Spaniel American water dog

In my own words

An attention seeker, me? I wouldn’t go that far – I just like to make sure that my owner’s eyes are on me at all times, that I get petted whenever their hands are free and that they play with me at every opportunity. Sure, I might bark a lot when I feel like I’m not getting enough attention, but I just need to remind everyone that I’m in the room sometimes.

Moving swiftly along – if you want to be friends with me, then you’ve got to share my interests. I’m talking about running, swimming, leaping, exploring and generally going on adventures. If you can’t keep up with me, then we’ve got a problem but if you love the great outdoors as much as I do, you can go ahead and call me your Best Friend Forever. So, is it time for walkies?

Information essential about the Spaniel American water dog

Kennel Club Group:

Gundog

Size:

Medium: Weight Male 30 – 45 lbs (13.5 – 20.5 kg) Female 25 – 40 lbs (11 – 18 kgs)

Height Male 15 – 18” (38 – 46 cm) Female 15 – 18” (38 – 46 cm)

Popularity:

The American Water Spaniel is a very rare breed and is therefore not popular. The breed is more popular among farmers who use the American Water Spaniel as a hunting and working dog that it is with families who only want a companion dog. 

Breed History:

The exact origin of the American Water Spaniel is not known, however it is thought that the breed comes from the Great Lakes area, including Wisconsin and Minnesota. Most experts agree that the American Water Spaniel was developed from the Irish Water Spaniel and Curly Coated Retriever.

During the 18th Century the American Water Spaniel was used as a working dog on farms and in hunts. It is the first American breed to be developed to retrieve and hunt, and was treasured by American Water Spaniel enthusiasts as an excellent hunting dog. These American Water Spaniel fans were very protective over the breed and keen to retain its qualities as a hunting dog, going as far as to try to prevent the breed becoming recognised by the American Kennel Club as they believed it would ruin the American Water Spaniel reputation. However, the American Water Spaniel was finally recognised by the AKC in 1940.

The American Water Spaniel was bred to be able to catch the scent of game as well as flush them out, and is also a strong swimmer. The breed’s qualities make him a multipurpose hunter who can work in marshes, lakes, open ground and woodland.

In the early 1900s the breed’s numbers began to decrease, due to a reduction in the number of ducks in the Great Lakes area and the movement of hunting from a way of gathering food for the home to a hobby. After World War II the number of American Water Spaniels was further diminished as setters, pointers and other spaniels gained popularity.

The American Water Spaniel was announced as the state dog of Wisconsin in 1985, however the American Water Spaniel still continues to be a rare breed.

Character:

The American Water Spaniel is a more relaxed character than most spaniels, being less excitable and more balanced, but retains retrieval skills which could rival a Labrador or retriever. His breeding a multipurpose hunting dog means that he is not only an excellent hunter in woodland and open fields, but equally strong in marshes and in the water. While your American Water Spaniel may not be a fast swimmer he is a strong swimmer who can endure rough waters, and he loves a chance to get wet. Bred to be a working dog, your American Water Spaniel loves to have a task to do and therefore does well with competitive agility. However, your American Water Spaniel is more independent than other spaniels and has a mind of his own, so training is not always easy. An American Water Spaniel owner needs to provide training which the dog will find entertaining and interesting in order to get the most out of the breed. While your American Water Spaniel has a lot of affection for all of his close family, he will probably only form a very close bond with one member of the group.

Temperament:

Your American Water Spaniel loves to be the centre of attention and can bark excessively if he feel as though he isn’t getting enough of your time, energy and praise. He’s an intelligent breed which loves to learn, providing he finds the tasks at hand interesting, and is enthusiastic. While breeders have worked hard to create a balanced dog which would be equally suitable to family life as a pet as well as a hunting or working dog, there are still some American Water Spaniels which show aggressive temperaments. The American Water Spaniel is a naturally dominant dog and therefore needs an owner who will not allow it to be the alpha in the family. American Water Spaniel owners should have an air of authority and be fair, firm and consistent in training. Your American Water Spaniel is also very protective, making him a good guard dog. Your American Water Spaniel loves to go for runs, walks and swims and will become restless and destructive if he doesn’t get enough exercise outside.

Conformation:

The American Water Spaniel has a muscular, athletic frame of a medium size. The body is slightly longer than tall, and has a well built, strong look without appearing too compact. The head is in proportion to the body and is long with a smooth, square muzzle. The medium sized eyes can range in colour from a pale golden brown to dark brown, harmonising with the coat colour, and are slightly rounded and set well apart. The ears are long and wide and hang downwards, covered in curls. The tail is a medium size and is curved, covered with feathering. The American Water Spaniel’s coat is a double coat with a soft dense undercoat and coarse outer coat which features a waterproof coating which has an oily feel and can give off a ‘doggy odour’.

Colour:

The American Water Spaniel’s coat comes in liver, brown or chocolate colours.

Training:

Your American Water Spaniel is very intelligent, so he doesn’t like a lot of repetitive training which he will find boring and uninteresting. Instead, they need a lot of variety and training which involves problem solving which challenges them. Obedience classes are recommended for you to get the most out of your American Water Spaniel, and a strong, confident owner will be best suited to this dominant breed.

Care:

The American Water Spaniel’s coat is low maintenance. The wavy coat should be brushed every two weeks and bathing should take place only when absolutely necessary as it can damage the coat’s oily weather resistant coating. The American Water Spaniel is a light shedder.

Health:

The average lifespan if the American Water Spaniel is 12 to 15 years. The breed is known to suffer from a number of conditions including cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidisim, epilepsy, diabetes and glandular disorders. Hip dysplasia is also seen in the American Water Spaniel, however it is less common than it is in other sporting breeds.

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