American Water Spaniel

As the name implies this dog was born in the United States, but where, when and how he originated remains a mystery. Since the breed was first recognized and bred in large numbers in the Midwest, it is now believed that the dog evolved primarily in the Midwest.

As a hunting dog the American Water Spaniel will not put down anything it wants, it will watch for four or five birds that the hunter has shot down and then quickly and happily retrieve them one by one. The head must be in proportion to the entire body. Moderate length. The expression is alert, confident, intelligent and attractive. The eyes are medium-sized, quite wide apart, slightly rounded and should not protrude or bulge out. Lips are tight and do not droop. Eye color can range from light fawn to brown, hazel or dark brown tones to harmonize with coat color. Yellow eyes disqualify. Yellow eyes are a bright lemon color and should not be confused with light fawn. Ear level is slightly above the eye line, but not too high on the head, with flap-like ears that are long and reach to the nose. The skull is wide and full, with a moderate frontal-nasal step, but not too prominent. The muzzle is of moderate length, square, with some depth. No tendency to thinness or weakness. Lips tight and clean, with not too much skin and no drooping lips. The nose is deeply wrapped, black or dark brown. Wide nose with well-developed nostrils to ensure a good sense of smell. Shear bite or pincer bite.

The coat consists of wavy to tightly curled forms. The amount of wavy or curly varies in different parts of the dog. It is important to have a fleece layer to provide sufficient density to protect the body from harsh weather, as well as to repel water or prevent damage from vegetation. However, the coat should not be too coarse or too soft. The throat, neck and hind parts are well coated. The inner and outer ears are hairy, and the ear canals are obvious when examined. The frontal coat is smooth and short-haired, without crown hairs. The tail is hairy to the tip of the tail, with medium trimmed hairs. The legs have wavy or curly moderate trim hairs in harmony with the whole body coat. The coat can be trimmed for a neat appearance and the ears can be shaved, but neither is necessary.

The American Water Spaniel moves with a good balance of forward reach and propulsion. The elbows show no signs of outward movement when moving. The hind legs are well muscled rather than bull-like knuckles, moving as parallel as possible, the knuckles are flexible and fully engaged, and the performance is strong and powerful. The American Water Spaniel can work in any environment he likes, he has a keen sense of smell and extraordinary swimming skills, so he is capable of more difficult work, although occasionally his eagerness can make him too impatient, and in hunting he will not stand and point his head directly at the prey, instead he will suddenly leap up and grab it. In addition, he is an excellent watchdog in the yard.

His happy personality makes him easy to train, he has an avid interest in hunting, receives control in the field, and shows an intelligent, agile, friendly and docile character. It is fully qualified to be a trusted guard for its owner.

The American Water Spaniel can give a very intelligent, intelligent feeling, is friendly, very much likes to amuse its owner, and it is very personable.