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American Water Spaniel

At a Glance

Built for Mixed Midwestern hunting. Marsh, river bottom, upland fields. Works from a small boat.
From Wisconsin/Minnesota, USA. One of the few breeds developed entirely in America. AKC/AWSC registry.
Temperament Eager, energetic, loyal, slightly independent. Chooses its people. Reserved with strangers.
Coat Dense, curly or wavy. Liver, brown, or dark chocolate. Water resistant, built for cold Midwestern water.
Size 25–45 lbs
Live with Loyal and affectionate with its family. Needs daily exercise. More reserved with strangers than most spaniels.
Best for Midwestern hunter who works mixed terrain and needs a compact, all-season flushing and retrieving dog.
Famous for The state dog of Wisconsin. Rare outside the Midwest. A practical, capable hunting dog that doesn't get the recognition it deserves.

Origin

The American Water Spaniel is one of the few dog breeds developed entirely in the United States — and like the Boykin, it was built from the ground up for practical hunting. It was developed in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest — primarily Wisconsin and Minnesota — in the mid-19th century by hunters who needed a compact, versatile dog capable of working from small boats in the rivers, lakes, and marshes of the region.

The breed's exact ancestry is not fully documented, but it likely includes Irish Water Spaniel, Curly-Coated Retriever, and various field spaniels. It was recognized by the AKC in 1940 and is the state dog of Wisconsin. It remains relatively rare outside of the Midwest, where it has a devoted following among hunters who know what it can do.

Original Purpose

A compact, versatile hunting dog built for the rivers, lakes, and marshes of the American Midwest — small enough to work from a canoe or skiff, capable of flushing and retrieving upland birds, and tough enough to retrieve waterfowl from cold Midwestern water. A one-dog solution for the hunter who needed to do everything from a small boat.

Hunting Style

The American Water Spaniel is a flushing and retrieving spaniel that works both upland and water with genuine ability. It quarters cover, flushes birds within gun range, and retrieves on land and from water. Its compact size makes it practical for boat hunting in a way that larger retrievers are not.

It is not a pointing dog. It works close, quarters cover, and flushes — the classic spaniel style. In the mixed hunting environments of the Midwest — marsh edges, river bottoms, upland fields — the AWS is a practical and capable all-around hunting dog.

Temperament

Eager. Energetic. Loyal. Slightly independent.

The American Water Spaniel is an active, engaged hunting dog that bonds deeply with its handler and family. It is affectionate and loyal, but it carries a slight independence that distinguishes it from more handler-soft spaniels. It is alert, curious, and always ready to work.

It can be reserved with strangers — more so than the Boykin or Springer. It is a dog that chooses its people and commits to them. With its own family it is warm and loyal. With strangers it takes time.

Coat Type

Dense, curly or wavy outer coat with a protective undercoat. Water resistant and built for cold Midwestern water. The coat provides good insulation and protection in heavy cover.

Color: Liver, brown, or dark chocolate. Solid color only. A small amount of white on the toes or chest is permissible. The AWS's dark, curly coat is one of its most distinctive features.

Trainability

Good — but the American Water Spaniel requires a handler who understands the breed. It is intelligent and capable, but its slight independence means it will find the gaps in inconsistent training. Fair, consistent, relationship-based training produces the best results. Harsh handling produces a dog that shuts down or becomes difficult.

It is not as immediately handler-soft as the Boykin or Springer, but handlers who invest in building the relationship find the AWS a deeply capable and rewarding hunting partner.

What It's Actually Like to Live and Hunt with an American Water Spaniel

The AWS is the hunting dog for the Midwestern hunter who does everything — ducks in the marsh in the morning, pheasants in the afternoon, and everything in between. It fits in the boat, works the cover, flushes the birds, and retrieves from the water. It is a practical, capable, all-around hunting dog that does not get the recognition it deserves outside of the Midwest.

At home it is loyal and affectionate with its people. It needs daily exercise and engagement. It is not a dog that settles easily without a proper outlet — but a well-exercised AWS is a calm, devoted companion.

Family Compatibility

Good with its own family — loyal, affectionate, and good with children it is raised with. It is more reserved with strangers than most spaniels. Active families who hunt and spend significant time with the dog will find the AWS an exceptional companion. It is not a dog for households that want a social, everyone-friendly dog.

Common Misconceptions

"The American Water Spaniel is just a smaller Irish Water Spaniel."
The AWS is a distinct breed developed independently in the American Midwest. While it may share some ancestry with the Irish Water Spaniel, it was developed for different terrain, different game, and a different hunting style. It is its own dog.

"The AWS is too rare to find quality breeding."
The breed is rare outside the Midwest, but the breeding community is dedicated and focused on working ability. Finding a quality breeder takes more effort than with more common spaniels — but the dogs produced by committed breeders are exceptional.

Best For

  • Midwestern hunters who work mixed terrain — marsh, river bottom, upland fields
  • Hunters who work from small boats and need a compact, capable dog
  • Those who want a versatile flushing and retrieving spaniel for all-season hunting
  • Experienced spaniel handlers comfortable with a slightly more independent breed
  • Those who value a rare, American-bred hunting dog with deep working roots

Registry & Organizations

  • AKC — American Kennel Club
  • AWSC — American Water Spaniel Club
  • HRC — Hunting Retriever Club

Testing: AKC Hunt Tests. HRC tests also available.

Related Breeds

Boykin Spaniel · English Cocker Spaniel · Irish Water Spaniel · Curly-Coated Retriever

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