river of the same name in western Andalucia; the Serrano ('sierra dog') of southern Andalucia; and the smaller Norteño ('northern dog') of Cantabria and Asturias.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Spanish Water Dog - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Spanish Water Dog, revision 1352934352. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spanish_Water_Dog&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:Hiszpański pies wodny 999.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. File:Hiszpański pies wodny 999.jpg by Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/); source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hiszpa%C5%84ski_pies_wodny_999.jpg.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.