American Water Spaniel
Discover the American Water Spaniel: a rare Wisconsin state dog, its hunting history, health risks, and why it suits apartment living.
The American Water Spaniel is a rare, medium-sized hunting dog from Wisconsin, standing 15 to 18 inches tall and weighing 25 to 45 pounds. While they are the state dog of Wisconsin, they remain one of the least popular breeds in the United States, ranking 143rd out of 167 in 2010.
That rarity is a direct result of their history, which nearly saw the breed vanish before Dr. Fred J. Pfeifer intervened in the early 20th century to save it. They are a versatile hunter capable of working on land and water, yet their specific size and temperament have also made them surprisingly suitable for apartment living, provided they get enough exercise.
Origin and near extinction
The breed originated in the 19th century along the Fox and Wolf Rivers in Wisconsin, developed to meet the specific needs of hunters who required a compact dog for small skiffs and cold water. Hunters needed a dog that could retrieve waterfowl, ruffed grouse, and fur-bearing animals, leading to a mix of breeds including the English Water Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel, Curly Coated Retriever, Poodle, and native Indian dogs. By the early 20th century, the population had dwindled significantly due to declining duck numbers, a shift from subsistence hunting to recreation, and the availability of specialized breeds like setters and pointers after World War II.
Dr. Fred J. Pfeifer of New London, Wisconsin, established Wolf River Kennels to rescue the breed, at times holding up to 132 dogs. He sold males for $25 and females for $20, marketing them as distinctively American production bred for gameness and stability. His efforts led to recognition by the United Kennel Club in 1920 and the American Kennel Club in 1940, though the breed was not shown in the ring prior to that. Despite this, the breed remains rare, with only 233 puppies registered with the AKC in 1998 and an estimated 3,000 dogs existing mostly in the Midwest.
Appearance and coat mechanics
The American Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog with a double-layered coat that comes in liver, brown, or chocolate shades. The average height is 15 to 18 inches at the withers, and the weight ranges from 25 to 45 pounds, making them significantly smaller than the Irish Water Spaniel, which stands 21 to 24 inches and weighs 55 to 65 pounds. The coat features a coarse outer layer to repel water and protect against briers, and an inner insulating layer to retain heat, giving it an oily texture that produces a distinct "doggy smell."
Fur patterns vary between tightly curled and the "marcel pattern" where the hair falls in waves. The breed standard requires eye color to harmonize with the coat, explicitly forbidding yellow eyes. Unlike many sporting breeds, working and show lines have not diverged, and the tail is not typically docked. The skull is broad with long, wide ears, and the dog generally resembles a smaller, curly-coated version of the Irish Water Spaniel.
Temperament and training needs
In the field, the American Water Spaniel is less exuberant than the English Springer Spaniel but matches the retrieval skills of a Labrador or Golden Retriever. They possess high endurance in the water, though they are not the fastest swimmers, and they excel in agility and flyball, with the first championship title achieved in 1993. The breed tends to bond deeply with one individual, often acting as a "one family dog," and can be quite vocal and attention-seeking.
Training requires a dedicated owner who can provide variety rather than routine drills, as the breed has a mind of its own and matures mentally slowly. While generally good with children, some lines may retain dominant or aggressive temperaments, and food possessiveness is a known issue. Despite their hunting origins, their compact size and even temperament, developed through recent breeding efforts, allow them to adapt to apartment life if exercised sufficiently.
Health and genetic risks
Early "pack breeding" provided a level of genetic variation that has kept hereditary conditions common in other popular breeds relatively rare in the American Water Spaniel. However, the breed is susceptible to eye issues such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, with cataracts often appearing before one year of age. Other health concerns include hypothyroidism, allergies, epilepsy, diabetes, and glandular disorders that can cause hair loss around the neck, thighs, and tail at six months of age.
Hip dysplasia affects approximately 8.3% of the breed, a rate that is low compared to many sporting breeds, with the related Boykin Spaniel showing a much higher incidence at 47%. There is no evidence of elbow dysplasia in the breed. The average life span is 10 to 13 years. While the breed was once thought to be the primary ancestor of the Boykin Spaniel, with some historians suggesting the original Boykin "Dumpy" was a misplaced American Water Spaniel, the Boykin breed clubs do not agree with this account.
Classification and competition
The American Water Spaniel is not officially classified as either a retriever or a spaniel by the AKC, which means they cannot compete in standard field trials. Instead, they may participate in AKC hunt tests for spaniels and retrievers, as well as retriever hunting tests sponsored by the American Water Spaniel Club. The breed club voted in 1999 to remain unclassified, though the American Water Spaniel Field Association was established in 1993 to support AKC spaniel classification and provide field training opportunities.