The quality of the Spanish Water Dog’s coat is a leading characteristic, which qualifies this dog as a shepherd and auxiliary to hunters of wild fowl and fisherman in the Iberian Peninsula (a similar history to the Poodle). The coat is always curly and of a woolly texture, forming fine cords when long.The color is solid white, black and brown in their different shades, parti-colored, and tricolored.

MAINTENANCE:

Trimmed subjects are admitted in the show ring, but the clipping must always be complete and even; the dog must never become an “aesthetic” example of grooming.

Equipment needed: In Spain, combs and brushes are used, but in the U.K. these tools should never be employed. An Oster No. 40, with a half-inch attachment, is needed for pet dogs.

Breed tip: Dogs are usually clipped once a year, but if you require a short coat, two clips will be required.

• With the corded coat, these spirals are not combed out, but left in their natural state. Encourage the hair to separate at the body, and use water or coat-enhancer to encourage the cords to form.
• Bathe the dog in a natural shampoo (one that doesn’t lather).
• Rinse well in cold or lukewarm water.
• Press the coat with an absorbent towel to take away the excess moisture. Never rub the coat.
• Dry the coat with warm air or cage-dry.
• Check the dog’s nails, ears and teeth, and tidy up the ears if necessary. Scissor around the shape of the ears, but make sure you don’t go too short.
• Check under the pads for clogged hair, and remove if found.
• Occasionally, the chin area can be tidied up because some dogs seem to grow beards, which spoils the look of the head.
• Dogs should only ever be clipped (with an Oster No. 40 with a 1/2-inch/1.25-cm attachment) — never scissored. The Spanish Water Dog is a natural-looking breed, not a sculptured one, and should not be groomed like a Poodle.

COAT CORDS

The Spanish Water Dog’s coat has cords rather like a Puli’s, although its coat does not touch the ground — it only falls halfway down. Dogs can be shown once the coat is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long — i.e., when the coat is curly.