“No, it’s not an anything-Doodle.” That is my thought when someone asks me if my
puppy is a Labradoodle, Goldendoodle, or some other modern high-priced
mutt. I’m less offended when asked if he
is a Cocker Spaniel. At least English
Cocker Spaniels can be field-bred as hunters.
I usually respond, “No, he’s an American Water Spaniel.”
A year and a half ago I had never heard of an American
Water Spaniel, or AWS for short. I read
a short paragraph in my Ducks Unlimted magazine about AWS’ being great
retrievers and upland dogs. I didn’t
realize they are the state dog of Wisconsin. As a history buff and a lifelong Wisconsin
resident I’m embarrassed I didn’t know that. Who knew such a designation existed? What I didn’t know at that time was that the
breed largely originated in Wisconsin and specifically in the Fox and Wolf
River Valley areas. They’re one of the
few sporting dog breeds that were entirely developed in the United States.
The breed began in the mid 1800’s and was bred from a mix
of different breeds to handle a variety of tasks. Many dog breeds were developed by European
nobility, but the AWS was a blue-collar dog from the start. The breeders of the day were farmers, market
hunters and other early settlers to the area.
AWS’ were often pack-bred in their early days by these breeders. Although this would be unacceptable by
today’s standards, this practice is believed to be a significant contributing
factor to the relatively few genetic disorders that afflict AWS’. AWS’ are believed to have links to breeds
such as the now-extinct English Water Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel,
Curly-Coated Retriever, Sussex or Field Spaniel, possible Native American dogs,
Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and Poodle. Some
people believe AWS’ are the parent breed for Boykin Spaniels, but a lot of
Boykin aficionados will dispute this.
AWS’ were often the chosen hunting partner of market
hunters from the era. With a breed
standard size of 25-45 pounds AWS’ were perfect for hunting from a small skiff
and sneaking up on rafts of ducks. Their
double waterproof coat protected it from the cold water of the upper Midwest
and they were bred to have motors capable of fetching a hundred ducks in a
day. Some early accounts indicate that AWS’
were also responsible to guard the market hunters equipment while the hunters
were away. Since many early AWS owners
were not wealthy, the dogs were also expected to flush upland game, and even
chase down the occasional muskrat scurrying along thin ice. Upper Midwest inhabitants couldn’t afford to
waste a chance at any income or food source.
As a rare breed, there isn’t a distinct split in genetic
lines between show-bred and field-bred dogs.
This has allowed the hunting instincts to remain prevalent throughout
the breed. Many dogs that compete in the
show ring will often have advanced hunting titles. For example the winner of “Best of Breed” at
the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club’s 2016 show holds an AKC Senior Hunter
title. Few of the other sporting breed
winners contained such titles.
Duck and upland hunters would be remiss not to consider
an AWS as their next dog. They can
require a firm, but fair hand in training.
They will become bored and stop working when they tire of rote
drills. They are also known as a smart
breed, and as is the case with my dog, he learns especially fast if a piece of
hot dog is involved. AWS’ are known for having a mischievous side,
as they like to attempt to assert their domination over the household. Although they may not be suitable for
everyone, they are worthy of consideration as a family member and hunting
buddy.
At Meskousing Boats, we ask questions and aren’t afraid
to come to conclusions that are different from prevailing thought. That is why you’ll be seeing a lot more of
Aldo in our boats. He was too young to
hunt this past season, but we are progressing on his foundational skills and
obedience. If his trainer (me) learns as
fast as he does, Aldo will be ready for next season. You’ll be seeing more of him on Facebook and
we plan on updating the pictures on our website, too.
