Proposed AKC Breed Standard, Spanish Water Dog Club, Rev. 2005

General Appearance—An ancient and rustic breed of the Iberian Peninsula, the Spanish Water Dog is a well-proportioned athlete. In profile he is slightly off-square.  He is a sturdy medium sized dog well suited to perform a variety of tasks including shepherd, hunting dog and fisherman’s helper.  His distinctive dense tightly curled coat was developed to provide protection from the extremes of humidity, heat and drought that characterize the salt marshes of his homeland.

Size, Proportion, Substance—Size—Height at the withers:  Dogs, 17½ to 20 inches.  Bitches, 15½ to 18 inches.  Weight:  Dogs, 40 to 49 lbs.  Bitches, 31 to 40 lbs.  Proportions—Length of body to height at withers, 9:8; Depth of chest to height at withers, 4:8; Length of muzzle to length of skull, 2:3. Substance—Solidly built, compact, muscular with moderate bone but neither coarse nor refined.

Head—The head is in balance with the body and carried with elegance. The skull is flat with only slight marked occipital crest. Planes of skull and muzzle are parallel. The ears are pendant, set above the line of the eye, and hang close to the head.  The tips should not reach beyond the jaw line.  The stop is slightly defined. The nose is of the same color or slightly darker than the darkest of the coat and has well-defined nostrils. The lips are tight and clean. The eyes are slightly oblique, very expressive, and of a shade of brown from hazel to dark chestnut. The haws are not apparent. In black and brown dogs the nose, lips, mucous membranes and eye rims are the same color or darker than the coat.  In white or beige dogs the nose, lips, mucous membranes and eye rims are either black or brown. The teeth are strong and even with a scissors bite.

Neck, Topline, Body—The neck is of medium length, well-muscled, without dewlap, and slopes smoothly into withers.  The body is compact. The chest is broad and deep, with rounded, well-sprung ribs. The back is muscular and level from just behind the withers to a slightly sloping croup.  The loin is short and broad with a slight tuck up. The tail is set smoothly into the croup neither high nor low.  It is traditionally docked is between the 2^nd and 4^th vertebra, but may also be left natural. The natural tail is carried in a curve above the level of the back or in an open ring over the back. Some dogs have naturally bobbed tails.  No preference should be given to docked or natural tails.  The skin is supple, fine and adheres closely to the body.

Forequarters—Shoulders are moderately laid back.  Elbows are close to the body and turned neither in nor out.  Forelegs are vertical with moderate bone.  Pasterns are straight and short. Front feet are round with webbed compact well-arched toes and thick pads. Dewclaws may be removed.  Toenails are black and/or white in black-pigmented dogs and brown and/or white in brown-pigmented dogs.

Hindquarters—The hind legs are angulated to balance a proper front.  The upper thighs are long and well muscled.  The second thighs are well developed. The hocks are well let down, short, lean and perpendicular to the ground.  Dewclaws, if any, must be removed.  The hind feet are round with webbed compact well-arched toes and thick pads.

Color—The Spanish Water Dog may be solid black, beige, white, or various shades of brown, or it may be  black, brown or beige with white markings.  Heavy ticking is to be faulted. Tricolor, black and tan, albino, or Dalmatian-like spotting is not allowed.

Coat—The hair of the single coat is dense, and always curly. When short, the hair will be tightly curled. When allowed to grow long the hair forms cords naturally.  The hair must not be brushed, but should be left natural for a rustic appearance.   Clipping is traditionally done once or twice per year; the coat must be the same length on the entire dog.  Aesthetic or sculpted grooming is to be severely penalized.  For shows the recommended length of the clipped coat is between 3 and 5 inches when the curl is extended. 

Gait—The preferred gait is the trot.

Temperament—The Spanish Water Dog is faithful, obedient, lively, hard working and watchful.  He is highly intelligent with an outstanding learning ability.  He adapts well to all situations and conditions.  He is neither timid nor shy, but is generally aloof with strangers.

Faults—Any departure from the foregoing should be considered a fault.  The seriousness of the fault should be in proportions to its degree.

Serious Faults

Extremely Serious Faults

F.C.I. Standard, n. 336

Origin: Spain.

Utilization: Used as shepherd dog, hunting dog and assitent to the fisherman.

Classification FCI: Group 8: Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs. Section 3: Water Dogs.

Brief historical summary: The presence of this dog in the iberian peninsula is most ancient. its most dense population is in Andalusia where he is used as a shepherd dog, and where he has been known for centuries as the "Turkish dog". its characteristics, most particularly the quality of his coat, are adapted to the variation of humidity and drought of the marshy regions, which qualifies him as a shepherd dog and auxiliary to the hunters of wild fowl and fishermen in those regions.

1. General appearance.
Rustic dog, well proportioned (medium weight), dolichocephalic, rather long-lined of harmonious shape and attractive profile; of an athletic nature with well developed muscles owing to his regular exercise; the profile is rectilinear, his sight, hearing and scent are well developed.
Important proportions.
Length of body/size (height at withers) = 9/8. Height of chest/size (height at withers) = 4/8
Length of muzzle/length of head = 2/3.
Behaviour-character.
Faithful, obedient, gay, hard working, brave and well balanced; learning ability outstanding owing to his extraordinary faculty of understanding; he adapts to all situations and conditions.
Head.
Strong head carried with elegance.

4.1. Skull region.

Flat skull with slightly marked occipital ridge. Direction of axis of skull and foreface are parallel.

4.2. Stop.

Facial-cranial depression slightly marked.

4.3. Facial region.

Profile is rectilinear.

- Nose: nostrils well defined. Nose is of the same colour or slightly darker than the darkest tone of the coat.

- Lips: labial corners well defined.

- Teeth: well formed, white, with well developed canines.

- Eyes: slightly oblique position and well spaced; very expressive; of a hazel to chestnut colour should harmonize with the colour of the coat. The conjunctiva is not apparent.

- Ears: set at medium height, triangular drooping.

 

Neck.
Short, well muscled, without dewlap, springing cleanly from the shoulders.
Body.
Robust.
- Top-line: straight.
- Withers: hardly marked.
- Back: straight and powerful.
- Chest: broad and well let down - ribs well arched, ribcage diameter ampler indicating considerable respiratory capacity.
- Rump (croup): slightly tucked up.
- Tail: set at medium height - docking must be done at the height of the 2nd to the 4th caudal vertebra. Certain subjects show a congenital shortened tail (brachyoural).
Limbs.

7.1. Forequarters.

Solid and upright.

- Shoulders: well muscled and oblique.

- Arms: sturdy and sloping.

- Elbows: close to the chest and parallel.

- Forearms: straight and sturdy.

- Carpus (wrists) and metacarpus: straight, rather short.

- Feet: rounded, toes well closed, nails of varied colours; strong resistant pads.

7.2. Hindquarters.

Perfectly straight with not too pronounced angulation and muscles capable of transmitting to the body an impulsion full of energy when he runs and the spring necessary for easy and elegant jumping.

- Thighs: large and well muscled.

- Second thighs: well developed.

- Hocks: well let down.

- Metatarsus: short, lean and perpendicular to the ground.

- Feet: as the forequarters.

 

Gait/Movement.
The preferred gait is the trot. The gallop is short and jerky.
Skin.
Supple, fine and adhering to the body. Can be pigmented brown or black, or be without pigment according to the colour of the coat. It is also the case for the mucous membranes.
Coat.

10.1. Hair.

Always curly and of a wooly texture wavy or curly when short, can form big cords when long. Clipped subjects are admitted; the clipping, always complete and even, must never become an "aesthetic" grooming.

10.2. Colour.

Solid : white, black and chestnut in their different shades.

Parti-coloured.

Tri-coloured subjects are not admitted.

Size & weight.

- Height at withers:

Males: 40-50 cm.

Females: 38-45 cm.

- Weight:

Males: 16-20 kg.

Females: 12-16 kg.

Faults.
All departures from the foregoing points must be considered as a fault which shall be penalized in proportion to its gravity.

- Serious faults: dorso-lumbar region, saddle backed. Limbs incorrect. Belly let down or excessively tucked up.

- Disqualifying faults: lack of balance in character. Inferior or superior prognathism. Presence of dew-claws. Smooth coat. Albinism. Spotty coat, speckled or flecked.

N.B.: males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.