Our Dogs

Our Dogs

All our dogs are part of our family and live and run together. We do have kennels but when we are at home our dogs are with us. They lead full and active lives and are involved in a variety of canine activities including flyball, agility, water training, breed showing and the various events run by The Spanish Water Dog Club. Even our Polish Lowland Sheepdog will join in water fun!

Squiffy

Squiffy

   Squiffy is our first Spanish Water Dog and taught us a lot about the breed. She is sensitive, often timid with strangers but has a wonderful sense of humour and is a well-practiced thief. Nothing edible is safe when Squiffy is left unattended!
   ‘Squiffy’ was just a nickname we gave her until we thought of a better one but several years later we still haven’t come up with anything so I think that one will have to stay.
   Squiffy is a delight to live with and will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Taffle

Taffle is the daughter of Squiffy and litter sister to Ripple. She is our ‘working’ dog and throws heart and soul into every task. She competes at flyball, running for the ‘Gofours’ based in Lincoln. She shows a particular aptitude for water work and has taken part in a number of canine studies at Lincoln University Animal Behavioural Unit. Taffle is a very active dog and enjoys being challenged mentally as well as physically
Taffle has taken part in canine cross country, running with your dog through forests, and showed a lot of enthusiasm for the sport although the handler (me) struggled to keep up with her. I shall work on a fitness regime so that we can continue taking part in the future.

Ripple

Ripple

   Ripple, another of Squiffy’s daughters, loves attention from anyone who will give it. She is a registered ‘Pets as Therapy’ dog and visits a residential home for the elderly once a week. She also works with dog phobic children and has successfully helped several children to overcome their fear of dogs.
   Ripple enjoys agility and flyball but, although she is very fast, she prefers the attention an audience can give her and will run across for fuss!
   She is a very gentle, outgoing dog who just wants to be loved. However, she can also manipulate you without you realising and will nudge you to remind you to keep stroking!

BREEDING

Our long-term aim is to produce quality puppies of sound temperament and from health tested stock, that are typical of the breed by displaying the characteristic working attributes of their ancestors from Spain. By careful selection of mates I hope to combine the best of the lines from Spain with those from other European countries. Puppies will occasionally be available but will be sold first and foremost as family pets. Puppies will not be sold as 'working dogs' or 'show quality' but any participation in these fields will be encouraged. Each puppy will go with a contract to safeguard its future and any restrictions on use for breeding may be lifted provided the owner satisfies certain criteria.

Litters are bred only occasionally and when the time is right for our bitches and for us. Every care is taken to ensure that the puppies we produce are from parents that have been tested for hip dysplasia and predisposition to glaucoma, which are two known health problems in this breed. Socialisation begins as soon as the pups start to respond to their surroundings and each pup will have been exposed to a whole host of noises, textures and experiences before it goes to its new home. Advice on continuing this programme and all aspects of rearing and training a puppy will be given to new owners. Support will continue for however long is required and contact throughout the dog’s life will be encouraged.

Corin

Corin is the latest addition to our canine family. She is the daughter of Ripple and was very much a surprise when born, as she came into the world the day after the others, when we all thought it was over. We called her 'our golden girl' till she had a name of her own. She is named after her father 'Colin' and we hope she inherits his superb temperament but at the moment she is full of her own self importance and is receiving lessons in canine manners from the rest of the family, particularly her Auntie Taffle. Corin will be introduced to a variety of activities but it is too early to tell what her forte will be. Watch this space.