American Water Spaniel Dog Breed Information

The American Water Spaniel (AWS) is a medium-sized, muscular hunting dog. They have a soft undercoat and harsh, wavy or curly outer coat. AWT was bred to work on the icy waters and marshy banks of the Great Lakes region which is very much suitable for their water-proof coat.

AWS has a long ear with curls and a feathered tail. Their nose is either black or dark brown and their eye color usually matches with their coat colors. Due to their long and thick coat, they should be brushed often to avoid the tangling of hair.

Origin and History

American Water Spaniel is originated in the United States of America and developed in the state of Wisconsin during the 19th century. They were bred as a hunting dog and are the mix of English Water Spaniel and Curly-Coated Retriever. They were used for hunting quail, birds, pheasant, duck, and rabbit.

AWS was one of the least popular breed among American Kennel Club and was not recognized until 1940. However, they are still popular in Wisconsin and are recognized as state dogs.

Is American Water Spaniel Child Friendly?

AWS is suitable for kids as they are gentle, loving and sweet towards children. They will play with them the whole day and relax in an adult’s lap at the end of his tiring day.

Adult’s supervision is needed while letting them play as children can sometimes play rough and AWS will not like it.

Behavior, Temperament, and Personality

American Water Spaniel is an active, alert, loyal and obedient dog as long as you provide consistent training and leadership. They can become stubborn and manipulative if you fail to provide leadership. As a natural swimmer, they love to swim very much. If there is a small pool for them, they will really be happy.

AWS love people companion and wants to be around them most of the time. They want to be involved in family activities and also loves to work outdoors. AWS loves people company, however, they are suspicious of strangers and bark at them if he sees any strangers passing by.

Trainability

AWS is smart and easy to train as they respond well to short and fun training. Start with basic training and once he learns general commands, enroll him in an advanced training session to keep him challenged and mentally stimulated. However, AWS should be trained by his own owner, not some unfamiliar trainer as he works better from someone he knows.

Train your AWS in a gentle way. He will not response well if you become harsh and forceful towards him. Therefore, be gentle and develop trust so that he willlearn quickly.

Facts about American Water Spaniel

• American Water Spaniels were bred to retrieve on land or in water. They were small and light to fit in the boat and strong enough to bring back a duck.
• AWS is believed to gain weight very easily. Therefore, they should not be overfed.
• The American Kennel Club recognized this breed in 1940.
• AWS is an official state dog of Wisconsin.

Health Issues

ASW is generally healthy but like any other dogs, they have the potential to develop genetic health problems. Some of the few health problems that AWS might suffer from are hip dysplasia, retinal dysplasia, cataracts, and some allergy. You can prevent all these health problems by taking your AWS to your veterinarian time to time and providing them with a proper diet.

Colors

AWS coat comes in few colors: brown, dark-chocolate and liver. They have double-coated and curly coat.

Puppies

Cost

The cost of American Water Spaniel is between $800- $1000 on average. However, adopting a puppy will cost relatively low that includes only the expenses of caring the puppy.

Size

The average height of AWS is 15-18 inches and the weight is 25-45 pounds on average.

Which Dog Breed are American Water Spaniel Similar To?

Boykin Spaniel

Woodle

Affenpinscher

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