American Water Spaniel Care: Exercise, Grooming and Health

By Dr Duncan Houston

Quick Answer

American Water Spaniels need daily physical activity, opportunities to use their retrieving and scenting skills, and regular coat and ear checks. Swimming can be enjoyable, but a water-loving breed still needs supervision and protection from cold, currents and contaminated water. Choose feeding, exercise and preventive care for the individual dog rather than following fixed breed-wide quantities.

This medium-sized sporting dog developed in the Great Lakes region of the United States and is Wisconsin's state dog. Its exact ancestry is uncertain. Adults generally stand 15 to 18 inches tall and weigh roughly 25 to 45 pounds, with a brown, liver or dark chocolate coat that ranges from waves to curls.

A home with activity and companionship

Many American Water Spaniels are enthusiastic workers and affectionate companions, although some are reserved with unfamiliar people. Provide a mix of walks, sniffing, retrieving games, short training sessions and rest. Build fitness gradually and adapt the routine for age, health and weather; a compulsory daily minute target does not suit every dog.

Practise recall and lead skills with rewards, and use secure fencing or a lead around wildlife and roads. Introduce people, surfaces, sounds and handling in manageable steps. Barking or destructive behaviour can reflect boredom, fear, pain or difficulty being alone, so investigate the pattern before simply adding more exercise.

Make swimming safe

• Introduce water gradually and allow your dog to choose whether to enter. Never throw a dog in.
• Use suitable flotation equipment around boats or deeper water, supervise closely and provide an easy exit.
• Avoid strong currents, unsafe ice, very cold water and prolonged sessions that cause fatigue.
• Check local water-quality warnings. Keep dogs away from scum, suspicious blooms or water of uncertain safety; appearance alone cannot prove it is safe.
• Offer fresh drinking water, rinse the coat after swimming and dry the outer ears gently.

Suspected exposure to toxic blue-green algae requires immediate veterinary advice, even before symptoms. Prevent licking of contaminated fur and rinse with clean water if you can do so safely without delaying care. Vomiting, tremors, collapse or breathing difficulty after a swim is an emergency.

Coat, ear and dental care

Brush and comb regularly, increasing attention when loose undercoat accumulates. Check behind the ears and in areas where the coat tangles or traps debris. Bathe when needed with suitable products; a groomer familiar with the breed can demonstrate coat maintenance without unnecessary harsh clipping or pulling.

Do not assume every dog needs ear cleaner after every swim. Your vet can advise on a preventive routine if infections recur. Redness, discharge, pain, head shaking or a new odour needs an examination, since allergy, infection and foreign material need different treatment. Brush teeth daily where tolerated and keep nails comfortable.

Feeding and preventive care

Use a complete diet appropriate to life stage and measure portions according to its calorie content, your dog's activity and body condition. Two foods can provide very different calories per cup. Check weight and muscle regularly, count treats and keep fresh water available.

Routine joint, skin or digestive supplements are not automatically needed. Do not use raised bowls as a bloat-prevention strategy. Keep vaccinations and parasite control matched to outdoor exposure, travel and local disease risks.

Health screening and changes to investigate

The American Water Spaniel Club recommends hip, heart and veterinary ophthalmologist screening for breeding dogs. Ask for actual parental results. A CHIC number indicates completion and disclosure of required screening, not that every result was normal or that puppies are guaranteed free of disease.

The breed club also reports conditions including degenerative myelopathy, thyroid disease and pattern baldness. Hind-foot scuffing, weakness or difficulty rising needs assessment because spinal disease, injury and arthritis can resemble a degenerative nerve condition. A DNA risk result alone does not diagnose the cause of symptoms.

Hair loss should not be dismissed as cosmetic without examination. Parasites, allergy, infection and hormonal problems may look similar to pattern baldness. Do not start melatonin or another supplement without veterinary advice. Sudden inability to stand, severe pain or breathing difficulty requires urgent care.

Frequently asked questions

Does an American Water Spaniel have to swim?

No. Walks, scent games, retrieving and other suitable activities can meet its needs if it dislikes water or swimming is unsafe.

Is a water-resistant coat enough for cold-water safety?

No. Dogs can still become exhausted or dangerously cold. Monitor conditions and stop well before fatigue.

Does hair loss always mean pattern baldness?

No. A vet should assess new bald areas, especially when skin is itchy, inflamed or accompanied by other health changes.

Can this breed live in a smaller home?

Yes, if the individual dog's exercise, companionship, rest and training needs are met. Access to a large garden alone is not sufficient.

Further guidance is available from the American Water Spaniel Club and Cornell's information on harmful algal blooms.

ASK A VET™ can help you plan everyday care for your American Water Spaniel and decide when a change after exercise, swimming or grooming needs veterinary attention.