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American Water Spaniel breed guide
The American Kennel Club calls the American Water Spaniel an upbeat, outdoorsy athlete from the lake country of the upper Midwest that loves to hunt and swim.
A tightly curled or wavy brown coat marks the muscular, midsize hunting dog.
Temperament
Happy, eager and charming, the American Water Spaniel is aloof with strangers and a bit stubborn. Admirers describe a merry, intelligent and versatile spaniel suited to a variety of dog sports.
As hunters, they combine the working traits of spaniels and retrievers.
Lifespan
The majority of American Water Spaniels live long, healthy lives with proper care and regular vet visits, with a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years. Breeders test for hip dysplasia, eye disorders, cardiac abnormalities and degenerative myelopathy.
Care
The dense waterproof coat comes in insulating double layers built for the icy waters of the Great Lakes. Weekly grooming is required but simple and in summer, when the coat is sparser, a rubber-tipped pin brush brings it into shape.
These outdoorsy athletes need ample exercise: at a minimum, vigorous play with their owner or a companion dog in a park or large backyard every day. Without it they may become barky and destructive. They thrive when given a job.
History
The breed is a case of Yankee ingenuity, a knack for adapting Old World materials to New World problems. European immigrants in Wisconsin and Minnesota depended on the region's plentiful waterfowl and used various European breeds over generations to create a new dog for hunting in and around the Great Lakes.
How, when and where it was created will probably remain a mystery.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 3 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 5 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 1 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 3 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 3 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 3 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |