American Water Spaniel
Affectionate With Family
Affectionate With Family: Moderate (3 out of 5)
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
Good With Young Children: Moderate (3 out of 5)
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
Good With Other Dogs
Good With Other Dogs: Moderate (3 out of 5)
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Openness To Strangers
Openness To Strangers: Moderate (3 out of 5)
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Note: Scores reflect typical breed tendencies. Individual dogs may vary based on training, environment, and genetics.
Note: Some traits may be unavailable for certain breeds due to limited or inconsistent data from recognized sources.
Care Guide
- ●American Water Spaniel grooming requires attention to its dense, waterproof double-layer coat
- ●weekly grooming with a rubber-tipped pin brush during summer for a sparser coat
- ●use a slicker brush year-round, especially during shedding season, to remove dead undercoat hair
- ●trim nails regularly as part of standard care
- ●coat is tightly curled or wavy, designed for insulation in icy waters
- ●grooming process remains simple despite the breed's working heritage
Colors & Markings
Colors
Health Information
Like most breeds, American Water Spaniels typically enjoy long, healthy lives with proper care and routine veterinary checkups. Ethical breeders prioritize health testing for common issues, including hip dysplasia, eye conditions, heart abnormalities, and degenerative myelopathy.
Recommended Health Tests
📜 History
Frequently Asked Questions
🔗Related Breeds
Breeds similar to American Water Spaniel
Overview
About This Breed
The American Water Spaniel is a charming, eager, and happy breed with a strong work ethic and affectionate nature. Highly intelligent and trainable, they thrive when given a job or task, such as retrieving or participating in canine sports, and are loyal companions who bond closely with their families. Their aloofness with strangers and occasional stubbornness add to their unique character, making them both engaging and independent.
🎭Temperament
Purpose
Hunting companion (retrieving waterfowl, upland game birds, and rabbit hunting)
Breed for
Bird flushing and retrieving
Best Suited For
Active families or individuals who enjoy outdoor activities, hunting, or canine sports; adaptable to homes with yards or access to water
Ideal Owner Profile
This breed is ideal for an active, experienced dog owner or family who can provide ample exercise, mental stimulation, and outdoor adventures, particularly those interested in hunting, water activities, or dog sports.
Training Difficulty
Moderate
Care Difficulty
Moderate
Common Challenges
Owners may face challenges with the breed's high energy and need for constant activity, as well as potential stubbornness during training or socialization with strangers.
Trust & Transparency
About Our Data
At BreedsFinder, every breed profile and comparison is created using reliable, publicly available data from recognized canine organizations and trusted breed resources.
Accuracy Assured
Our breed data is standardized using a consistent scoring system across temperament, trainability, and care needs to ensure fair comparisons based on the same criteria.
Experience & Care
BreedsFinder focuses on practical, real-world guidance. While well-researched, our content is educational and should not replace advice from certified professionals.
Transparency
We regularly update information as new data becomes available. Our goal is to provide an honest, helpful resource for researching dog breeds and adoption decisions.