American Water Spaniel

The American water spaniel is a small to medium brown sporting dog developed around Wisconsin and the upper Great Lakes. Bred for hunters working from skiffs and canoes, it combines spaniel flushing ability with retriever work in marshes, rivers, and cold water. The breed has a compact body, curled or marcel-wavy coat, long ears, and a tail that may show animation while quartering cover. Coat color is typically liver, brown, or dark chocolate, helping it blend into wetland and woodland hunting settings.

As a household dog, the American water spaniel does best when it has retrieving, swimming, scent work, or upland walks to keep its mind busy. It is often loyal and trainable, though some dogs are reserved with strangers or possessive about toys without early guidance. The oily, weather-resistant coat needs brushing and occasional trimming, and the ears deserve attention after swimming. Because the breed is uncommon, thoughtful breeding matters; buyers may wait for litters and should ask about hips, eyes, cardiac screening, and temperament. Hunters and companions alike should look for moderate structure rather than excessive coat or bulk.

Colors: Apricot, Bicolor, Black, Black and Tan, Black and White, Black Mask, Blue, Blue and Tan, Blue Merle, Blue Roan, Blue Tick, Brindle, Brown, Brown and Tan, Brown and White, Chocolate, Cream, Dapple, Domino, Fawn, Fawn and White, Gold, Gray, Harlequin, Irish Marked, Liver, Liver Mask, Mantle, Mask, Merle, Mottled, Parti-Color, Piebald, Red, Red and White, Red Merle, Red Roan, Red Tick, Reverse Brindle, Roan, Sable, Saddle, Silver, Speckled, Spotted, Tan, Ticked, Tricolor, Tuxedo, White, Yellow