1. Bay Dogs
The adorable American water spaniel is also known as a “Bay Dog” and was originally bred to be hunting dogs. Although they still make excellent hunting companions, these days they’re more commonly raised as family pets.
2: Common Ancestry
They come from the United States and Canada and share a common ancestry with both Newfoundland and Irish Water Spaniels.
3: Genetic Heritage
Although they share a name with the American Water Spaniel, the Curly-Coated Retriever is actually more closely related to British Water Spaniels. Their genetic heritage can be traced back to retriever breeds from both North America and England.
4: American Books of Dog
The earliest records of an American Water Spaniel were found in the book, “The American Book of the Dog;” which was published in 1866. The breed as we know it today wasn’t actually developed until much later than that.
5: United Kennel Club
In 1913, the first official standard for the Spaniel was published by the United Kennel Club. However, this standard was altered and improved upon five times in the span of just seven years.
6: Promote the Unique Breed
In 1925, the American Spaniel Club was formed in an effort to protect and promote this unique breed. The AKC recognized the breed a year later in 1926, but it wasn’t until 1931 that the club was finally able to establish a stud book for them.
7: Registration of Puppies
Roughly 6,000 puppies are registered with the American Kennel Club each year.
8: Unique Ability
Though they are called American Spaniels, these dogs have nothing to do with spaniel breeds! They were actually named for their country of origin and their unique ability to swim in both fresh and saltwater without any problems.
9: Help Hunters
The American Water Spaniel is the smallest of the four spaniels bred in America. All of them were developed to help hunters retrieve water fowl that had been shot down with their shotguns.
10: Unique Breed
Spaniel’s dogs are so unique; they have actually been recognized by both the AKC and The Kennel Club. Although English, Irish, and Canadian Water Spaniels were eventually recognized by the AKC, they’re not known to be as affectionate or outgoing as American Water Spaniels
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11: Colors
The most popular colors for the American Water Spaniel is black and liver roan, but their coats can also feature some white markings on their chest and stomach.
12: Size
In terms of size, the American Spaniel is a medium-sized breed that can reach a full-grown weight between 30 and 45 pounds.
13: Webbed Feet
Because American Water Spaniels have webbed feet, they’re able to swim exceptionally well. However, these dogs were actually bred as hunting companions and do not have the same affinity for swimming as their Canadian cousins.
14: Water-Repellent Coat
Although their water-repellent coat is fairly long and thick, American Water Spaniels only need to be brushed 2-3 times per week in order to keep their skin and hair healthy and shiny.
15: Great Companion
If you want a dog that’s equally comfortable on land as he is in the water, an American Water Spaniel is probably the breed for you. These dogs were bred to hunt ducks and other water fowl, but they’re also known to be fantastic companions with an affectionate and gentle demeanor.
16: Personality
In terms of personality, American Water Spaniels are spirited, playful, active, and calm around both strangers and within their own families.
17: Watch Dogs
American Water Spaniels are not known for being very vocal. However, they do enjoy barking whenever something seems to be wrong around their homes or families.
18: Lifespan
The lifespan of an American Water Spaniel is between 12 and 15 years, which isn’t much different than other breeds within the spaniel family.
19: American water spaniel puppies
American water spaniel puppies grow up fairly quickly and may be completely weaned by the age of 8 weeks. However, their mother will continue to nurse and care for them until they reach the age of 12 weeks.
20: Attention
The way that American Water Spaniels behave can vary depending upon whether or not they were socialized when they were younger. Puppies who receive adequate amounts of attention from their owners and families are typically the friendliest and most outgoing with strangers.
21: Hunting Dogs
American Water Spaniels are much smaller than many other hunting dogs, which can make them much more difficult to train. However, this breed is also much more intelligent and resourceful when compared with other spaniels.
22: High Prey Drive
American Water Spaniels have a very high prey drive, which means that you should never leave small animals such as cats and rabbits unsupervised around your dog.
23: Groomed
The American Water Spaniel has a short, smooth coat that’s fairly easy to maintain – but every now and then, these dogs need to be professionally groomed. Although they can swim in both fresh and salt water without any problems, their coats must always be kept dry.
24: Naturally Aggressive
American Dogs are not naturally aggressive to humans or other dogs. However, because they were bred for hunting, these dogs should never be allowed off-leash when running around in areas where birds and rabbits might fly away.
25: Quality Diet
A high quality diet of high-quality dog food is recommended for American Water Spaniels. If they’re being fed table scraps, their diets must consist of no more than 5% human foods in order to keep them healthy and trim.
26: Large Paws
Spaniel puppies are known for their large paws both characteristics they inherited from their ancestors.
27: Origin
The famous Spaniel dogs, also known by their nickname “Chessie” originated in the United States but why they are called such isn’t completely understood.
Chessies were originally bred to be hunting companions and help hunters flush water fowl out of wetlands and swamps
28. Difficult to Clean
The coat on a Spaniel Dog is typically fairly easy to take care of, but the curls in this dog’s fur can make it difficult for them to stay clean. Because their coats are typically very low maintenance, these dogs are typically better suited to live in more rural or suburban areas.
29: Training
Spaniel is a breed that was originally bred to be a working dog, and it is still classified as such today. He follows his instinct to chase prey and kill small animals, but only if the commands of his owner allow him to do so. So when training an spaniel never loose sight of the fact that your dog is looking to you for direction, you are his guide through life.
It is vital that owners keep their dogs under control at all times. As an owner of this breed, it is virtually impossible to avoid trips to outdoor restaurants or other outdoor activities that attract wildlife on occasion.
The American Water Spaniel is a great dog for anyone looking for an energetic and loving pet. This breed is known to be great with children and make excellent hunting companions. They are good-natured, intelligent dogs that are easy to train and make great pets. If you are looking for a new furry friend, the American Water Spaniel may be the perfect option for you.
