The American Water Spaniel is a hardy, muscular and active dog. His head is in proportion to the body but is quite long. It has a square looking snout. This one has a wide nose with large nostrils that are black or can be brown. The teeth are level bite or scissor bite. The eyes are yellow-brown in color and can change to dark brown. His eyes are very large and seem to show a great personality. His ears are set at eye level and are covered with long, dangling curls. Its legs are of medium length. Their coat colors can range from liver brown to chocolate. You may get a little white on your toes and chest. Its coat is double and can be curly or wavy. They have a beautiful, well-feathered tail that is thick at the base and ends in a point. They live about 15 years. They are 15 to 18 inches tall.
History: The American Water Spaniel dog was developed in the United States in the 18th century. He has been a complete hunting and farm dog. It is from the Minnesota and Wisconsin areas, primarily in the Great Lakes area. The breed comes from the Irish Water Spaniel and the Curly-Coated Retriever. The American Spaniel was the first to be able to recover from water in America. They are a great bird dog as they have an amazing nose and can forage in most terrains such as lakes, swamps, forests and rivers. They are excellent for removing game. As their name implies, they are great swimmers. While it is true that this breed is in decline, exact numbers are not known due to the wide use of this dog, and they are not always registered. They are the state dog of Wisconsin.
Temperament: The American Water Spaniel loves to work; it is easy to train and is quick to learn. He is a great companion and a good watchdog. This dog is friendly and good with children, as long as he has a well-established leadership role. This dog needs firm but calm and collected training as he is sensitive. Partly due to its shyness, it is advisable to socialize this breed early in life with other dogs to avoid aggression later in life. This dog loves attention. Some are known to snore. If they don’t get the mental and physical exercise they need, they can become barkers, a lot. In addition, they can become hyperactive.
Health Problems – The American Water Spaniel dog has few health problems compared to other dog breeds and skin problems in some lines of the American Water Spaniel.
Grooming: Little work is required for the American Water Spaniel breed. You will need to groom this dog twice a week. Use a brush and or a comb. Although this is a water dog, don’t be fooled into thinking you can bathe this breed as often as you like, this is not the case as over-bathing can strip the natural oils from the dog’s coat and Dry Skin. The dog due to natural oils has a smell from a distance, this is natural and should not be eliminated with baths.
Living conditions: The American Water Spaniel dog likes to roam and therefore needs at least a medium-sized garden. They need a lot of exercise, so they will need long daily walks. They can live in a flat, but you have to walk them well.