The American Water Spaniel is a rare midsize gundog from the upper Midwest, purpose-built to hunt waterfowl and upland game from a small boat in cold lake country — and that working brief explains almost everything an owner needs to know. At roughly 15-18 inches and 25-45 pounds, with a dense, waterproof brown coat that is tightly curled or wavy, webbed feet, and a body compact enough to climb into a skiff without rocking it, the AWS is an athlete with a job, not a decorative spaniel. It combines the working traits of both spaniels and retrievers in one efficient package. Temperamentally the AWS is happy, eager and charming with its own people and notably bonded to its family, but it can be reserved or aloof with strangers and is independent-minded enough to be a bit stubborn under training. The defining owner pitfall is energy management: this is an active, intelligent dog whose happiness depends on activity and being with its person. An under-exercised, under-engaged AWS becomes barky, anxious and destructive, and some lines show territorial or possessive tendencies that early training and socialization must address. It is not a couch breed wearing a fancy coat. Who the American Water Spaniel is right for: an active owner or family that hunts, swims, hikes, or does dog sports, wants a versatile birdy companion with a strong off-switch only once exercised, and will commit to early socialization and consistent positive training. Who it is wrong for: sedentary households, owners who want an instantly obedient dog, homes where the dog is left alone for long days, and anyone who skips health screening. The breed is numerically small with documented eye, cardiac and orthopedic risks, so buy only from a breeder who screens parents for the conditions below.
Life Span
10–14 years
Weight
11.3–20.4 kg
Height
38.1–45.7 cm
moderate
Exercise
moderate
Grooming
moderate
Shedding
Yes
Good with Kids
Yes
Good with Pets
Friendly
Apartment
The American Water Spaniel was developed in the Wolf and Fox River valleys of Wisconsin in the 1800s, bred by hunters who needed a versatile, compact gundog that could retrieve waterfowl from cold lakes and rivers, work upland game, and ride in the small skiffs used on Midwestern waters. Its ancestry is thought to include the old English Water Spaniel, the now-extinct Old Water Spaniel, the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel, blen…
American Water Spaniel dog breed portrait
The American Water Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Group.
The average lifespan of a American Water Spaniel is 10 to 14 years.
American Water Spaniel dogs are valued for their eager, happy, charming nature.
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Detailed cost data for American Water Spaniel is not yet available. Check back soon!
An American Water Spaniel's costs are exercise, engagement, coat, and ear care. Exercise: this is a working gundog. Plan 60+ minutes of vigorous daily activity — retrieving, swimming, running, hiking, or fieldwork — plus training. The breed swims at every opportunity; access to water is a bonus, not a requirement, but daily physical work is not optional. An under-exercised AWS becomes vocal and destructive. Engagement and training: highly bonded and a little stubborn. Use short, motivating, reward-based sessions started young; harsh methods backfire. Early, broad socialization is important because some lines lean territorial or reserved with strangers. They do not do well left alone for long workdays. Coat: the dense, oily, waterproof curly/wavy coat needs brushing about weekly to prevent matting, with minimal trimming. Bathe sparingly — over-bathing strips the protective oils that make the coat work. The coat has a noticeable doggy odor that is normal for the breed; managing it with grooming, not constant bathing, is the right approach. Ears: the heavy drop ears trap moisture, especially in a dog that swims. Check and dry the ears after every swim and clean routinely; recurrent ear infections are the most common avoidable vet cost in this breed. Decision rule: if an AWS shows exercise intolerance, fainting, or labored breathing on exertion, treat it as a cardiac red flag and book a vet workup rather than assuming it is unfitness — the breed has documented heart conditions.
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How Much Does a American Water Spaniel Cost?
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American Water Spaniel Care Guide
## American Water Spaniel Care Overview This American Water Spaniel care guide gives owners a...
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