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 Along
the Iberian coastline, dogs earned their keep working in fishing boats.
Boats often had open bottoms, with crews either rowing or sailing them out
to the estuary. The dogs helped swim out, set and haul in the nets; and
retrieved tackle and fish lost over the side.
The industrial revolution, powered by coal, was slow
to infiltrate the Iberian penninsula, but come it did. Mechanized boats no
longer required dogs as assistants. Just as the draft horse lost his job to
the tractor and all but disappeared from the farm, the fisherman's-assistant
dog dwindled in both use and numbers.
Today, Spanish Water Dogs primarily enjoy working
in the water for fun. American SWDs can compete for water titles in venues
such as Canine Water Sports. The PDAE Club in Spain also includes
competitive tests in the water for the breed.
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It is the responsibility of the breed's afficionados
to preserve the breed's working history, and to encourage the breeding of
dogs capable of performing the work in build and temperament. |
Who's gonna make it first? SWDs don't like to be last to the dummy! Most SWDs are strong swimmers and natural retrievers. Got it!
Teach your dog to dive by slowly throwing a sinking toy a few inches deeper each time. You'll know when your dog "gets it"....down they go! Ready and eager for the fetch! This boy lives on a lake and is fit, fit, fit! This lucky SWD gets regular lake workouts! Work your dog with a floating toy or training dummy instead of rocks or sticks which may cause injury.
Who's gonna make it first? SWDs don't like to be last to the dummy!
In the United States, the Spanish Water Dog may earn water titles in Canine
Water Sports.
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