The American Water Spaniel Dog Breed

The American Water Spaniel dog breed originates from Wisconsin in the United States and, unfortunately, to date there are thought to be no more than 3,000 extant specimens in the world. This breed is not known outside the United States and its specimens are practically clustered in a few states in the mid-west of the USA and especially along the Mississippi River.

Mainly used as hunting dogs, due to their character they are also excellent companion dogs. And especially for the modern hunter, who lives in urban centres, this dog is excellent as it is a perfect companion for both hunting and living. This is one of the few dog breeds actually created in the United States and its origins are somewhat controversial. Its birth dates back to the early 19th century and there are two versions.

The first is that its ancestors were dogs as diverse as: English Water Spaniel, the Curly Coated Retriever The Irish Water Spaniel and other breeds, plus other unspecified Indian dogs. The most accredited theory is that of Dr. Fred J. Pfeiffer, who was a well-known dog breeder, and who traces its origin back to the mating of Field Spaniel and Curly Coated Retriever.

The breed was not recognised until 1940, when the first specimen of the breed was registered, a male named Tidewater Teddy. A very good hunter in difficult waters, in the woods and on uneven terrain, it is mainly used for hunting, but is also an excellent watchdog and companion dog. Water in its name indicates that this dog is particularly useful for diving from boats or canoes to bring back downed game from its owner.

Character of the American Water Spaniel dog breed

The American Water Spaniel is a very sociable dog, it is never hostile, quite the contrary, it is enthusiastic and outgoing. It is one of those breeds that likes to be the centre of attention and always likes to play, very well suited therefore to being at home with the family and especially with children with whom it never tires of playing. It immediately takes confidence even with people it does not know, as a companion dog it is perfect, although it is a hunting dog.

It is very affectionate, especially with its owner, but also with all other family members. It suffers a lot from loneliness, so it is not suitable for those who would leave it alone for several hours a day. It is also renowned for being a very docile dog and very easy to train because it is very intelligent. He needs physical activity, so it is necessary to take him out walking or running for a sufficient amount of time every day.

He loves playing and learning new games, both agility and intelligence games, so ideally he should be involved in dog sports such as agility and others, even water rescue activities in which this dog excels like few others.

It is, however, a territorial dog and sees other dogs, especially male specimens, as a threat to its dominance, so early socialisation with other dogs is good to avoid future problems.

Appearance of the American Water Spaniel dog breed

The American Water Spaniel is fairly small in size, ranging from 38 to 45 centimetres in height at the withers, this for both sexes, while in terms of weight the male ranges from 13 to 20 kilograms and the female from 11 to 18.

The body is slightly longer than tall, the trunk is well developed, the chest is deep but not excessively wide. It is solid, muscular and full of strength, but not at all clumsy. The paws are very strong, assisted by long and powerful muscles, the feet are of the right size and well closed, to ensure grip on the ground. The tail is carried low and is of medium length; it is attached at the height of the dorsal line and with very thick and curly hair.

It has a wide and full skull, with an evident stop. The muzzle is of medium length, square. The expression is intelligent and attentive. Truffle: dark colour, black or dark brown, broad with large nostrils to improve the sense of smell. The eyes are not very large, yellow-brown or hazel, depending on the coat. The ears are long, wide, covered with curls and positioned above the eye line.

The coat is dense to protect it from the cold, consisting of liver-brown or chocolate brown curls. It has a thick undercoat to ensure sufficient density for protection against weather, water or harsh undergrowth; however, not too rough or too soft. The limbs have curly fringes, which are on average short.

Health and care of the American Water Spaniel dog breed

The American Water Spaniel is a robust, strong and hardy dog, but it can have problems that mainly affect the joints, eyes and heart. In fact, like many dog breeds, it can suffer from hip dysplasia. In addition, particular attention must be paid to the health of the eyes: two diseases that occur in these dogs are cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy.

The American Water Spaniel, contrary to what one might think, is not a dog that habitually sheds a lot of hair. It does, however, have a curly or wavy coat that tends to tangle if it is not brushed fairly frequently.

Its diet must be healthy and balanced, without the addition of external supplements.