by Rabenschwarz

Created on: January 04, 2010   Last Updated: January 05, 2010

American Water Spaniel

Origins

The American Water Spaniel dates back to the 1800's and is thought to have originated in the Great Lakes Region, particularly Wisconsin and perhaps Minnesota. Its exact ancestry is uncertain but it is believed to have Irish Water Spaniel and Curly Coated Retriever in its background. The American Water Spaniel was bred to be an all purpose farm and hunting dog by people who wanted a dog to be able to swim well enough to retrieve from a boat but also be a good hunter. The AWS as it is called for short is an all around strong hunting  and retrieving dog that can hunt, point, flush game and retrieve it. This is considered a rare breed by the American Kennel Club but is probably not as rare as it may seem because the AKC only documents animals registered with their club and not hunting dogs that may not be registered. The American Water Spaniel is the state dog of Wisconsin.

Description

The American Water Spaniel is often knick named the "Little Brown Dog." It is a medium sized brown dog with curly hair.  The dog should be muscular and hardy looking. Its head is somewhat long in proportion to the body and the muzzle is square and of medium length. The nostrils should be large and the nose itself should be either black or brown depending on the dog's color. The eyes are wide set and are usually either a golden brown, hazel or dark brown color depending on the dog's color. The dog has long hanging ears similar to other Spaniel breeds. These should be cleaned frequently to prevent infection. The tail should be feathered and is about medium length which is longer than other Spaniel breeds. The coat is curly and water resistant. The color can be brown, chocolate or liver. This is a medium sized dog that can stand between 15-18 inches tall and weighs 25-45 pounds with males being on the larger scale of the spectrum.

Temperament

The American Water Spaniel is a good natured and friendly dog that is known as a good and stable family dog. The dog is highly trainable and intelligent. It would do best with an active family and preferably a job to do or activity to compete in as they will become destructive and a nuisance barker if they become bored. The AWS is a sensitive dog that is very obedient when gentle and patient training methods are used. They do not respond well to harsh training methods and are very willing to please so such methods are not necessary. One must be firm but not harsh. This dog has a confident

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