Top 10 Best Facts About American Water Spaniel Dog Breeds

History & Origin

The American Water Spaniel is a small spaniel breed developed as gun dogs and hunting companions in the Midwestern region of the United States, particularly Wisconsin and Minnesota.  Although exactly how, when or where the breed was created still remains a mystery. The Irish water Spaniel, the curly coated retriever and the English water spaniel are possibly the ancestors of the American water Spaniel. 

The American Water Spaniel, also called the American Brown Spaniel in the early days, they could hunt through rough thickets and retrieve all sorts of game from land and water, systematically tagging many fallen birds before bringing them all back.  These dogs were used primarily for hunting coils, pheasant, duck, grouse and rabbit.

They were recognized by the AKC in 1940 at a time when no one ever considered breeding these dogs for anything but their hunting ability. They are very rare to be found today as a pet. Well, currently they’re among the least known of the AKC’s recognized breeds.

Their Appearance

The American Water Spaniel is a medium-sized, muscular dog with a rich brown coat that is instantly identifiable. They are not too brash in appearance or behavior. Their body is tiny enough for them to fit inside a skiff without shaking the boat, and their head projects a long, powerful snout.

As long as you give your American Water Spaniel fair, consistent training and direction, they will be energetic and obedient. Without it, he may have a stubborn personality. However, be careful when using punishment based training techniques. He enjoys human company and can start barking if left home alone and bored. You cannot leave this dog alone for long period.

These dogs walk with a balanced steps that balances reach and drive. They have powerful, well developed hips and thighs. They have wept toes and luxuriously cushioned feet. Females typically weigh between 25 and 40 pounds, while males typically weigh between 35 and 45 pounds.

They Are Versatile Dogs

The superb breed of American water spaniel is trained to hunt. Along with being excellent swimmers, they are also exceptional hunters and retrievers with a focus on waterfowl.

American water spaniels excel in a variety of dog sports and activities thanks to their adaptability, including agility, obedience tests, hunt tests, rally therapy, work, tracking, and search and rescue, in addition to confirmation.

The Spaniel is the ideal dog if you’re seeking for a playful animal that enjoys swimming and retrieving and can be taught for a variety of sports.

Temperament

The American water spaniel is a loving dog that is excellent for households with young children. The breed gets along well with cats and other animals, although some of them may be forceful, therefore early training is necessary to stop any dominant behavior against other animals.

The American water spaniel is a breed that naturally loves the water, as suggested by its name, and they appreciate the chance to swim. Due to the breed’s wandering tendencies, which are consistent with their hunting instincts, you may wish to keep them in a secured yard.

They Are One Person Dogs

American water spaniels are friendly and loyal companions. They love human companionship, but they are one person dogs that choose their favorite person carefully and wisely. These dogs are likely to bond most strongly with whoever gives them the most time and attention. 

If you constantly shower your American water spaniel with continuous love and affection and do not hesitate to accompany them in their favorite sport, then there’s a high chance that you are their chosen one. And once the dog has decided their favorite person, they’ll definitely make you their lifelong companion. Has picked you as their favorite human. 

Barking A Lot

The American Water Spaniel can be a happy, eager and charming dog. They are, however, extremely aloof with strangers and unfamiliar faces.  This explains the breed’s propensity to repeatedly bark when an intruder enters their area. The American Water Spaniel will bark excessively to get the attention of its family members, particularly their favorite person, because of their desire for company.

If they are not given constant attention and are often left alone for extended periods of time, this breed may also develop separation anxiety.

Exercise Needs

Due to their energy and excitement, American Water Spaniels need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation since they are all-around hunting and retrieving dogs. We advise that you devote at least one to two hours every day to walks, runs, or fetch activities with your American Water Spaniel. They may also be directed into dog sports like agility and flyball.

The American Water Spaniel is a great option for hunters and boaters, since they like any sport that includes being wet. Due to the breed’s development as an extraordinary boat hunter. Your dog may become destructive and barky if there isn’t enough exercise.

Their Trainability

The American Water Spaniel responds well to brief, kind, and consistent training methods. It is a clever and obedient dog. You should avoid using harsh approaches that include punishment since they might cause your dog to become uneasy or resistant. Use positive reinforcement strategies, such as play, praise, and food incentives, for the greatest outcomes.

The correct teacher who uses consistent training techniques may help combat the breed’s inherent propensity for chewing, digging, and leaping.

Grooming

The solid, water-resistant coat of the American Water Spaniel might have regular tight curls. Weekly grooming is necessary to keep the coat from matting and to condition the breed’s skin and hair with natural oils. The coat is sparser in the summer, so you may groom it using a rubber-tipped pin brush.

While you can remove the dead hair from the undercoat with a smooth brush, the remainder of the year, your American water spaniel’s natural oils could give off a dog-like stench. As a result, you must groom them once a week in order to assist the oil spread. We advise against often showering and shampooing since this will simply remove the natural oil from your skin and cause irritation and discomfort.

Health Concerns

The American water spaniel has a life expectancy of ten to twelve years and is typically a healthy breed. If you give these dogs the right care and take them to the vet on a regular basis, the majority of them will live long, healthy lives. The breed is nonetheless susceptible to a few seldom seen health issues, including degenerative myelopathy, heart abnormalities, hip and elbow dysplasia, and eye diseases.