 Welcome to the Kirkmarsh Irish
Water Spaniels' web site, where you can find out a little
about us, our dogs and what we do.
We own and occasionally breed IWS and our passion is to use
them in the shooting field, predominantly for picking up on
formal game shoots but also on Grouse moors. We also use
them competitively in retriever (the IWS is classified as a
retriever) gundog working tests and the occasional field
trial. We also enter the odd show as do some of our
Kirkmarsh owners.
Our water spaniels are bred for temperament, for working in
the shooting field, competitive gundog tests and trials but
most of all they are bred to be great companions with
fantastic personalities. Our owners too use them for a wide
variety of activites: picking up, beating, wildfowling,
deer stalking, mink tracking but also competitive flyball,
showing or just taking part in an active family life.
 The
dogs we now use for breeding are all hip scored, elbow
scored and have annual eye tests. In addition, mating
considerations are checked against a breed database and
genetics program to ensure we achieve low levels of
inbreeding.
Our current dogs come from the United States, Sweden,
Ireland and homebred by us in the UK.
We devote most of our time and energy to the breed,
including the promotion of the IWS in the UK.
We occasionally have puppies available and would be
delighted to talk to you about the Breed and whether it is
suitable for you.
Photos to the left courtesy
Debbie Turska
Showing the Kirkmarsh IWS team in the Galloway Gundogs team
gundog working test. Melvyn with Ziva and Yeates, Denise
with Sophie and Joy Waddington (in hat) with Bann.
Melvyn & Denise Hurst
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