Irish Water Spaniel Rescue Frequently Asked Questions

                  What is rescue?

Rescue dogs are typically adult dogs who have been surrendered by their previous owners due to a variety of circumstances. Sometimes we get purebred Irish Water Spaniels straight from animal shelters and attempt to place them in loving new homes. Re-homes are also adult dogs, but differ from Rescues in the fact that they have been bred and/or owned by IWSCA members who are attempting to place them. They may be show dogs who are now looking for a comfortable couch to retire to, or they may have been sold as puppies, and then returned by their owners as adults. If you are looking for a IWS companion, and would rather begin with an adult dog versus a puppy, a Rescue or Re-home dog may be right for you. When you adopt a rescue, you're giving a dog a second chance at a wonderful life!

 

Some people are afraid to get a rescued dog.  They think they might be getting someone's reject.  In most cases that is definitely NOT true.  But maybe you'd like to hear some rescue stories from the past?

That's a question you will be asked. We highly recommend that you research thoroughly any breed you are thinking of adding to your home. The Irish Water Spaniel is an incredibly bright dog that asks a lot of its owner.  It is very important to us that these dogs find the right home and the first step is to make sure that potential owners know as much as possible what they're getting into.

The best starting spot on the web for your research is The Irish Water Spaniel Club of America web site.  The site contains many links to IWS pages all over the world.  We also recommend signing up for the IWS e-mail list. Visit http://www.onelist.com/ to join the IWS e-mail list for the exchange of information about the Irish Water Spaniel. For more information on Irish Water Spaniels click here

Some things, such as wine, cheese and dogs, get better as they age. Before passing by that muzzle with a few gray hairs, consider several things:

 Puppies are a lot of work. They are small and cuddly only for a short time.

There is housebreaking, obedience training, chewing, digging and all of that energy! Do you really have the time? Today's hectic schedules often demand long work days and long commutes. Older dogs are much better able to handle time that they must spend alone. If you work TOO many hours, maybe you should rescue a cat! Older dogs are seldom destructive. Sometimes people find that they just didn't have the time and energy that a puppy requires. Fido ends up at the humane society when adolescence becomes just too much. An older dog might have been an appropriate choice.

 Young children and young dogs are not always a good combination. Because of all of the work puppies require, they may not be good matches for families with children under five. Babies are a lot of work, too! It can be exhausting to handle both at the same time. Sometimes, parents have hopes of teaching their children responsibility through the care of a pet. However, children under the age of ten are not terribly reliable in that regard. An older dog can be an excellent and tolerant companion for young children without all of the work and supervision a puppy requires. That puppy can be purchased when the children are old enough to appreciate it and to participate in its care. Think of the changes in your own life. If the last time you had a puppy was fifteen years ago, you are also fifteen years older yourself! You might not be as willing to go through the frustrating times with a puppy.

 Irish Water Spaniels, in particular, have a long adolescence, are very active throughout their adulthood, and usually don't start acting geriatic until they are ten or eleven--sometimes later. Older IWS' are loving, alert companions who still want to participate in the usual activities. The average lifespan of an Irish Water Spaniel is twelve or thirteen but, with good nutrition, exercise and veterinary care, many live to be fifteen. A person adopting a rescue IWS of five may have up to ten wonderful years with the dog. Contrary to popular belief, old dogs CAN learn new tricks. There may be a few quirks to undo but with consistent work, most habits are undoable and don't compare at all with the amount of training that a fresh young pup will require. Some rescue IWS have gone on to earn performance titles with distinction. Even the ones picked up as strays usually have the basics. They are housebroken, leash broken and have basic obedience such as sit and stay. What a bargain!

 Before you pass by an older dog who is healthy, fit, trained and at risk of being euthanized, ask yourself if an older dog might work to your advantage. If you adopt one, there's every chance that you won't regret it and you may find the best friend you could ever want.

Click here for more information on the Irish Water Spaniel Club of America's Rescue Policy.