Pampered Dog Blog

The American Water Spaniel is a hardy, muscular dog that hails from Wisconsin. These medium-sized dogs have a curly coat that can be liver, brown, or chocolate in color. They stand on average 15 to 18 inches at the withers, and can weigh up to 45 pounds.

Developed in the 18th century, by crossing the Irish water spaniel and the Curly-coated retriever, the American Water Spaniel is an outstanding all round hunting dog. They are strong swimmers and equally adept at retrieving from all kinds of terrain. But they also have excellent scenting abilities and excel at flushing game. The American Water Spaniel is the state dog of Wisconsin.

Like many hunting and retrieving breeds, the American Water Spaniel is an extrovert with a genuine love of people. The get on well with children and also with other dogs and pets. They are highly energetic and need a lot of attention, activity and if possible, a job to do.

This breed does however need a strong pack leader plus obedience training and, in particular, thorough socialization. Dogs that are not socialized will tend to be either over-protective, or overly timid.

Training needs to be consistent, positive and reward based. These are quite sensitive dogs and they do not respond well to harsh treatment. On the other hand, this is a dog that loves attention and is eager to please. Use these traits to your advantage and training will be a breeze as these dogs are highly intelligent.

Remember that the name you choose for your dog can have a big impact on your training results. Puppy Names HQ offers advice on picking a name, plus an extensive database of categorized boy dog names and girl dog names, so pay a visit and check it out.

These are very healthy dogs who are known to live beyond their mid teens. However, they are not immune to inherited diseases and may suffer from cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, and skin diseases.

Grooming an AWS takes quite a bit of work but provided you do it regularly you’ll be able to keep the coat in good order. Brush the dog two or three times a week to remove mats and burrs and also check for ticks if the dog is used in the field. These dogs naturally have a doggy odor, but should not be brushed unless absolutely necessary. Bathing too often will deplete the skin of its natural oils.

It should be obvious that such an energetic dog should not be kept in an apartment. If you have a house with a medium / large garden you should be okay, provide you take the dog out for a long walk each and every day.

Picking a name for your American Water Spaniel can be a challenge. The best advice is to visit some of the many dog names, sites online. My recommendation is puppy-names-hq.com, which has a huge database, including thousands of boy dog names.