American Water Spaniel
The American Water Spaniel breed is rather unknown in this country, but if you need a good and reliable hunting and guard dog that also fits well into a family, you should take a closer look at this dog.
Content: American Water Spaniel
- profile
- Special features
- Nutrition
- Health and care
- Origin & History
- The right accessories
- Conclusion
American Water Spaniel - Profile
- Character: Intelligent, Friendly, Energetic
- Size: Medium
- Height: 38-46 cm
- Weight: 11-20 kg
- Life expectancy: 13-15 years
- Coat type: medium hair
- Colour: Leather brown, brown
- FCI Group: Retrievers – Flushing Dogs – Water Dogs
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American Water Spaniel - Special Characteristics
The American Water Spaniel is 46 cm at the withers and is a medium-sized, muscular hunting dog that was bred for use on land, but especially in water. With a weight of 20 kg, it is also in the middle range of dog breeds . Its curly coat is almost exclusively brown in various shades with occasional small white markings on the chest or paws. Its thick undercoat protects it from extreme cold, and its ears and paws are also thickly covered with fur. Because breeders do not intervene much, the American Water Spaniel breed is relatively resistant to disease, and there are no known breed-specific diseases.
He is considered an eager hunting dog who likes to please and is therefore quite easy to train. However, due to his nature and the breed-specific characteristics, he needs sufficient and challenging tasks in order not to get bored. To ensure that the American Water Spaniel does not run away and go hunting on his own, he should always be kept busy. But even if he likes to go hunting, he is also a good watchdog who likes to bark loudly and knows how to chase away intruders, but that does not mean that other dogs or strangers have no chance with him. Because the four-legged friend is basically a good-natured and friendly dog.
American Water Spaniel - What should be considered regarding nutrition?
Spaniel dog breeds often tend to be overweight . This is also the case with the American Water Spaniel. They can eat a lot and their extremely pitiful puppy dog look is hard to resist. It is therefore all the more important to always remember that 250 g of nutritious dog food is enough - depending on the activity of the four-legged friend, of course. There are no special requirements for their food, apart from the fact that it should always be high quality and ideally not contain any added sugar or flavor enhancers. Potatoes or rice are perfectly fine as a carbohydrate-rich side dish. To maintain their weight, they should be weighed regularly and treats should be used sparingly.
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American Water Spaniel - Health and Care
Long and thick curls always need a little more care than straight hair, and this is also the case with the American Water Spaniel, whose magnificent curls should be brushed much more often than other dog fur. A daily brushing session thins out the undercoat and prevents possible matting. This also prevents dog hair from spreading throughout the apartment. The dog's fur can also be trimmed from time to time, as without a haircut it will grow wild and the dog's eyes will even "grow shut". Droopy ears always need special care, as too little fresh air gets in and this promotes painful ear infections. Water dogs like the American Water Spaniel, as their name suggests, love being in the water and then start to smell quite quickly. This can be counteracted with a dog hairdryer. If you dry the dog with this, the smell usually stays away.
American Water Spaniel - The right accessories
The basic equipment for every dog includes many things. There are of course one or more leashes and collars or harnesses, food and water bowls, a transport box for car drivers and airline passengers, a muzzle for train journeys, a dog bed or basket and a dog fence for those who have an open garden.
For dogs with such intense hair as the American Water Spaniel, a set of different brushes and combs or a so-called “MatSplitter” are also a good idea, which can be used to easily remove matted fur. You can also get a trimmer for grooming if you don’t want the dog groomer to do it.
Since this breed of dog is particularly fond of retrieving and is good at it, appropriate dog toys should be purchased to make him really happy.
American Water Spaniel - Origin & History
The history of the American Water Spaniel probably begins in Great Britain, as its probable relatives come from the British Isles. These include the Irish Water Spaniel, Old English Water Spaniel and the Field Spaniel. However, the popular hunting dogs spread to America early on, and they were already known there in 1850 under the name American Brown Water Spaniel. It is thanks to the breeder Dr. FJ Pfeifer that he began breeding this breed in 1920 and also ensured that it was officially recognized as an independent breed. This was achieved by the United Kennel Club in 1928. It was not until 1940 that the American Kennel Club recognized the breed. Today, the American Water Spaniel has been the official "state dog" of the state of Wisconsin in the USA since 1985. In 1995, it was recognized by the FCI, but this did not contribute to its spread outside of North America.
Conclusion:
If you embark on the probably lengthy search for a breeder for the American Water Spaniel, you will be rewarded with a great all-round hunting dog, if you can find one, who is also an excellent family dog and watchdog. A great choice for those new to dogs, too, as despite its high intelligence and strong hunting instinct, it is a sociable and eager-to-learn dog.
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