American Water Spaniel
The American Water Spaniel is a gundog that originated around the mid 1800s most likely in Wisconsin. The American Water Spaniel stands around 15 to 18 inches high and weighs 25 to 45 pounds. The breed’s coat is dense, curly, and resists weather well. The coat is either chocolate, brown or liver colored, sometimes with a small amount of white on the chest or toes. The features of the dog are proportionate to its size; it has a broad head and its eyes are dark yellow, chocolate or caramel. The breeds developmental origins are not know, though there are many speculations.
The breed was developed for the purpose of hunting both on land and in the marsh, and was small enough to fit in a small boat. It was not formally recognized until 1920 and has been overlooked to some extent since then. The spaniel is a competent retriever and is enthusiastic about hunting nearly anything. The American Water Spaniel is typically attached to the alpha personality in a house, and sometimes thinks of other household members as kennelmates. The dog is very protective of its owner and may become temperamental with age. It is an easy breed to train as long as it is trained with a firm gentle hand. The breed does not have to be used for hunting but it does need exercise.
Health problems that sometimes affect the American Water Spaniel are: cardiac abnormalities, cancer, diabetes, allergies, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, follicular, dystrophy, epilepsy and cataracts.