The American Water Spaniel is considered the official canine representative of the North American state of Wisconsin. Because here the breed was named for the first time. Even today, it is rarely seen outside its native state and is considered one of the endangered domestic breeds.

Breed Description

The American Water Spaniel is considered the official canine representative of the North American state of Wisconsin. This is because the breed was first named here.

Even today, he is rarely found outside his native state and is considered one of the endangered domestic breeds. If you are lucky enough to meet an American Water Spaniel, he will inspire you with his extraordinary coat and charming nature.

If the Amercian Water Spaniel is reserved towards strangers, he gives all his attention to his pack and protects house and yard against intruders if necessary.

Outdoors in the countryside, the Spaniel with the curly coat is full of energy and appreciates hour-long walks through meadows and woods. If the opportunity for a refreshing bath arises – all the better.

Because the name of the American Water Spaniel is program. He is well adapted to the wet element with his water-repellent coat and can splash around in it for hours without cooling down.

But he also loves it when not only his muscular body but also his fine senses are challenged. He can’t say no to a merry game of fetch on land or in the water.

Even if it is not a condition for a species-appropriate attitude, however, the qualities of the American Water Spaniel come into their own best when he is allowed to show what he is really made of at the side of a small game hunter.

Then he shows himself focused and obedient and is happy about the brought in successes together with his human partner. Because this is exactly what the family-friendly retriever dog was born for.

Origin And Breed History

The American Water Spaniel first appeared as an officially named, distinct variety in the United States of America in 1865 in the Wisconsin area. However, at that time, he was still referred to as the American Brown Water Spaniel.

His roots reach all the way across the pond to Europe. However, one is not completely unanimous about his ancestors. Most likely today is a close relationship to the Irish Water Spaniel.

Also the Old English Water Spaniel, the Curly Coated Retriever and last but not least the Field Spaniel could have had a strong hand in his pedigree. The visual resemblance to the British Spaniels is undeniable.

But it was a long way until the American Water Spaniel, like his possible ancestors, was included in the list of officially recognized dog breeds.

Water Is His Element

It is no coincidence that the American Water Spaniel first appeared in the state of Wisconsin. With more than 15,000 lakes, this region of the USA is considered to be particularly rich in water and has long been an Eldorado for hunting waterfowl.

A place like made for the American Water Spaniel, which obviously feels well in the water. Thus, the breed emerged from efforts to breed a suitable dog for hunting ducks and geese. He should be compact enough to fit in a small boat, but also have the strength to retrieve a killed bird.

A particularly useful detail for his water-bound work is his unique coat. Its dense undercoat is able to protect the American Water Spaniel from the elements and water penetrating the skin. At the same time, it also provides protection from tangled branches and sharp thorns in the undergrowth, making him an ideal hunting partner.

The Almost Forgotten Specialist

Like many old working dog breeds, the American Water Spaniel was on the verge of oblivion before it was even recognized as a breed.

Several decades of hunting had caused duck populations in North America to shrink drastically. As a result, hunting interest increasingly shifted to land.

Although the American Water Spaniel, despite its name, cut an excellent figure as a hunting companion on land, it could hardly hold its own against the Pointers, Retrievers and Setters that spilled into the U.S. after World War II, which were better suited for certain hunting styles. As a result, the American Water Spaniel, once popular among hunters, nearly died out.

A Rarity Until Today

It is primarily due to the breeding efforts of a New London-born doctor that the American Water Spaniel still exists today. Doctor Fred J. Pfeifer had made it his goal to preserve the breed since the 1920s.

With success, because since 1928 the American Water Spaniel finally received the recognition of the “American Kennel Club” as an independent breed. Interestingly, the appearance of the American Water Spaniel has hardly changed since the first breeding efforts in the 19th century.

Only the yellow eyes, which are not uncommon today, are probably the result of a later crossbreeding with the Curly Coated Retriever. Also the breed standard held today in the FCI goes back substantially to the fancier breeding of the doctor.

Since 1985, the American Water Spaniel has even been considered the national dog of Wisconsin, which helped him to a certain fame despite his comparatively small numbers worldwide. Today, the population of the American Water Spaniel is estimated to be less than 10,000 individuals.

Appearance Of The American Water Spaniel

The breeding ideal of the American Water Spaniel is stated in FCI Standard 301. According to this standard, it is a medium-sized dog with shoulder heights of up to 46 centimeters, with females generally remaining slightly smaller.

The coat of the American Water Spaniel is double-layered and very thick to protect it from wetness. It lies against the body in small waves or curls, although the intensity of the curl may vary from body part to body part.

The coloration varies from brown to a dark chocolate tone. Minor white markings on the chest and paws are permitted. An American Water Spaniel is of straightened stature, his twill being slightly longer than high.

His bone structure is solid, but not too massive. He is powerful and well muscled, but does not appear ponderous. The head is broad and strong and shows a distinct but not too pronounced stop at the transition to the muzzle.

The hanging, broad ears set slightly above the eye line on the head. The medium length tail is usually carried raised.

Character And Temperament

The American Water Spaniel has a “will to please.” Nothing makes him happier than to please his master. He faces this task with ambition, intelligence and a high adaptability.

Towards the family they give it friendly and at the same time they are vigilant against external dangers. American Water Spaniels tend to concentrate their focus on one or a few people. To strangers they usually remain suspicious to uninterested.

The American Water Spaniel has a tendency to bark and whine, which cannot be abolished but can be contained with consistent training from puppyhood.

Husbandry And Diet

Attitude

The American Water Spaniel is not a dog that will be happy on the couch alone, although he does appreciate intense cuddles with his pack.

But he has been bred to be an active dog and needs to be exercised accordingly. Ideally, he should be in hunter households with a family, where he can do what he was created to do.

If that is not an option, he should be exercised with a suitable dog sport. Ideal activities are those where the dog can demonstrate his retrieving talent, such as ball games or Frisbee.

Nutrition

Since diabetes is one of the most regularly occurring diseases in the American Water Spaniel, his diet should be designed for it from the beginning if possible.

The American Water Spaniel is not a food lover and has a tendency to overeat. Thereby the one or other pound too much on the ribs finds itself fast times.

It is therefore obligatory to provide the dog with a controlled amount of food. Whether this should rather consist of dry food or wet food, at that the spirits part.

In both areas you will find good and healthy options that can be specially adapted to your American Water Dog. In general, the energy bundle should be fed a basic diet that contains mostly protein and meat.

Grains and sugar should be off limits as much as possible. It’s best to weigh your dog regularly to keep track of his weight and adjust the amount of food up or down as fluctuations occur.

Education and care

Education

With its “will to please”, the American Water Spaniel is rather easy to train, even by novice dog owners. With eagerness, the dog tries to perform the tasks that are given to him.

However, the breed is also said to have a certain stubbornness and if the owner fails to clearly take the lead, the dog sometimes finds himself forced into this role.

Also, when the American Water Spaniel starts to get bored, he sometimes looks for his own employment opportunities. Accordingly, the owner should be consistent and self-confident in the education to show the American Water Spaniel a clear line.

If this succeeds, the breed shows itself very docile and eager. Starting to train your American Water Spaniel under the guidance of an expert dog trainer is therefore always a good choice to give you the best start.

Grooming

An American Water Spaniel does not go through a coat change too often. As a rule, his coat thins out a bit in the summer. So that the lost hair does not all end up in the household, the dog should be brushed regularly with suitable brushes, especially during this time.

The rest of the year, the American Water Spaniel is also happy to have his thick, double-layered coat brushed about once a week. This not only strengthens the bond, but also allows the owner to keep an eye out for external parasites or skin lesions.

Health And Typical Diseases

Unlike many purebred medium to large size breeds, the American Water Spaniel enjoys a healthy conformation and has no problems with hip dysplasia. On the other hand, eye problems such as cataracts are more common.

Cataracts can develop at a young age, limiting the dog’s vision. In most cases surgery is possible, which can correct the condition.

Besides these diseases, American Water Spaniels are also prone to epilepsy, diabetes and various allergies. Allergies are noticeable through skin irritation or loss of appetite, for example, and can lead to coat loss if left untreated.

Life Expectancy Of The American Water Spaniel

Despite being only medium in size, American Water Spaniels are considered a slow maturing breed. Only at the age of about three years they are out of the youthful storm and urge phase and can stand by their owner for another ten years and more.

The basic prerequisite for this is, of course, a suitable attitude to keep the dog robust and healthy.

Buy Dog Breed American Water Spaniel

The Amercian Water Spaniel is very rare outside the United States and the chances to buy one in Germany are extremely low. Even in its country of origin, it is one of the rare breeds, with only a few hundred puppies registered as offspring each year.

There is currently no active breeder registered in Germany. So if you absolutely want to get an American Water Spaniel at your side, you have the greatest chances of success in its home country, the USA, and must accordingly reckon with high costs not only for the purchase of the animal, but also for its import to Germany.

A more sensible alternative may be to look around for similar breeds on the German market. For example, the Cocker Spaniel is a dog similar in appearance and temperament, which is often kept in Germany.

Decision Support

The decision for an American Water Spaniel should be made carefully, because it belongs to the breeds for which sufficient time should be planned.

This already begins with the search for a suitable dog, the breed is extremely rare in Germany. With an American Water Spaniel a dog moves in, which is much and gladly outside on the way, and that preferably with its reference humans.

Just walking around the block cannot satisfy him and will sooner or later lead to behavioral problems. But if you like to be active outside a lot, live alone or have a family with children and want to give a home to a dog that is not quite an everyday dog, the American Water Spaniel is a suitable choice.

FAQ About The American Water Spaniel