Despite its name, the Kennel Club has designated the Irish water spaniel as a retrieving breed and not a spaniel.  In Ireland they are regularly seen competing at retriever working tests and field trials at the very highest level.  Hunting cover is not a trait in the breed but they are excellent water retrievers even if their pace is much slower than many of the more traditional retrieving breeds.

The majority of the best Irish water spaniels can still be found in Ireland, although there are significant numbers working in the USA.  As a rule, the breed possesses a keen nose and natural retrieving instinct, especially from water.  The latter attribute makes them a favourite of inland duck shooters in particular.

Over 100 years ago in Ireland there are contemporary reports of a large breed called the ‘water dog.’  Jet-black in appearance, this monster of a dog bears a strong resemblance to today’s Irish water spaniel.  Like the modern version of the breed the water dog was leggy, had a shaggy coat, a rat-like tail and a topknot of hair on its head.