This week’s name is:
Boatswain
“Boatswain” (1834-1852) is accepted as the foundation of the Irish Water Spaniel we know today, and it is also generally accepted, that Boatswain descended from the Southern Irish Water Spaniel whose ancestors existed in Ireland for over a 1000 years.
The small gene pool, and the care breeders have taken to retain the main characteristics of the breed, have resulted in a dog not unlike Boatswain. In appearance, little has changed in over 150 years, and these dogs are still bred for their original purposes – for hunting and as a companion dogs.
The Irish Water Spaniel is a dog of ancient lineage and, although there are a number of theories about the exact origin of the breed, it is generally accepted that it shares a common ancestry with the poodle and other ancient breeds of water dogs.
The Irish Water Spaniel is recognizable by his coat of puce liver coloured curls, his smooth face with topknot falling over his eyes, and his distinctive rat tail.
Picture Credit: This is not a picture of Boatswain – it is a picture of an unknown Irish Water Spaniel
