American Water Spaniel facts for kids
American Water Spaniel
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| Other names | American Brown Spaniel, American Brown Water Spaniel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Common nicknames | AWS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Notes | State dog of Wisconsin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The American Water Spaniel (often called AWS) is a special type of spaniel dog. It first came from the United States. This breed was developed in the state of Wisconsin in the 1800s. It was created by mixing different dog breeds, like the Irish and English Water Spaniels.
A man named Dr. Fred J. Pfeifer helped save this breed. He started a club and set up rules for the breed. Because of his hard work, the breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club and later by the American Kennel Club. Even though it's the official state dog of Wisconsin, the American Water Spaniel is still quite rare.
These dogs are medium-sized. They have a double coat that comes in different shades of brown. They are great hunting dogs and can also live well in apartments. This is because breeders have worked to make them calm and friendly. The AWS might have even helped create another dog breed called the Boykin Spaniel.
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History of the American Water Spaniel
The American Water Spaniel started in Wisconsin. It's even the state dog of Wisconsin! The breed began in areas near the Fox River and the Wolf River in the early 1800s. Hunters needed a dog that could work both on land and in water. They wanted a dog that was good at finding many types of game.
Hunters also needed a dog small enough to fit in a boat. It had to be able to handle Wisconsin's very cold water. People think that breeds like the English Water Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel, Curly-coated Retriever, native Indian Dogs, the Poodle, and the Sussex Spaniel were used to create the AWS.
This new small brown dog was first called the American Brown Spaniel. It weighed about 40 pounds (18 kg). It had a thick, curly coat that kept it warm in cold water and winter. This dog was used to hunt ducks, ruffed grouse, greater prairie chicken, and other animals.
Over time, the number of these dogs started to go down. This happened because there were fewer ducks in the area. Also, hunting changed from being a way to get food to more of a hobby. After World War II, new types of dogs came to Wisconsin. These included setters, pointers, and other spaniels. This meant hunters had more choices for specialized dogs.
Dr. Fred J. Pfeifer from New London, Wisconsin, decided to save the breed. He started Wolf River Kennels. At times, he had as many as 132 dogs. He advertised the dogs all over the country. He sold male dogs for $25 and female dogs for $20. He told people that the American Brown Spaniel was a truly American dog. He said they were bred for courage, smarts, and beauty.
Thanks to Dr. Pfeifer, the breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1920. It was called the American Water Spaniel. His own dog, "Curly Pfeifer," was the first AWS registered with the UKC. Later, in 1940, the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). This happened because John Scofield and Thomas Brogdan worked with the American Water Spaniel Club. Before this, the breed had not been shown in dog shows.
The American Water Spaniel is thought to be a main breed used to create the Boykin Spaniel. Some dog experts believe the first Boykin dog, "Dumpy," was actually a lost American Water Spaniel. However, the Boykin breed clubs do not agree with this idea.
In 1985, the breed became the official state dog of Wisconsin. The American Water Spaniel is still a rare breed today. In 1998, only 233 puppies were registered with the AKC. It's estimated there are about 3,000 AWS dogs, mostly in the Midwestern United States. This includes Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. In 2010, the AWS was the 143rd most popular breed in the U.S. out of 167 breeds.
What Does the American Water Spaniel Look Like?
The American Water Spaniel hasn't changed much since the 1800s. This is because it has always been a rare breed. They are medium-sized dogs with a curly coat. Their fur can be liver, brown, or chocolate colored. An average AWS is about 15–18 inches (38–46 cm) tall at the shoulder. They usually weigh around 25–45 pounds (11–20 kg).
They look a bit like the Irish Water Spaniel. However, the Irish breed is bigger, standing 21–24 inches (53–61 cm) tall and weighing 55–65 pounds (25–29 kg). The AWS coat can be very curly or have a "marcel pattern" where the fur falls in waves. Dogs bred for hunting and dogs bred for shows look the same. Show dogs of this breed are not common.
The outer layer of their coat is rough. It helps water roll off and protects them from thorny plants. The inner layer keeps the dog warm. Their coat feels a bit oily, which can give them a "doggy smell." Their eyes should match their coat color and should never be yellow. They have a wide head and long, wide ears. Their tail is usually not shortened.
American Water Spaniel Temperament
When hunting, the AWS is calmer than an English Springer Spaniel. But it's just as good at fetching as a Labrador or Golden Retriever. They are good on all kinds of land and in water. They might not be the fastest swimmers, but they can swim for a long time. They are also good at agility and flyball. The first AWS won a flyball championship in 1993.
These dogs love being the center of attention. They can be quite noisy sometimes. They are often "one-family dogs" and might bond very closely with one person. In the past, they were often kept in groups. Now, breeders try to make them calm and friendly for both hunting and family life.
The AWS can be a bit stubborn sometimes. They do best with owners who are dedicated to teaching them what to do. They learn well, especially with training that offers variety instead of just the same old drills. However, some might be protective of their food. They can be slow to grow up mentally from puppyhood. Some lines of the breed still have strong or aggressive personalities. But generally, the AWS gets along well with children and loves to play. Even though they were bred to hunt, their size means they can live in apartments if they get enough exercise.
Health of the American Water Spaniel
Because they were bred in groups early on, American Water Spaniels have good genetic variety. This means they don't often have the same inherited health problems as more popular breeds. However, they can have eye problems like cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. These conditions are thought to be passed down from parents. Cataracts can sometimes appear before the dog is one year old.
Other health concerns include hypothyroidism (a thyroid problem), allergies, epilepsy, diabetes, and gland problems that can cause baldness. Hair loss might happen around six months of age on the neck, thighs, and tail. But breed clubs have worked to reduce how often this happens. Hip dysplasia affects about 8.3% of the breed. This was found in surveys by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals between 1974 and 1999. This is a lower rate compared to many other sporting breeds. For example, Greyhounds had the lowest at 3.4%, and the related Boykin Spaniel had a much higher rate at 47%. There was no evidence of elbow dysplasia found in the AWS. The American Water Spaniel usually lives for 10 to 13 years.
- American Water Spaniel at Curlie
See also
In Spanish: Perro de agua americano para niños
