In any event the descendants of these dogs were accepted and achieved great success on show benches in the second half of the 19th century. In 1890 the Irish Water Spaniel Club was formed to promote the interests of the breed. A good family dog with a sense of humour but discerning with strangers. Skull high in dome, good length and width allowing for large brain capacity. Top-knot should consist of long loose curls growing down into a well defined peak between the eyes and should not be in the form of a wig, i.e. growing straight across.
Hair grows in a narrow line forming a beard at the back of the lower jaw.
Strong and regular with scissors bite. Comparatively small almond-shaped, dark amber or dark hazel and very intelligent looking. Very long and lobe-shaped in the leather, set low, hanging quite close to the cheeks and covered with long, twisted curls of hair. Short, broad and level, strongly coupled to the hindquarters. Deep and wide.