Spanish Water Dog

The Spanish Water Dog is a medium-sized hypoallergenic breed with a rather deceiving name. Contrary to their name, the Spanish Water Dog is actually considered a member of the Herding Group rather than a true waterdog or retriever. Yes, they are strong swimmers and share the trademark curly, hypoallergenic coats of waterdog breeds, but they are better skilled at herding and work on the farm than they are to hunting and retrieving waterfowl. To top that off, their origins don't lie in Spain, but rather in current-day Turkey, or what was once the Ottoman Empire. It's believed these curly-haired herders were brought to Spain around 300 years ago and were then employed by local farmers and revered for their herding skills and vigilance on the job.