Emily Pikul shares her journey in Irish Water Spaniels, from early mentorship to breeding, sports, and preserving the breed.
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Emily Pikul
1. My name is Emily Pikul and I live in Massachusetts. I am 40 years old and have been involved in dogs my entire life. The day I was born, my godmother was delivering a litter of German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) puppies at my parents’ house. I later showed that dog in Junior Showmanship and at some of my first matches. I found my way to Irish Water Spaniels (IWS) through my godmother, and we went to our first National Specialty with Marion Hopkins, where “Emma” and I were Winners Bitch and Best of Winners under judge Bonnie Threlfall. My mother and I couldn’t believe how kind and welcoming the IWS people were. I took my time breeding and didn’t start until much later, as I wanted to dedicate myself first. From Marion’s last litter, Greg Siner let me co-own his pick bitch and, with Emma’s granddaughter, I was on my way. I have been breeding Irish Water Spaniels since 2014 and have been involved with the breed since 2002. My kennel name is a play on my name: Epik, Emily PIKul.
2. The first paragraph of the IWS AKC (American Kennel Club) Breed Standard denotes their “topknot of long, loose curls, and a body covered with a dense, crisply curled liver colored coat contrasted by a smooth face and smooth ‘rat’ tail.” The coat is written about in texts as being a water-shedding coat, thanks to the oils and its density. When they come out of the water and shake, the base of their curl is almost instantaneously dry, while the length of their curl is wet. This takes the cold water away from their skin, protecting them from the cold. When we constantly over-wash and blow-out those curls, we compromise the natural function and texture, turning it into something we can style but is no longer true to type.
Another important notation that should be mentioned is that an Irish Water Spaniel is a “strongly built moderate gundog bred for all types of shooting…” Though they are the tallest of the spaniels, the bigger the better is not useful in the field. IWS are built to walk on top of bogs. Therefore, having strong, large feet on a moderately built dog is paramount.
3. This is a timely question, as right now we are having a “puppy boom.” Eighteen different breeders have had litters in the past 15 months. Pet homes are always around, given the Internet’s incessant notion of our breed as being “hypoallergenic.” IWS are not the easiest breed to raise. They bond deeply with their people and require meaningful engagement, so we thoroughly check out new owners. We also have lots of interest in dog sports with IWS, as they are a very versatile breed. But new owners are not so likely to breed or show, as many find it all just too much to deal with. I hope this trend can change a bit, as it is important to keep the breed alive.
4. New technologies and communications as a breeder are somewhat plain for me. I work with a team of veterinarians I trust. When it comes to general health and pregnancies, they see the products and results much more than I do, so I put my trust in them. For my puppy people, I am always available via text. Our breed is not easy and I want to make sure they are living a happy, healthy life with their families. I get a few emails of interest in the breed, an occasional Instagram message, and a number of Facebook messages. My Facebook page itself is another key to all the wonderful things puppies are up to. It’s so easy for everyone to keep in touch with each other, and even share the ways that they are enjoying their lives with their dogs.
5. My community is interesting, as I live very near Springfield, Massachusetts, where there are around 80 dog shows a year. There are a number of dog people in the area as well as classes for dogs of every kind. When I go to the local dog park, I see half and half of purebred and mixed breeds. Hopefully, with this amount of purebred dogs, we are all having good conversations with the locals. I would love to see a bit more engagement from local clubs with the public for all sorts of educational purposes. Visiting hospice homes and reading programs with many of my dogs has been very rewarding and it’s a small portion of someone’s day that everyone enjoys.
6. It’s been said that we “eat our own” when it comes to the Conformation ring. Yes, there are more experienced people, and yes, some of the younger generation can be a bit “know it all.” But having been a manager of young people at one point in my life, they can also be some of the most focused and hardworking members in our sport. Having brought on a few ladies in their mid-20s and mentored a few grooming competition ladies, I cannot believe the amount of energy and research they do. If every person who came to me looking for an IWS had the time invested that those ladies had, we would all be in a much better place in this sport.
7. I love some of the new programs that AKC is rolling out as introductions to other activities. The ATT Temperament Test and the AKC Fetch program are fun and interactive “easy” tests for everyone. It gets us involved with new things, new training, and new people. I was recently introduced to Fast CAT with my young dog; she finished her BCAT title in seven trials and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It gives us something else to enjoy while my current bred-by Champion grows up some more before specialing her.
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