Breeds / Medium
American Water Spaniel puppies
Eager, clever and closely bonded to one family, the American Water Spaniel is a curly coated gundog bred for cold water retrieving. It trains readily but turns noisy and destructive without real daily work.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Country of origin United States
- Adult weight 11.3 to 20.4 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 25 to 45 lb
- Adult height 38 to 46 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Medium curly and double
- Typical lifespan 10 to 14 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
Where these come from:
About the American Water Spaniel
The American Water Spaniel was put together in the Great Lakes region as an all round hunter's dog, small enough to work from a skiff and tough enough for cold water. It stands 38 to 46 centimetres, with a dense waterproof double coat in tight curls or waves. It is eager, clever and closely attached to its owner, rating five out of five for trainability, though it keeps an independent hunting brain and does not respond well to heavy handed correction.
It wants vigorous activity every day, and swimming and retrieving are what it was designed to do. Weekly grooming keeps the curls in order, with a rubber tipped pin brush in summer and a slicker brush the rest of the year to lift dead undercoat. Without enough work it becomes barky and destructive. It rates three out of five with children, so supervise and socialise. New owners often buy a rare breed as a pet and forget that it is a working gundog first.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a American Water Spaniel puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
- Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Cardiac abnormalities, screened by a cardiac exam
- Degenerative myelopathy, a progressive spinal cord disease detectable by DNA test
- Ear infections under the drop ears, made likelier by frequent swimming and found on regular ear checks
From American Water Spaniel breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-water-spaniel/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your American Water Spaniel puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a American Water Spaniel.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 11.3 to 20.4 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other medium breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.