American Water Spaniel

The American Water Spaniel is a relatively new breed of dog developed in the United States. It is used for hunting birds and hares. It is very persistent in its work, an excellent retriever, and an excellent swimmer. It is friendly, even-tempered, and easily trained. It requires regular but simple grooming.

Content

1 History of origin
- 1.1 Usage
2 Appearance
3 Character and behavior
4 Content Features
- 4.1 Care
5 Health and life expectancy
6 Where to buy a puppy
- 6.1 Price
7 Photos and videos
- 7.1 Video about the American Water Spaniel breed

History of origin

The American Water Spaniel was developed in the mid-19th century in Wisconsin, USA. It is unknown exactly which breeds were involved in the selection process. It is likely that various spaniels were involved, including Irish water sprites, curly-haired And Flat-Coated Retriever.

In the early 20th century, Dr. Pfeiffer of New London noticed that small brown dogs, well-known in their region, had every potential to become a distinct breed. He led a group of enthusiasts who achieved recognition of the American Water Spaniel by the United Kennel Club in 1920. In the 1930s, the American Water Spaniel Club was founded, after which the breed began to rapidly improve and develop. By 1940, it was recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Usage

The American Water Spaniel hunts on both land and water. It works on all types of feathered game (waterfowl, field fowl, marsh fowl) and hares. It enjoys swimming and is an excellent retriever. It is very persistent and eager to work, capable of even entering very cold water. It is easily trained, intelligent, and obedient. It enjoys learning, making training easy. It can be a great hunting companion, a sportsman, and a companion for active people.

Appearance

The American Water Spaniel is a medium-sized, strong-built dog with well-developed muscles and a curly coat.

The height of males is 38-46 cm; weight is 12-20 kg.
Height of females is 38-46 cm; weight is 11-18 kg.

The head is moderately long, the skull is convex and wide. The stop is moderately pronounced. The forehead is covered with short hair. The muzzle is square and medium in size. The bite is scissor-shaped. The nose is wide with well-open nostrils. The eyes are dark brown or hazel, shiny, and set wide apart. The ears are long, wide, set just above the eye line, and tufted.

The body is proportional. The neck is muscular and strong. The chest is medium in size. The tail is medium in length, covered with short hair, tapering to a point, and carried straight, slightly below the level of the back.

The coat is formed by numerous small curls, fairly dense but not harsh. The color is dark brown (chocolate) or liver. The fur on the toes is slightly lighter. A light spot on the chest is permitted.

Character and behavior

The typical American Water Spaniel is a balanced, active dog that thrives on any opportunity to expend energy. Friendly, very affectionate, and intelligent, it is also quite tough, courageous, and tenacious in its work. It has a strong hunting instinct and a passion for retrieving. It can be independent and stubborn, preferring to do things its own way. It will not pass up an opportunity to become a leader among both people and other dogs. It gets along well with animals it has grown up with. It is fairly tolerant with children, but thrives in the company of older children.

American Water Spaniels are relatively easy to train and respond best to positive training methods, but owners should still be quite demanding. This intelligent dog quickly identifies weaknesses and finds ways to evade commands.

The American Water Spaniel can be an excellent hunter or excel in various sports such as agility, obedience, diving.

The American Water Spaniel is highly territorial and will defend its territory from strangers and animals. It is wary of strangers, but not aggressive.

Content Features

The American Water Spaniel is not afraid of cold or damp conditions; it can work even in cold water, requiring long walks and good exercise. It is not well-suited to outdoor living, not so much because of its unsuitability for cold weather, but because of its need for companionship. Only when it feels like a true member of the family will the Water Spaniel be an obedient and happy companion.

Care

To keep the curly coat from tangling and looking neat, brush it 2-3 times a week with a comb. Then, use a brush to remove the undercoat and overgrown hair. Trim the coat periodically to give the dog a more well-groomed appearance. A full bath is required infrequently, once every 2-3 months or less frequently. After swimming in salt water, allow the dog to soak in fresh water to wash off excess salt and algae.

Show grooming is not required. Working dogs often have their ears and paws trimmed short.

It is also necessary to monitor the condition of the ears, periodically wipe the eyes and trim the claws as they grow.

Health and life expectancy

The American Water Spaniel isn't among the breeds most prone to health problems, but it's not entirely free of them either. Most dogs, with proper care and nutrition, live healthy and long lives. Life expectancy is 10-14 years. The list of diseases typical for the breed includes:

viral infections;
trauma;
hip dysplasia;
ophthalmological diseases;
heart problems;
tendency to dermatological diseases;

Less common:

umbilical and inguinal hernia;
epilepsy;
disease of the reproductive system;
intervertebral disc disease;
dislocation of the patella.

Where to buy a puppy

The American Water Spaniel Club in the United States recommends only acquiring puppies from reputable breeders who are members of an international canine organization, monitor the health of their dogs, and carefully select mating pairs. The club's website lists contact information for eight breeders, but these are only those who have been members for more than a year. There are many more breeders in the United States, primarily concentrated in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. American Water Spaniels are rare in Europe, though they can be found in France, Germany, and a few other countries.