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Killountain Working Irish Water Spaniels
About us
Irish Water Spaniels; Living with Irish Water Spaniels as I have done since chilhood you could say that I have a great passion for the breed.When my Father bought his first one I was about 9/10 years old.He used them for wildfowling on the Ribble estuaries..When I personally developed an interest in the breed as a working gundog I decided I would also like to use them in competitive work and like most people I set out my goals for breeding. Temperament, health and of course working ability come first and foremost on my list.
As a breed it is a versatile gundog and can have various usues in the shooting field 'though of course as opposed to the Lab and ESS it does have some drawbacks. IWS are a breed with a strong personality it is also a breed that is slow to mature. The curl and ringlet coat can to some be a problem. Personally I find if the coat is kept resonably short it is relatively easy to manage.
Competitively the IWS is classified by the Kennel Club as a retriever, and if "bred right" and trained well is more than capable of competing with other retriever breeds.My dogs over many years have been successful in both GWT and in Field Trials and have strong working Irish lines behind them My highest award was at Crom Castle in Ireland when my bitch Ann Marie of Lisnabrogue (Katy) (bred by Eddie Lennon) won a 14 dog Open Qualifier for the Irish Retriever Championship.
I competed here in UK and in Ireland and had placings in Trials and GWT.My most recent dog Killountain Trader is currently the most widely known, and by awards in numbers was the most successful.Trader not only competed but was also invited to give demonstrations and on one occasion participated at the CLA by invitation of North West Counties F.T. Society as one of their four dog team. The Sporting Irish Water Spaniel Club is an organisation which is devoted to the working IWS and its welfare. Visit their web site.My current dogs are now used in the shooting field for picking up along with my labradors as I no longer participate in competative work.Breed enquires are always welcome please mail or ring.Puppies are sometimes available.
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