Hannah Loonsk | Irish Water Spaniels

Interview with Hannah Loonsk, Breeder of Irish Water Spaniels

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? What is your kennel name?
2. What are the hallmarks of your breed and why are they important for maintaining breed type?
3. In your opinion, are there enough puppy homes to support breeding a litter this year?
4. How have you implemented new technologies in science and communications as a breeder?
5. In your community, have you noticed a change in the public’s perception of purebred dogs?
6. Have you noticed any trends in the sport? Anything to be concerned about?
7. What are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in the sport in recent years?

Hannah Loonsk

1. My name is Hannah Loonsk. I currently live in Reva, Virginia, but work as an associate veterinarian at Companion Animal Clinic just outside of the District of Columbia metro area. I grew up with Irish Water Spaniels, but started showing in 2004. Near the end of vet school, I co-bred my first litter with my mentor, Greg Siner (Poole’s Ide), in 2021. The five litters that we have bred together have been with frozen semen and, under the guidance of my professional mentors, I have been able to perform all of these myself via transcervical insemination or surgical insemination.

I am privileged to live with four beautiful bitches, two mothers and two daughters. All four are active in the Conformation ring, Obedience/Rally, and in the field. I am grateful to always have at least one lying by my desk at work.

2. The Irish Water Spaniel (IWS) is a highly intelligent, strong gun dog, but throughout our Breed Standard we emphasize the importance of moderation. Their silhouette is easily recognizable—particularly the head adorned with a topknot and the signature rat tail. The physical features that we associate with breed type exist because of the environment that they were developed to hunt—cool Irish bogs. For example, the crisp, tightly curled, water-repellent coat and large, somewhat spreading feet allow them to persevere through boggy, challenging terrain. There is no question that the temperament is like no other and that the intelligence and unyielding nature also give you a persistent, dedicated partner.

3. Yes, there are. At times, puppy buyers may have to wait patiently for this breed, but they are worth it. However, in the last 18 months, there have been an abundance of litters from a variety of different breeders. There are several different types of good homes for an Irish Water Spaniel, but IWS are not ideal for a first-time dog owner. Show/Performance homes, hunting homes (for waterfowl and/or upland birds), and active homes/families with kids are excellent homes for the breed.

I think that we all long for more show homes, but there are some really exciting new young people in this breed. It is important that they are supported, mentored, and given opportunities to work with good dogs!

4. Much of the scientific technology that allows us to perform very important breedings is not new per se, but that does not mean that everyone takes advantage of it as much as they should. Good pre-breeding screening and accurate, reliable progesterone timing give us crucial information to make decisions and plan our breedings.

On communication, there is no question that social media currently plays a huge role in information sharing within the purebred dog community. It also allows us to stay in touch with our puppy homes quite readily, to mentor remotely from a distant state, and to ask and answer questions. We coordinate entries and build show committees that never once meet all together in one place.

5. I cannot say so for my community necessarily, but I have noticed some interesting trends in the content shared on platforms such as TikTok. There is no question that there are many young people who appreciate competitive dog sports, and the merits of well-bred purebred dogs and certain social media outlets seem to facilitate conversation and content sharing remotely for people who live in completely different parts of the country.

6. Just as it is the responsibility of the breeder/exhibitor to present their dog to the best of their ability, it is the responsibility of judges to educate themselves about rare breeds and how to judge them so that they can find the best dogs in their ring. Proper judges’ education about breed type is incredibly important, but judges also need to consider that breeds will perform best when approached correctly. The gentle but deliberate judge who takes the time to walk down the line of IWS puppies and greet them prior to sending them around and moving on with their exams will have the opportunity to examine each and appreciate their strengths. The judge who rushes to approach young dogs with topknots freshly over their eyes, from behind the shoulder, will not.

7. I am a big fan of both the NOHS (National Owner-Handled Series) and BPUP (4-6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition). I believe that both provide additional opportunities for recognition, as well as training and exposure for young dogs. These are also a less intimidating way for new exhibitors to gain experience. I do think that more emphasis needs to be placed on advertising local shows as an outing for families and to attract the general public.