The American Water Spaniel is a muscular medium sized dog which was bred in the US from several other breeds, including the English and Irish Water Spaniels and the Curly Coated Retriever in the 19th century. They come in a few colours usually brown, chocolate and liver.
They are athletic, sporty, hunting dogs who love to swim. They were bred for hunting in the Great Lakes region of the upper midwest and therefore need their dense two layer waterproof coat, which is usually wavy or tightly curled, to help them cope with the icy waters. The outer layer is coarse and protects the dog from water and foliage whilst the inner layer helps to insulate the dog keeping it warm. They are an awesome all round hunter being able to hunt, flush and retrieve game, they can even retrieve from boats.
Like most Spaniels they love to be with their person or people, and do not cope well with being left alone for long periods. They are athletic, energetic dogs who need plenty of exercise to minimise boredom, otherwise they can show destructive behavior. Therefore an active household is ideal for this breed. They excel at hunting, field trials, agility, flyball and obedience competitions, and are really happy when the have a job to do.
The American Water Spaniel is very eager to please as with so many spaniels, which makes them quick learners and easy to train in an experienced owners hands.