American Water Spaniel Care

The American Water Spaniel (AWS) is a medium-sized, athletic hunting dog that needs a great deal of daily exercise. Considered quite rare, this breed is cherished by its few owners for its excellent hunting and water-retrieving skills. Overall American Water Spaniel care and maintenance will take a moderate amount of work, and will consist mainly of providing the dog with plenty of exercise on a daily basis.

Below you'll find details on raising an AWS, including info about puppy development, exercise needs, and shedding/drooling tendencies. Consider this page your definitive American Water Spaniel guide--and read on!

These dogs are extremely athletic and energetic, so American Water Spaniel exercise requirements are quite extensive. Since they were created to be hunting companions with tons of endurance, dogs of this breed are essentially tireless, and will need a variety of activities that condition them physically (walking, jogging, or fetch) and stimulate them mentally (hunting, canine sports). They're fantastic swimmers--they're Water Spaniels, after all--and make good bicycling companions as well.

The typical adult AWS, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need 90 minutes or more of proper exercise per day--and it's best to give the dog several shorter exercise sessions throughout the day, such as two or three walks, jogs, or bike rides combined with a good period of play. You can start exercising your AWS puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short (5- to 7-minute) walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

A few precautions to consider when exercising your American Water Spaniel: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running on hard surfaces, or navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And regardless of age, a leash is recommended when you and your AWS are in public. These dogs have fairly high prey drives and are natural wanderers, so they may chase small critters or just run off in general if given the chance; they're also very territorial, and may be defensive and confrontational with strange people and animals (especially other dogs). A leash will help you control your AWS in these situations. Even when exercising in your own yard, the area will need to be securely fenced to keep the dog from running away. Otherwise, these are hardy, healthy dogs that can exercise in a variety of situations and weather conditions.

Safeguards aside, exercising your AWS every single day is a must. These dogs are natural athletes with a history of plenty of daily activity, and without consistent exercise they'll become frustrated--and they'll bark, chew, and disobey their owners at every turn. Daily exercise--and lots of it!--will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind. Some exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging/Bicycling: Two 30-minute walks (or 20-minute jogs or bike rides) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs will chase a ball, stick, or Frisbee for hours
• Hunting: Puts the AWS in its natural element
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Swimming: This breed was developed to be a natural swimmer
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, the AWS will enjoy the company of other dogs; be sure to use a leash
• Canine Sports: The AWS can excel at obedience, field, and agility trials, flyball, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

If your AWS spends a lot of time indoors, it's a good idea to give the dog access to one or more balls or chew-toys that will allow it to burn pent-up energy (which it'll no doubt have plenty of!). It's also recommended that you establish a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks, jogs, or bike rides after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs don't need too much care. American Water Spaniel shedding is light for most of the year, but heavier during the spring (and sometimes fall) shedding season; drooling isn't an issue.

The AWS has a medium-length, thick, double-layered coat that can vary from wavy to curly. These dogs' coats shed a little bit year-round, but when they "blow" their coats in the spring (and sometimes the fall as well), the shedding is more profuse. Owners can brush their AWS's once or twice a week with a slicker or pin brush to reduce the amount of shed hairs; cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will only be needed occasionally. (During the 2- to 3-week shedding period, of course, brushing and cleanup will be necessary more often.)

And the AWS almost never drools. If your American Water Spaniel is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.