American Water Spaniel

American Water Spaniel

The American Water Spaniel was bred to be a powerful working gun dog. It is only one of the few breeds that are credited with being purely American.

History:

It is believed that the American Water Spaniel was developed as a breed in the Middle East before being brought to America. Dedicated breeders selectively bred the American Water Spaniel until it became the truly magnificent Spaniel of today. The breed was made up from crossing various water spaniels such as the Old English and the Irish, with a contribution from the Curly Coated Retriever.

Physical characteristics:

This powerfully built medium-sized dog has the appearance of an athlete, just waiting for its owner's command to spring into action. Height: 15 18 in (38 - 46 cm). Weight: 25 45 lb (11.3 - 20.4 kg). It has a long, lean head with eyes neatly filling but not protruding from the sockets. The long ears set the face to provide a very endearing and gentle expression.

The medium-length muscular neck smoothly flows onto a compact body with a broad chest. The muscular flanks are complemented by a long tail which seems to never stop wagging. The dense coat is closely curled and may be colored dark chocolate or liver, with just a small amount of white on the chest or toes.

Behavior:

This medium-sized dog has a gentle nature, but it has managed to retain the qualities of a working gun dog. It is very intelligent and responds well to training. As the name suggests, this dog was bred to retrieve from water, and it is generally an excellent swimmer. Owners of the American Water Spaniel should not be surprised if their dog pulls them in the direction of lakes and other bodies of water.

American Water Spaniels make very good watch-dogs and will happily alert their owner to the sound of intruders. In most cases they get along very well with other dogs but benefit from socialization as puppies. Like other spaniels, the American Water Spaniel can make an excellent companion dog for both single people and families alike. Although they may be content with only moderate exercise, they will thrive if they are worked regularly.

These dogs require regular thorough brushing and particular attention should be given to their ears.

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