Top 13 Water Dog Breeds

Choosing a suitable dog breed for your environment and lifestyle is an important decision for every aspiring dog-owner. There are thousands of dog breeds to choose from, varying in size, temperament, grooming requirements, and more. Among these, there are certain dog breeds that are known for their love of swimming and the water. Here we will explore some of the best water dog breeds, and help you make the right choice for your family and lifestyle.

What Is a Water Dog?

In short, a water dog is a dog bred to “excel in or around water.” People have bred these dogs for hunting and flushing out waterfowl, working aboard ships or harborside, and even for lifeguarding purposes. These breeds therefore tend to be natural water-lovers and capable swimmers and an excellent choice for adventurous, water-loving families. Water dogs also share key characteristics, such as webbed feet or a water-resistant coat. 

Top Water Loving Dog Breeds

Newfoundland

The most notable characteristic of a Newfoundland dog is their huge size (averaging about 100-150 lbs in weight) yet gentle temperament. These gentle giants originate from Newfoundland, Canada, bred as working ship dogs, and continue to make fantastic water rescue dogs today. Despite their size, Newfoundlands are friendly and docile around both families and young children, and are an intelligent and confident breed.

Spanish Water Dog

Spanish Water Dogs are medium-sized and known for their intelligence, friendliness and curly coat, and make a great family dog. As moderately energetic breeds, they thrive with regular exercise yet are not as demanding as other working breeds. However, staying on top of grooming is an essential part of owning a Spanish Water Dog due to their curly coat.

Standard Poodle

Although Standard Poodles are often regarded as glamorous breeds due to flamboyant grooming styles, these dogs were originally waterfowl hunting dogs, and are thus energetic, good in water, and enjoy frequent exercise. A Standard Poodle stands between 18-24 inches at the shoulder, and is a suitable family dog if given ample exercise. However, due to their temperament, Standard Poodle owners should be prepared to provide regular exercise and mental stimulation every day.

Portuguese Water Dog

With origins aboard Portuguese fishing boats, the Portuguese Water Dogs are athletic, competent in water and known for their good natures and lack of shedding. Standing at approximately 23 inches, they are popular amongst American families due to their playfulness and ‘teddy bear-like’ faces. This aquatic dog breed suits active homes and requires ample training, attention and exercise.

Spaniel Dog Breeds

American Water Spaniel

The American Water Spaniel is a rare Spaniel breed. Known for their unique wavy coat of liver or brown, these dogs are excellent swimmers due to their muscular build. Requiring regular exercise and proper training, these loyal companions are good natured and behave well around people, and also socialize well with other dogs when trained.

Boykin Spaniel

With origins in the South Carolina wetlands, the high-stamina Boykin Spaniel was bred for flushing out birds and loves to swim and play. As pets, they require substantial exercise, mental stimulation and attention and enjoy an active household. Intelligent, friendly and eager to please, Boykins are highly responsive to training and typically low maintenance due to their good health and little grooming requirements.

Retriever Dog Breeds

Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is an extremely popular breed in the US and makes a wonderful addition to a family. Intelligent, loyal, and responsive, they often work as therapy and guide dogs, and also do well around young children and other animals when socialized. They are medium-sized dogs, standing between 21-24 inches tall, and sport a distinctive thick, golden coat, which sheds substantially and requires frequent grooming. These dogs love swimming and long walks, and are a perfect choice for active families.

Labrador Retriever

Another popular family breed, the Labrador Retriever is a similar height and weight to a Golden Retriever, and is fantastic around people, children, and other dogs, and is another popular choice as a guide dog for the visually impaired. Moderately high-energy, this breed makes a great addition to an outdoorsy family and thrives on long walks and days in the water. 

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Originally bred for hunting ducks and other waterfowl in the Chesapeake Bay area, this breed is high-energy and does best when provided regular exercise by their owners. Loyal and affectionate towards people, ‘Chessies’  grow to around 21-26 inches tall and make excellent family dogs when socialized and given necessary mental and physical stimulation, and also require minimal grooming.

Setter Dog Breeds

English Setter

English Setters are good-natured and affectionate hunting dogs known for their graceful, flowing coat and long legs, and enjoy plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Like many working dogs, they make just as good household pets as they do hunting partners due to their loyalty and gentleness, and get along well with both adults and children, as well as other pets when socialized properly. 

Irish Setter

Similar to the English Setter but with a telltale red coat, Irish Setters are also high-energy and require substantial exercise, alongside frequent brushing to maintain their long coat. They are highly affectionate and great around people, including children, however owners should be wary around smaller children - a Setter’s boisterous enthusiasm combined with their slightly larger size (60-70 lbs) may make them prone to unintentionally knocking over toddlers.

Otterhound

A larger breed with a rough coat and a loud, deep voice, the Otterhound is a rare scent dog bred for hunting otters, but makes an equally good family pet. Due to their hunting roots, Otterhounds can become distracted and fixed on the pursuit of a scent. Lively and good-natured, this breed is a great water dog and also gets on well with children. However, due to their breeding as chasers, they may not always be responsive, particularly once they pick up a scent.

Barbet

The Barbet, pronounced “bar-bay,” is a jolly French working breed bred for flushing out and retrieving birds and looks similar to a Goldendoodle, with a shaggy coat and hairy chin. The Barbet does well in the water due to their strong build and protective curly coat, which is also hypoallergenic and has minimal shedding. Intelligent and good-natured, they make great household pets, provided they receive ample daily exercise.

Conclusion

Although these are just a handful of the many water-loving breeds, these breeds are among the most family-friendly water dogs that would make excellent pets. However, a potential water dog owner must be prepared to provide the necessary exercise and mental stimulation these working dogs require. If you want to know whether your dog is a water dog, take a dog DNA test. This test can identify your dog's breed and determine if they belong to water-loving breeds. It is also to be noted, that while most of these dogs are naturally good natured, early socialization and training is necessary in all breeds to ensure your dog can be trusted around people and other pets.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can all dogs swim?

While water dogs are born swimmers and have great enthusiasm and skill when in the water, not all dogs innately know how to swim. That being said, all dogs can learn to swim, but some may take to it more than others depending on personality or physical capabilities.