MyDogBreedsEnglish Water Spaniel is originated from United Kingdom but Ariege Pointer is originated from France. English Water Spaniel may grow 16 cm / 6 inches shorter than Ariege Pointer. English Water Spaniel may weigh 10 kg / 22 pounds lesser than Ariege Pointer. Both English Water Spaniel and Ariege Pointer has almost same life span. Both English Water Spaniel and Ariege Pointer has same litter size. Both English Water Spaniel and Ariege Pointer requires Low maintenance.
The English Water Spaniel breed is extinct and has been since the early 1900’s. It was last seen in the 1930s. The breed was a hunting breed, diving for duck and hunting other waterfowl. Legend has it that Shakespeare was referring to this breed of dog in Macbeth when he refers to the “water rug”. Again, in Two Gentlemen of Verona one of the character states about another that “She hath more qualities than a water-spaniel.’
The English Water Spaniel came along before the Irish Water Spaniel and had a part in the development the Curly Coated Retriever, the American Water Spaniel and the Field Spaniel. The English Water Spaniel looks somewhat like a Poodle/Springer Spaniel cross or a Collie. It is not known whether the English Water Spaniel was part of the development of the Irish Water Spaniel.
When the English Water Spaniel was first developed the UKC had a “Water Spaniels other than Irish” and the English Water Spaniel had no standard written and accepted for it yet. But by 1967 the breed was extinct. Still the American Water Spaniel and the Flat Coated Retriever are believed to be descendants of the English Water Spaniel.
The Ariege Pointer is a French hunting dog, coming from the Ariegeois region of France.
Known as the Ariege Pointing Dog, French Pointer or Braque de l’Ariege, these dogs came from the old French Braque dogs that were crossed with the orange and white Southern Braques.
It was in 1990 that a team of breeders decided to devote themselves to the breed’s survival. The Braque de l’Ariege was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006.
Resembling the Springer Spaniel, poodle, collie and setter the English Water Spaniel has very little in common with the Irish Water Spaniel in respect to looks. The English has a narrow and somewhat longer head their than other spaniels and they have long furry ears. Their body is stout, and they are shaped like a barrel – more like a Clumber. With long legs and large feet, it is ready to take to the hunt. There coat was waterproof, and their toes were webbed.
The Ariege Pointer has always been a dog kept essentially for hunting and not as a companion dog. He stands between 55 – 67cm and weighs 25 – 30kg.
He is an attractive looking dog with quite a large head while the body is sleek and slender to look at. The ears are quite large and are floppy while the tail is traditionally docked to give him that distinctive look. These days the tail is often left long and hangs downwards.
The coat is short, single and rough and is white with tan or orange patches. The coat can also be speckled or ticked.
The Ariege Pointer is a hunting dog who is friendly towards strangers and therefore won’t make a particularly good watchdog.
These dog are lively, independent and good natured and they make excellent companion dogs. They are fairly docile and and get on well with children and pets in the home. Just like with any other dog, they need to be trained and socialized early.
The English Water Spaniel was aloof with strangers but loyal with his hunter. He was a little stubborn and an excellent water dog. They loved being in the water and could enter it without making any noise so as not to frighten his prey. He was highly intelligent and trainable. He also was very affectionate with his people.
The Ariege Pointer has always been an excellent pointing- and hunting dog. When it comes to being a family pet, he puts his hunting skills aside and becomes a loyal, loving, friendly pet.
They are considered to be rare dogs, and were at one time bordering on extinction. Those who have owned one of these hunting dogs will be glad to know that they are no longer considered endangered. They’re not your friendly, social kind of dog that you find in other dog breeds, but with training and socialization he will make a fine companion and family friend.
The English Water Spaniel is a fairly healthy breed given to some fairly common disorders such as:
Can lead to lameness and arthritis
Arterial fib and flutter and other problems that could lead to death.
This is a disease seem in several “Dwarf” breeds such as Corgis, as well as in many spaniels. This is the canine version of Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS and it is fatal.
The Ariege Pointer is a working dog breed, used for hunting and retrieving prey. With good care the dog can live to be a good 12 – 15 years of age.
However, with every dog breed there are common dog diseases to watch for. This dog has long floppy ears and these can get damp and will need to be cleaned and dried regularly otherwise the long ears can be prone to infection.
Apart from being prone to health issues such as an ear infection, you want to be aware of very common dog ailments such as hip dysplasia which can cause lameness in your dog.
Whatever illness your dog has, and you see he isn’t acting his usual self, get him to the vet for a check-up and then make sure that all treatment and medication prescribed is adhered to.
The English Water Spaniel is not an overly energetic dog and has a tendency to over eat. Feed him 1 to 1.5 cups of high quality dry dog food over two meals each day.
In addition to the health issues mentioned earlier, the English Water Spaniel is also prone to:
Pattern baldness – is genetic and occurs on the neck and back of the hind legs.
English Water Spaniels can have these in old age like most other breeds.
Clumps form in the retinal tissue and can lead to blindness
The English Water Spaniel was a worker and an outdoor athlete at a time before organized canine games and activities such as agility and flyball. They loved to swim, and they loved to hunt. Without a job to do they could become barky and destructive.
Your attractive Ariege Pointer will give birth to 2 – 8 puppies. If you don’t want puppies, then spaying or neutering is excellent and can actually have many health benefits for your pet.
This dog with its short coat requires very little maintenance, and a good brush twice a week will ensure the coat remains glossy and shiny, giving you the chance to also check for fleas and ticks.
Don’t just assume every dog has bad breath. Bad breath can be indicative of dental disease, and dental problems can cause all kinds of other illnesses within the body. Make sure that while your pet’s teeth are healthy, that you brush them 2 or 3 times a week with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste.
The Ariege Pointer requires regular exercise as it is a lively, energetic dog. He can adapt to life in the city or the country, but ideally he needs a place with a large garden.
Wherever you keep him as a pet, make sure you take him for walks every day and that you play ball- or rope games with him. Ignoring his exercise needs will turn him into a bored, frustrated pet, and that isn’t fair towards him.
Make sure you choose good quality commercially manufactured foods for him. Adding in some home-made food to his kibble such as cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken will be wonderfully good for him.
Every dog will require some raw meat added into his diet from time to time. Many skin diseases can be treated by adding in raw meat. After all, before dogs were domesticated they lived on raw meat, and including this ingredient back into their diet guarantees to make a remarkable difference in terms of good health.