The coat of the Irish Water Spaniel is dark liver in color with a purplish tint or bloom peculiar to the breed
and is referred to as puce-liver. The coat on the body is dense with tight, crisp ringlets, which cover all parts of its body except the muzzle, the front of the neck, and the first 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) of the tail.

Free from woolliness, the hair has natural oiliness. The forelegs are covered down to the feet with curls or ringlets, which form naturally. The skull has a covering of long curls forming a pronounced topknot, growing well into the well-defined peak to a point between the eyes. The ears have long twisted curls, and the throat is smooth, as is the face.

MAINTENANCE:

Brush and comb, separating the coat in layers at least once a week, and clean the ears. Bathe and trim with scissors every six to eight weeks.

PROCEDURE

Equipment needed: Wide-toothed comb, slicker brush, scissors.

Breed tip: Spray with rainwater to enhance the curls.

• Along the topline, flick the coat up with the comb so that it stands up and out, away from the back.
• Now to the front legs. Sitting the dog in front of you, lift the leg and comb the coat towards the body. Then hold the paw, and shake the leg. Next decide what length you want the coat.
• For the rear legs, stand behind the dog. Comb out all the coat in the direction of the arrows, hold the paw and shake the leg. Trim as before. Now, stand to the side of the dog, and trim as before, but notice that the coat is left longer in front and shorter behind the stifle, then longer behind the hock and shorter in front.
• Next, the topknot. Comb the coat out from the crown, and trim out from the crown, shorter at the base of the skull and longer over the eyes.
• For the body of the dog, comb the coat upwards, and trim as before. Blend the sides and the chest so that they follow through from the legs to the topline — there should be no sudden changes of length in coat where the leg joins the body.
• Now comb all the coat down and trim under the belly. Let the dog have a shake to loosen any ends, then trim any long hairs that will now appear.
• Don’t forget to check the dog’s nails, ears and teeth.