American Water Spaniel
美國水獵犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The American Water Spaniel is a muscular, mid-sized brown gundog developed in the lake country of Wisconsin and Minnesota to retrieve waterfowl from icy water and hop in and out of a skiff without rocking it; its dense curly or wavy coat is waterproof and sheds little. Happy, eager and charming, it combines spaniel and retriever working traits, learns quickly and wants to please, but is often aloof with strangers, can be a touch stubborn, and an under-employed dog can be barky and destructive — activity alongside its adored human is the key to its happiness. It is rarely seen outside the USA.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 38–46cm |
| Weight | 11–20kg |
| Life expectancy | 10–14years |
| Breed group | AKC: sporting FCI: 8 |
| Role | Sporting |
| Coat | Curly coat |
| Shedding | 1/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–90min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 3/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 2/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 4/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Heart conditions
Cardiac abnormalities are among the conditions the AKC says responsible breeders test for, and a heart examination — ideally by a veterinary cardiologist — is one of the three parent-club CHIC clearances, alongside hips and eyes. Ask your vet to listen for a murmur at routine visits.
Degenerative myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy, a progressive spinal cord condition of older dogs, is reported in the breed; a DNA test identifies risk. Ask your vet if an older dog shows hind-leg weakness.
Alopecia (pattern hair loss)
The parent club says hair loss not linked to infection or itching is a relatively common finding in the breed, typically appearing at 6–12 months on the back legs, tail, neck or around the eyes, and it is funding university research to find the responsible gene. Ask your vet if you notice patches of hair loss.
Behaviour
Merry and versatile — needs a job
The AKC says the key to the American Water Spaniel's happiness is activity, especially alongside its adored human: an underemployed dog can be barky and destructive, so at minimum it needs vigorous daily play with its owner or a companion dog, and it truly thrives with a job — hunting, field trials, obedience, agility, dock diving, tracking, barn hunt or flyball.
Quick to learn, aloof with strangers
The CKC calls it charming and clever with the typical friendly spaniel character; its desire to please makes it easy to train and it learns quickly. The AKC adds that it is often aloof with strangers and some have a touch of stubbornness, so gentle socialisation to a wide variety of people, places and situations between about 7 weeks and 4 months is highly recommended.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 3/5 (moderate) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 3/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — American Water Spaniel
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Spaniel American Water (Sporting Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Spaniel American Water Imp
Breed characteristics (size medium, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 10 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — American Water Spaniel (standard no. 301, group 8)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club, with the OFA, names hips, eyes and heart as the breed's three dominant screening areas: OFA hip grading at two years or older, a CAER eye examination by a board-certified ophthalmologist within a year before breeding, and a cardiac exam preferably by a veterinary cardiologist. A dog that completes all three earns a CHIC number whether it passes or fails, and buyers are urged to look up both parents and grandparents on the OFA site before choosing a puppy — while remembering these are not the only issues in the breed.”
— American Water Spaniel Club — Health Clearances via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]American Water Spaniel — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Spaniel American Water — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Spaniel American Water Imp — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]American Water Spaniel — FCI standard no. 301 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Understanding Health Clearances of the American Water Spaniel — American Water Spaniel Club — American Water Spaniel Club (public health pages) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Research & AWS Health Survey (alopecia / pattern baldness study) — American Water Spaniel Club — American Water Spaniel Club (public health pages) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.