The American Water Spaniel or AWS is an original spaniel breed from the United States. The AWS was bred in the state of Wisconsin in the 19th century from a long line of spaniel breed ancestry which includes the Irish and English Water Spaniels. Although the AWS is nowhere near as popular as the Golden and Labrador Retrievers, the AWS is considered a rare breed. In 2010, the AWS was ranked 143rd most popular breed, out of the 167 registered breeds in the United States.
Like similar spaniel breeds, the AWS is an all-around breed for those looking for companionship and hunting partner or Gundog. Their muscular, medium built and solid brown wavy to curly short coat allow the breed to withstand the extreme outdoor conditions particularly in Wisconsin where long winters are a norm and temperatures in the single digits or below freezing can be really challenging for other breeds.