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Breed profile

American Water Spaniel

Wisconsin's state dog: a curly brown spaniel bred to retrieve from small boats. Eager, versatile and fond of water.

A curly brown American Water Spaniel sits in front of the badlands landscape of North Dakota
Wisconsin's state dog, bred to retrieve from small boats.Photo: Badlandsgundogs / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Weight
11–20 kg24–44 lb
Height
38–46 cm15–18 in
Lifespan
10–14 yrs
Group
Gundog / Sporting
Origin
United States
Popularity
#176 USNot ranked in UK · 2025

Known for: Working dogsFamily dogsEasy to train

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Eager, Friendly, Energetic, Reserved with strangers.

Health problems to know about

  • Mitral valve disease and other heart defects
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Epilepsy
  • Pattern baldness

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

An hour or more of exercise daily, with swimming and retrieving. Brush weekly and dry ears after swimming. Ask breeders for hip, eye and heart screening results.

A good fit for

Active families, hunters, people who want a medium-sized, trainable outdoor dog.

Probably not ideal for

Sedentary homes, flats, owners who dislike wet-dog smell.

Sources

  1. American Water Spaniel Club: AWS health issues
  2. VCA Animal Hospitals: American Water Spaniel
  3. Wikipedia: American Water Spaniel

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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