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There
is no other reason for the long conservation and existence
of this breed throughout all these years except for their
great level of usefulness as work animals.
In these
farmlands, passed down from generation to generation for
more than 300 years, Spanish Waterdogs have been used as
sheep dogs. Here we have found the remains of three century
old dogs with the exact same physical skeletal structure
of dogs of today.
Leaving
aside this brief history lesson about this breed that documents
the great and prolonged usefulness we can see that even
today the Spanish Waterdog is used for work. And it this
single attribute that has caused all that have come to care
for, protect, and enjoy to promote this breed to the level
of recognition and prosperity of that it now knows today.
In the
sea ports of Algeciras, Cadiz, Malaga, and the inlet port
of Sevilla the "waterdogs" were used to help moor
ships and boats by launching themselves in the water. They
would dive after a floating buoy at the end of a rope and
carry it to the awaiting dock hands. There are numerous
testimonials of this adventurous and spectacular event throughout
the years. However, now a days, with the modernization of
docks and ship transportation this mighty function on the
Spanish Waterdog is no longer needed.
There
are accounts that the waterdogs of the inlet port of Sevilla
moved on to the sea ports of Santander and its surroundings.
Throughout the Cantabrico Sea, from Galicia to the Vasq
Country, there is a long and distinguished seafaring tradition
that identifies waterdogs with fishing ships. Not too long
ago, each fishing cutter had its "seadog - first class"
that did all sorts of fishing tasks such as carry lines
from one place to another or dive in the water to retrieve
stunned fish that escaped from nets. There are many seafaring
short stories that speak of the "waterdogs" both
in and out of the water.
There
great passion to retrieve objects makes them natural retrievers
of almost anything almost anywhere. They handle the gathering
and control of flocks in Andalucia and Extremadura today
just as they did hundreds of years ago. The act of sophisticated
search and rescue of people after natural disasters such
as earthquakes, mud slides, and cave ins is another demonstration
of their great capacity to recover all that is put forth
to them. Today several European police forces, namely the
Spanish Civil Guard use waterdogs in the detection of drugs
and explosives. It is easy to see them working in airports,
customs stations, public buildings helping to serve and
protect society.
There
was also a traveling circus that promoted waterdogs that
perform tricks worthy of humans. We have come to know dogs
that only lacked the ability to speak. Every watchful, every
attentive the Spanish Waterdog waits patiently to carry out
your command.
There are some that try to use the Spanish Waterdog as a hunting dog which is a marvelous tracker and retriever, but there is the major inconvenience of its natural wool. The wool is very dense and gets caught very easily in all types of underbrush. We have even some dogs trapped by their own wool to the point that they couldn't´t even move. To go out into the country with a waterdog one must have in mind the type of terrain that they are going to traverse and what time of year it is. Short wool is ideal for the countryside but you must keep in mind that a short hair dog will never swim or dive as well as long hair dog.
"I like to play with my dogs and every day I learn something with them." says Antonio Garcia. "For example: going surfing, identifying various objects by their name, bringing specific objects to someone, climbing trees, going up almost vertical ladders and stairs, cutting ropes, even turning a car engine and bringing the keys to the owner, and thousands of other examples they do because they like it and they like to make their owners happy."
In
conclusion, simply remember that the reason today we enjoy this multitalented breed is due to its usefulness and that is what its future is based upon. To keep the breed strong and unique we must play and work with dogs.
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