PurinaCare Pet Insurance Blog

This week's visit to the Pet Health Library takes us to the Breeds Section to meet some dogs that love being called "all wet" - the Portuguese Water Dog, American Water Spaniel, and Irish Water Spaniel.

Of course, since the First Family got "Bo" the Portuguese Water Dog has been in the news a lot. Dr. Larry even wrote a post (tongue-in-cheek?) worrying that its popularity might endanger the breed!

But browsing in the Library, I found two other breeds with "water" in their names, the American and Irish Water Spaniels. And I learned some interesting and fun things about each.

So let's have some fun and see if you can match up these "facts" with the breeds:

• Nicknames include "Diving Dog" and "Sea Dog"


• A very rare breed, puppies will be hard to find


• AKC recognized in 1940


• Known as the clown of the dog world




• Nicknames include "Rat-tail Spaniel"


• Feet are webbed to aid in swimming


• One of the founding breeds of the AKC


• Generally the smallest of these breeds

Click on the breed links or pictures above to check your answers over at the Library!