152 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



seen at his best, though, no doubt, he can do excellent work 

 as an ordinary retriever, and is often used as such. 



But Nature (or Mr. McCarthy's art) has specially formed and 

 endowed him for the amphibious sport indicated above, and 

 has provided him with an excellent nose, an almost water- 

 proof coat, the sporting instincts of a true son of Erin, and, 

 above all, a disposition full of good sense ; he is high-couraged, 

 and at the same time adaptable to the highest degree of per- 

 fection in training. His detractors often accuse him of 

 being hard-mouthed, but this charge is not well founded. 

 Many a dog which is used to hunt or find game as well as to 

 retrieve it, will often kill a wounded bird or rabbit rather 

 than allow it to escape, while there are many Irish Water 

 Spaniels who, under normal circumstances, are just as tender- 

 mouthed as the most fashionable of black Retrievers. Be- 

 sides his virtues in the field, the Irish Water Spaniel has 

 the reputation a very well-founded one of being the best 

 of pals. 



Most people are well acquainted with the personal appear- 

 ance of this quaint-looking dog. The points regarded as 

 essential are as follows : 



Colour The colour should always be a rich dark liver or puce without 

 any white at all. Any white except the slightest of " shirt fronts " 

 should disqualify. The nose of course should conform to the coat in 

 colour, and be dark brown. Head The head should have a capacious 

 skull, fairly but not excessively domed, with plenty of brain room. 

 It should be surmounted with a regular topknot of curly hair, a most 

 important and distinctive point. This topknot should never be square 

 cut or like a poodle's wig, but should grow down to a well defined point 

 between the eyes. Eyes The eyes should be small, dark, and set 

 obliquely, like a Chinaman's. Ears The ears should be long, strong 

 in leather, low set, heavily ringleted, and from 18 to 24 inches long, 

 according to size. Muzzle and Jaw The muzzle and jaw should be 

 long and strong. There should be a decided " stop," but not so pro- 

 nounced as to make the brows or forehead prominent. Neck The neck 

 should be fairly long and very muscular. Shoulders The shoulders 

 should be sloping. Most Irish Water Spaniels have bad, straight 

 shoulders, a defect which should be bred out. Chest The chest is 

 deep, and usually rather narrow, but should not be so narrow as to 

 constrict the heart and lungs. Back and Loins The back and loins 

 strong and arched. Fore-legs The fore-legs straight and well boned. 

 Heavily feathered or ringleted all over. Hind-legs The hind-legs 



