American Water Spaniel

Breed Description

This brown water spaniel (the breed’s original name) was developed in the Midwest of the United States as a duck retriever and was also used for flushing waterfowl, combining the traits of both a spaniel and a retriever. The American water spaniel resembles the Irish water spaniel in coat type and love for water, making it ideal for boat trips with hunters and retrieving shot birds. It was recognized by the AKC in 1937 and is largely unnoticed outside the U.S. The American water spaniel is a very elegant medium-sized hunting dog. Its origin story is not entirely clear, but it likely descends from ancient Irish and English water spaniels. It was very popular among hunters in the U.S. along the Mississippi as a retriever, shaping its current appearance, and somewhat resembles classic spaniels from Europe. In 1865, it was recognized as a variety, but by the late 19th century, it was largely overshadowed by retrievers and nearly disappeared. Around 1920, D. Pfeiffer fought for the preservation of the breed, which was met with considerable success. However, it is still quite rare today, even in the U.S., ranking 166th out of 196 existing dog breeds i

Appearance

The American Water Spaniel is rarely seen in Russia. Additionally, it may not necessarily be recognized as a spaniel. This is because it is quite tall and elegant, and its coat resembles that of a setter. The American Water Spaniel is one of the tallest spaniel breeds. Its wavy, curly fur is striking. Its undercoat protects it from inclement weather and difficult terrain. The spaniel’s build appears balanced and well-trained. The official standard describes it as a strong, muscular dog, full of vigor and quality. The breed has enough substance and bone to support its musculature, but not enough to seem heavy.

How large is the American Water Spaniel?

The American Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog, standing between 38 to 46 centimeters at the shoulder. Males weigh between 13.5 to 20.5 kg, with females being slightly lighter.

The American Kennel Club estimates the expected lifespan to be between 11 to 14 years.

Отличительные черты

Голова

The head of the American Water Spaniel is proportional to its body and has a broad, rounded shape. The skull is wide with a smooth transition to the muzzle. The forehead is moderately convex, giving the dog an expressive and intelligent appearance. This head shape helps the spaniel navigate better in water and work effectively during hunting.

Морда

The American Water Spaniel has a short, strong, and rectangular muzzle with clear lines. The jaws are well-developed, allowing the dog to confidently seize its prey. The lips fit tightly, and the shape of the muzzle conveys a sense of strength and confidence. This characteristic is essential for successful hunting and retrieving game.

Уши

The ears are long and droopy, with a slightly wavy texture. They are positioned low and covered with thick fur, which gives the American Water Spaniel its distinctive appearance. The ears hang down well, helping the dog to pick up sounds, which is especially important during hunting.

Глаза

The eyes of the American Water Spaniel are round and expressive, often dark in color, giving the dog a lively and intelligent appearance. They are set at a moderate distance from each other and have a friendly expression. The dog's eyes are well protected from water and dirt, making them ideal for working in challenging conditions.

Зубы

The teeth of the American Water Spaniel are strong and healthy, with a correct bite. The jaws are powerful, allowing the dog to effectively grasp and hold onto its prey. Healthy teeth and gums are essential for proper nutrition and overall health.

Корпус

The American Water Spaniel has a strong and muscular build, which gives it endurance and strength. The chest is wide and deep, allowing the dogs to breathe easily and work actively. The back is straight, and the belly is toned, indicating good physical condition.

Конечности

The limbs of the American Water Spaniel are strong and muscular. Both the front and hind legs have excellent muscle mass, allowing the dog to achieve speed and agility. The paws are wide with well-developed pads, providing stability on various surfaces and making them steady in water.

Хвост

Хвост у американского водяного спаниеля средней длины, с густой шерстью. Он обычно держится на уровне спины или чуть ниже, и может подниматься при возбуждении. Хвост служит важным средством коммуникации для собаки и помогает ей поддерживать баланс во время плавания и активных движений.

Шерсть

The coat of the American water spaniel is short and wavy, with a water-repellent texture. This feature allows the dog to feel comfortable in water and protects against getting wet. The coat appears shiny and healthy, which indicates the good condition of the dog.

Окрас

The color of the American Water Spaniel can vary from dark brown to light brown, often with white markings. This variety of colors gives each representative of the breed individuality and highlights their uniqueness.

Characteristics

What are the characteristics of the American Water Spaniel?

The American Water Spaniel is a hunting dog. Working with water is his specialty and passion. He used to retrieve shot waterfowl from small boats in Mississippi. The standard describes his essence as follows:

His behavior shows intelligence, a desire to please, and friendliness, along with considerable energy and enthusiasm during hunting, while also being manageable in field conditions.

The American Water Spaniel is excellent for retrieving and, like all spaniels, has an intense love for water. Moreover, he is generally a powerful hunting dog with a balanced temperament, not nervous. Yet, he is also playful. At times, he displays a spirited nature and carefree charm. At the same time, he is very sociable and friendly with people. This makes him exceptionally likable and manageable even for dedicated novices with a knack for dogs. The American Water Spaniel is recommended as a good companion and family dog. Good training, regular requirements, and rewards in nature, ideally, but not necessarily as a hunting dog, make the American Water Spaniel an extremely pleasant family member. For his foundation, he needs his species-specific use in hunting or, alternatively, in various dog sports. The remarkably balanced, relaxed nature of the American Water Spaniel is a source of relaxation and tranquility for us humans. This makes him an unfailing playmate for children.

The American Water Spaniel has a very strong hunting instinct, so he perceives any small animals purely as prey. With early socialization, he can coexist with cats and small dog breeds; however, boundaries must be established immediately, or trouble may arise.

Nonetheless, he is a very sweet, friendly, sociable pet that will bring you many joyful days.

Care and Maintenance

What kind of care does an American Water Spaniel need?

The American Water Spaniel does not have special care requirements. Trimming and grooming the bangs are allowed in official breeding to create an overall impression of neatness, but they are neither mandatory nor absolutely necessary. It is also important to regularly check the ears for dirt and odors.

The coat does not require special care either. Periodic brushing with a soft brush is recommended. Bathing should be done as needed since the coat has a unique self-cleaning property. Grooming is advised as necessary, about twice a year.

The American Water Spaniel does not have specific dietary requirements. Of course, high-quality food is beneficial for its health, and it enjoys it as well. Like most dogs, it also loves meaty beef bones and fresh meat. However, you should be careful not to overfeed it. Dogs can often be very greedy, which can lead to obesity. American Water Spaniels are prone to weight gain, so caution is needed regarding their diet. A well-balanced dry food is perfect for daily meals. However, it should not be abused; you should periodically offer the dog lean meat, vegetables, dairy products (cottage cheese, kefir), and grains. It’s essential to provide the dog with all necessary minerals and trace elements for good balanced development and growth.

The best living environment for it is, of course, a house with a yard where the dog can run and play freely. If you want to keep an American Water Spaniel in an apartment, it’s important to plan a resting area where the dog can see everything happening around, as spaniels like to keep an eye on things. When living in an apartment, it’s necessary to establish a clear walking schedule, as spaniels require long walks.

Training and Education

The American Water Spaniel requires a very active owner. This hunting dog specializes in searching in water and performs exceptionally well in canine sports. Its intelligence and obedience, along with agility and endurance, make it an excellent partner in dog sports or tracking. It can also be used professionally, such as in search work.

The American Water Spaniel is quite easy to care for. Ideally, it would live in a country house with a garden. It is an extremely pleasant companion on walks and hikes in nature. You just need to be aware of its hunting instincts and know your friend’s body language and thinking inside out. This way, you can call it back in time and ideally walk it off-leash without problems. The American Water Spaniel wants and can walk in any weather. It is completely hassle-free in daily life and can accompany you anywhere.

Like all spaniels, the American Water Spaniel is extremely friendly, eager to learn, and makes it easy for people to train and work with it. It has a strong “will to learn.” However, this is not a dog that simply waits for commands from its owner. It has a mind of its own. Therefore, you must establish rules to follow, including for yourself. The foundation of training is consistency based on close emotional trust. You should never try to break its stubbornness; instead, you must respect it and quietly enjoy it.

Thus, its training is very successful and suitable for an experienced novice who understands dogs. A certain challenge is the hunter at heart of the spaniel. If you want to let it off the leash, you should start training it at a young age so that it responds at any time. You should also acclimatize it to being left alone for longer periods than when it was a puppy. Reliable breeders offer healthy puppies with documents and pedigree.

How to Choose a Puppy

When selecting an American Water Spaniel, it’s important to approach the matter carefully. This breed is not very popular in Russia, making it difficult to find a kennel with truly purebred representatives.

If you want to share your life with an American Water Spaniel, you should start looking for a breeder in advance. Be prepared for the possibility that it may take a long time before you receive your puppy. However, the wait is worth it. It is recommended to acquire a puppy from a breeder only after it reaches 2 months of age. A crucial aspect in choosing a puppy is the shape of its tail; it should resemble a “rat tail,” similar to that of a whip. Otherwise, you might end up with a poodle. Compare options from verified breeders on Zooinika and choose your ideal pet.

Mixed breeds of American Water Spaniels are virtually non-existent.

Health and Diseases

Does the American Water Spaniel have breed-specific health issues?

The spaniel has a sturdy build. No typical diseases have been reported. However, you should be cautious about inbreeding with this rare breed.

The most common issues in breed members include non-specific ear canal infections, which can lead to complete hearing loss.

A tendency to gain weight is also characteristic of the breed. A balanced diet will help prevent gastrointestinal diseases.

Breed-specific conditions may also include issues related to bones, including cancer. Hip dysplasia is also genetically transmitted.

The American Water Spaniel is an extremely rare dog. However, it also possesses great qualities as a companion and family pet, which should indeed make it much more popular.