American Water Spaniel

Breed of Dog : American Water Spaniel

The American Water Spaniel dog was developed in America in the 18th century. It has been an all round hunting and farm dog. It is from the areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin, mainly in the great lake area. The breed comes from the Irish water spaniel and Curly-coated retriever. The American water spaniel was the first to be able to retrieve from the water in America. They make a great bird dog, as they have an incredible nose, and they can collect from most terrains, like lakes, swamps woods and rivers. They are excellent at flushing out game. As the name implies they are great swimmers. While it is true this breed is on the decline, the exact numbers are not known due to the wide use of this dog, and they are not always registered. They are the state dog of Wisconsin.

The American Water Spaniel is a very calm, kind and loving dog, but at the same time also a very lively hunting dog. They are also extremely clever working dogs, and get along very well with children and other animals in the family. These dogs can however be hostile toward strange dogs. If these dogs are socialised well from an early age onwards, it will prevent aggressive behaviour later on. This breed makes wonderful companion dogs and they will also behave well in the house if they have been trained properly. American Water Spaniels tend to bark a lot, but they make excellent watch dogs. They are however not good guard dogs due to their size.

A medium sized dog with a crisp-textured, tightly curled or wavy outer coat lined with a protective undercoat. Comes in liver or chocolate, sometimes with a small white spot on the chest. White on the toes is also acceptable. The well-proportioned head is moderately long. The skull is broad with a moderate stop. The ears are long and covered with curls and the medium length muzzle is square and smooth. The nose is either dark brown or black. The eye color should harmonize with the coat color in shades of brown or hazel. The teeth meet in either a scissors or level bite. The feathered tail tapers, hanging with a slight upward curve. The tail is used as a rudder in swimming.

Height: 15 to 18 inches.
Weight: 28 to 45 pounds (male); 25 to 45 (female).