The Perfect Size

The AWS was frequently used by the market hunters of the day to help harvest all manner of game but, as the folklore says, most notably waterfowl harvested in the Great Lakes Region. The market hunters would paddle out in their punts and skiffs, and shoot 100’s of ducks with their punt guns in a single shot.  Their dog of choice to pick up these birds was the American Water Spaniel because they were small enough to ride in the punts. 

The Perfect Drive

The hunting drive necessary to accomplish this task remains in the breed.  In fact, even today one will find the majority of the American Water Spaniel owners and breeders are still located in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and surrounding states. In the early 1900s, Doctor Pfiefer of New London, Wisconsin, was the first to recognize that the little brown spaniels, so well known in his area, were actually a distinguishable breed.

The Perfect Dog

It was his belief that the breed should be recognized and preserved. He led an effort to gain recognition of what would eventually be called the American Water Spaniel by petitioning the dog registries to recognize the breed. Through his efforts, the American Water Spaniel was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1920. Over the following years others took up his cause and the breed was eventually recognized by the Field Dog Stud Book in 1938 and the American Kennel Club in 1940. 

Spaniel of the Lakes

“Their origins are shrouded in mystery, but there is no question about the talents of these curly, brown-all-purpose hunting dogs”.

by Kerrin Winter Churchill