How long does a Spanish Water Dog live?

The listed lifespan for a Spanish Water Dog is 12–14 years.

How tall is a Spanish Water Dog?

The listed height for a Spanish Water Dog is 17.5–19.8 in (male), 15.8–18 in (female).

Is a Spanish Water Dog good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Spanish Water Dog is 4 out of 5.

What is the energy level of a Spanish Water Dog?

The AKC energy score for a Spanish Water Dog is 4 out of 5.

Herding Group

Spanish Water Dog

Spanish Water Dog is a medium dog in the Herding Group. Adult weight is 40–49 lb (male), 31–40 lb (female), height is 17.5–19.8 in (male), 15.8–18 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–14 years. AKC describes the temperament as Upbeat, Playful but also work-oriented, Very Active.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Spanish Water Dog dog — Photo: Томасина · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–14 years

Weight40–49 lb (male), 31–40 lb (female)

SizeMedium GroupHerding Group

Height

17.5–19.8 in (male), 15.8–18 in (female)

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

1 / 5

Grooming

4 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

4 / 5

The breed record

Across 59 single-size medium breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13 years is about the same as the 13.3-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 40 lb is about 5.9 lb heavier than the 34.1 lb average for those medium breeds.

The listed origin is Spain. The coat is described as curly, corded, medium. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, close to the group average of 4.1 for the Herding Group. Shedding scores 1 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 4 out of 5, so a professional schedule is realistic. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 4 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 167 in 2025.

AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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