American Water Spaniel

American Water Spaniels were bred in Wisconsin and Minnesota as hunting dogs that would be good at retrieving waterfowl. Wisconsin and Minnesota are cold, and the European immigrants were looking to create a dog that would fare well swimming in colder water to retrieve waterfowl.

Dogs from this medium-sized breed are very skilled swimmers like their likely ancestors, the English Water Spaniel, Curly-Coated Retriever, and Irish Water Spaniel. They can quickly retrieve waterfowl that have been shot down. Additionally, this breed is also used for bird flushing with different game birds such as pheasants, quails, and grouse. There are not many of this breed left; it is estimated that there are only about 3,000 still around.

This breed of dog is a pretty even-tempered dog. They are energetic and love playing. They can also be very affectionate and can be a great choice for a family pet, so long as they are given plenty of exercise.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning an American Water Spaniel

History and Origins

The American Water Spaniel is an example of the Americans’ ability to take European breeds and modify them for their own needs. Settlers in Wisconsin and Minnesota wanted a breed of dog that could help them hunt the waterfowl in and around the Great Lakes, so they created the American Water Spaniel. The exact origin of the breed is unknown, but it is thought to have been created from the Irish Water Spaniel, the Curly-Coated Retriever, and the English Water Spaniel (extinct). This illustrates the resourcefulness of Americans when faced with new problems.

The originators of the American Water Spaniel breed, whose identities have been lost, designed it as an all-purpose hunting dog. It is a skilled retriever of waterfowl and can also be used to hunt upland game birds, such as grouse, quail, and pheasant, as well as rabbits.

Throughout the years, the American Water Spaniel’s numbers decreased as a result of a decline in the duck population in the region, as well as a shift from hunting for sustenance to hunting for leisure. There are an estimated 3,000 of them left in the world.

The American Water Spaniel was officially accepted into the American Kennel Club in 1940 and was designated as the official state dog of Wisconsin in 1985.

Reproduction, Lifespan, and Babies

The American Water Spaniel has a lifespan of 10 to 12 years and usually has a litter size of 4 to 6 puppies. Female dogs usually go into heat every six months, which lasts 18 to 21 days and is divided into four portions. Once pregnant, the average gestation period lasts 58 to 65 days, with the puppies almost fully developed by the 58th day. At birth, newborn puppies have not yet developed an effective immune system, so they rely on their mother’s colostrum to gain passive immunity in the first 24 to 48 hours after delivery. This helps protect them from diseases in their early weeks of life. It is very important to protect them from illness during the first 4 months of life. They should be kept away from any other pets that are sick. They should also be quarantined from areas frequented by animals, like pet stores and dog parks, until they are fully vaccinated.

American Water Spaniel Size and Weight

These are medium-sized dogs. Both males and females are between 15 and 18 inches tall. Males, who are typically a bit heavier than their female counterparts, weigh between 30 and 45 pounds. Females weigh between 25 and 40 pounds. Three-month-old puppies weigh between 16 and 21 pounds, and six-month-old puppies weigh between 29 and 39 pounds. Both male and female puppies will be fully grown by the time they are 16 months old.

Common Health Issues

There are a few key health concerns you should be aware of with this breed. One is hip dysplasia. With this condition, a dog’s hip does not form correctly, and there is a poor fit between the hip socket and the femur. The bones rub together, which can lead to pain and may make it more challenging for your dog to walk.

American Water Spaniels also sometimes suffer from Progressive Retinal Atrophy. Also called PRA, this is a condition in which the photoreceptor cells of the retina start to degenerate. This condition will eventually lead to blindness, and there is currently no cure or treatment for it.

Epilepsy is another possible problem. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes recurring seizures. Approximately 1% of all dogs are affected by this disorder.

To review, some potential health issues may include:

• Hip dysplasia
• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
• Epilepsy

Temperament

American Water Spaniels were bred to be hunting dogs. As such, they are a very active breed that enjoys playing, hunting, and doing other types of work. When their activity needs are met, these dogs exhibit a variety of traits that allow them to make excellent family pets. They have affectionate and playful personalities and enjoy spending time with children and other family members.

This breed often develops a close bond with its family members, often with one family member in particular. In some instances, they may be stubborn or exhibit possessive behaviors, but breeders have been trying to breed dogs that are more even-tempered and well-suited for families.

How to Take Care of an American Water Spaniel

Knowing about this breed can help you provide the best care possible for your dog. Since all dog breeds are unique, caring for this breed, in particular, will look different from caring for other dog breeds.

The Best Dog Food

This dog breed should be fed a high-quality dog food that will meet their nutritional needs. You may choose to feed your adult dog or puppy bagged food, or you may choose to offer them a home-prepared diet.

Either way, it’s important for American Water Spaniels to get the specific nutrients they need to stave off the most common health complications.

When selecting or preparing food for your dog, you should consult with its veterinarian. The veterinarian can help you make sure that the food you are offering contains the essential vitamins and nutrients your dog will need. Taking your dog’s age, activity level, and health into consideration when planning their diet will also be important. Adult dogs typically eat between 1 and 2 cups of food a day, but your dog’s specific needs will help determine the amount of food they’ll need.

Since dogs can become overweight, it will be important to feed them the right amount of food. Also, because of this risk factor with this breed, you will want to split their food into two or three meals instead of offering the full amount all at once.

Water Spaniel puppies have smaller stomachs than adults. Puppies should eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day.

Maintenance and Grooming

This type of dog’s coat should be brushed weekly, but the process is not too difficult. This breed has a double-layer coat that is designed to provide them with insulation against the cold water in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region, where they were bred. For much of the year, especially during shedding season, you can use a slicker brush when brushing your dog. This brush type will help pull out the dead hair in the undercoat. Their coat will be less full during the summer, and most times, a rubber-tipped pin brush will be the best option to clean it up during these months.

In addition to brushing its coat, you’ll also want to keep its nails trimmed, so they do not get too long.

Training

Be ready to begin training and socializing your dog right away. Starting both of these from an early age will help your dog learn how to appropriately interact with other dogs, people, and situations.

While some American Water Spaniels may be a little stubborn, most are very eager to please. This trait will help make it easy to train your dog. Additionally, they can be very talented and agile and can do well in different sporting games, field events, or tracking agility.

Exercise

Making sure your dog gets enough exercise each day is important. This breed is very active and loves spending time outdoors swimming or hunting. They were originally bred for retrieving waterfowl and bird flushing, and do very well when they are given a job, taken on hunting trips, or given other forms of more vigorous exercise. However, they will also do fine when they are taken to a dog park or given time to play on their own in the backyard each day.

American Water Spaniels may become destructive or bark more when they aren’t provided with enough opportunities for exercise. This is another reason you’ll want to keep your dog active.

Puppies

If you are going to be purchasing or adopting an American Water Spaniel, the first thing you should do is prepare your home for the new puppy. Puppies can be very active and may chew on things or get into trouble, so you will want to be sure to remove any items that could be potentially dangerous to your new dog. Also, if you have personal belongings that you don’t want to see destroyed by a puppy, it would be a good idea to put them away.

Once you bring your puppy home, it will be important to make sure they get enough exercise. American Water Spaniels are very active dogs, and puppies should get plenty of playtime and other activities. Puppies between the ages of 6 and 18 months will need more activity than older dogs.

When planning your puppy’s diet, keep in mind that they have smaller stomachs than adults. Because of this, your puppy will need to eat smaller meals throughout the day. For example, puppies between the ages of 8 and 12 months should be fed four times a day, and puppies between the ages of 3 and 6 months should eat three times a day.

American Water Spaniels and Children

American Water Spaniels can make a good family pet. When properly trained, they are known for being very obedient. They are also very affectionate and can be very gentle with children. If you are bringing an American Water Spaniel home to be a family dog, you will still want to closely supervise your children when they are with the dog. This can help avoid either your children or the dog getting injured by accident.

Dogs similar to American Water Spaniels

Three dog breeds that are similar to the American Water Spaniel are the Curly Coated Retriever, English Springer Spaniel, and Field Spaniel.

• Curly Coated Retriever: Curly Coated Retrievers, like American Water Spaniels, are gun dogs. Both breeds have average intelligence and are easy to train. Curly Coated Retrievers are much larger than American Water Spaniels, though. While an American Water Spaniel has an average weight of 35 pounds, a Curly Coated Retriever has an average weight of 72.5 pounds.
• English Springer Spaniel: English Springer Spaniels are another gun dog breed. Their coat is more feather, while an American Water Spaniel has a curly coat. Grooming an American Water Spaniel is a bit easier than maintaining the coat of an English Springer Spaniel. Both of these breeds are very affectionate. They also do best when someone is home with them and may develop separation anxiety if left alone.
• Field Spaniel: Field Spaniels are yet another gun dog breed. While they are slightly larger, a Field Spaniel is pretty close to the same size as an American Water Spaniel. Field Spaniels have an average weight of 42.5 pounds, and American Water Spaniels have an average weight of 35 pounds. American Water Spaniels are more territorial than Field Spaniels.

Famous American Water Spaniels

The American Water Spaniel is the state dog of Wisconsin. Since this is a relatively rare breed, there are not too many celebrities or other famous individuals who own an American Water Spaniel.