How long does a Irish Water Spaniel live?

The listed lifespan for a Irish Water Spaniel is 12–13 years.

How tall is a Irish Water Spaniel?

The listed height for a Irish Water Spaniel is 22–24 in (male), 21–23 in (female).

Is a Irish Water Spaniel good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Irish Water Spaniel is 3 out of 5.

When is a Irish Water Spaniel full grown?

The growth size band for a Irish Water Spaniel is up to 24 months.

Sporting Group

Irish Water Spaniel

Irish Water Spaniel is a large dog in the Sporting Group. Adult weight is 55–68 lb (male), 45–58 lb (female), height is 22–24 in (male), 21–23 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–13 years. AKC describes the temperament as Playful, Hardworking, Brave.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Irish Water Spaniel dog — Photo: R.H.Moore: All about dogs; a book for doggy people New York,J. Lane,1900. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/75529 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–13 years

Weight55–68 lb (male), 45–58 lb (female)

SizeLarge GroupSporting Group

Height

22–24 in (male), 21–23 in (female)

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

1 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 12.5 years is about the same as the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 56.5 lb is about 2.7 lb lighter than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is Ireland. The coat is described as curly, medium. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 1.1 points below the group average of 4.1 for the Sporting Group. Shedding scores 1 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 169 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and Thyroid Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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