How much exercise does an Irish Water Spaniel need?
Daily exercise minutes, the activities an Irish Water Spaniel enjoys and signs of too much or too little.
Ninety minutes a day is a sensible floor for an adult, including off-lead running where safe, swimming, retrieving and training. The breed shines at field trials, dock diving, agility and obedience, and many will retrieve from water until you run out of patience before they run out of energy.
Restlessness, whining, chewing and pestering are classic signs of too little exercise. Too much, particularly in warm weather, can lead to overheating, because the dense coat holds heat. Choose cooler times of day for hard work, and let them swim to cool off where water is clean and safe.
Irish Water Spaniel exercise in numbers
Activity ranges are editorial planning estimates. The five-minutes-per-month puppy rule lacks scientific evidence. Adapt activity to the individual and seek advice for pain or exercise difficulty. PDSA puppy exercise guidance.
Editorial activity estimate
120 to 150 min
Puppy activity
Individual plan
adapt to age, health and development
Senior activity
Individual plan
adapt to comfort and ability
Size
large
20 to 31 kg
Energy level
Playfulness
Handles heat
Handles cold