Chinese Crested Dog vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Chinese Crested Dog vs American Water Spaniel - Breed ComparisonChinese Crested Dog is originated from Mexico but American Water Spaniel is originated from United States. Chinese Crested Dog may grow 16 cm / 6 inches shorter than American Water Spaniel. Chinese Crested Dog may weigh 15 kg / 33 pounds lesser than American Water Spaniel. Both Chinese Crested Dog and American Water Spaniel has same life span. Both Chinese Crested Dog and American Water Spaniel has same litter size. Chinese Crested Dog requires Low maintenance. But American Water Spaniel requires Moderate maintenance

History

chinese crested dog - historyThe Chinese Crested Dog is believed to have its origins in Africa and there are many texts from the 19th Century that feature an Africa Hairless Terrier that resembles the Chinese Crested. However, the scientific and genetic evidence leads to an origin that is shared with the Mexican Hairless Dog. Any way you look at it the dog did not originate in China. The Chinese were very fond of this breed and used them on their ships to control the rat populations. This is probably how they got their name.

There are two types of Chinese Crested Dogs – the well known Hairless, and the lesser known Powderpuff. The Hairless type is better known because they carry the dominant trait and the Powderpuff is recessive. However, this recessive gene is carried by every Chinese Crested Dog so the Powderpuff can show up in all litters even those of two Hairless Crested. Two Powderpuffs will not result in any Hairless in their litters as the Powderpuff does not have the gene for the Hairless.

The “Crest Haven” Kennel was opened by Debora Wood in the 1950’s to breed the Chines Crested Dog. At the same time Gypsy Rose Lee, of the famous burlesque shows, was also breeding Chinese Crested Dogs. The two lines of Crested bred by Americans came together following the death of Rose Lee. Every Chinese Crested that lives today can trace their heritage directly to these two breeding lines. In 1959, Debra Wood founded the American Hairless Dog Club which became a part of the American Chinese Crested Club or the ACCC in 1978. This organization then became the breed’s parent club after AKC (American Kennel Club) recognized the breed in 1991. Prior to this the Federation Cynologique Internationale, recognized the breed in 1987, the United Kingdom (UK)the Kennel Club recognized them in 1981 and the Australian National Kennel Council recognized the Crested in 1995.

american water spaniel - historyThe American Water Spaniel was developed in the United States. He is the state dog of Wisconsin and was developed there in the 19th century. The bloodlines of this spaniel are varied but certainly include the English Water Spaniel and the Irish Water Spaniel. Even though they are the state dog of Wisconsin they were almost extinct when Dr. Fred J. Pfeifer rescued the breed. The numbers had fallen after World War II because hunting was now a recreational sport and not needed to provide food for the family. He then started a breed club and wrote a breed standard, both of which were recognized by the United Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club. When first developed the American Water Spaniel was known as the American Brown Spaniel. It was bred with a curly, thick coat so that it cold be sustained in Wisconsin winters and cold water. It was bred to hunt grouse, water fowl and prairie chickens as well as furry land animals. Pfeifer advertised his dogs for sale everywhere using a mailer that read: “, "The American Brown Spaniel is distinctively an American production. Hunters have known this type for years and it was through their efforts that this dog was propagated.... For years we have bred only selective stock, breeding for gameness, stability, courage, intelligence, and beauty. They are dogs to admire and trust under all conditions whether in the home circle or in the field with the outdoor man."[2]

In Wisconsin, around the wolf River and the Fox River, hunters were looking for a water dog that could also hunt on land. They needed a dog that could work a variety of fowl and game but who was small enough for a skiff and strong enough for the artic water temperatures of Wisconsin in the Winter. So, in addition to the spaniels named above, other breeds such as the Curly Coated Retriever, the Poodle, Native Indian dogs and the Sussex Spaniel were intermixed. When first developed the American Water Spaniel was known as the American Brown Spaniel. It was bred with a curly, thick coat so that it cold be sustained in Wisconsin winters and cold water. It was bred to hunt grouse, water fowl and prairie chickens as well as furry land animals. The American Water Spaniel was then itself used to develop another new breed, the Boykin Spaniel. In 1985 Wisconsin declared the American Water Spaniel to be the official state dog. Even so there remain only a few thousand dogs in existence. Though recognized by the AKC, they are neither spaniels nor retrievers and remain unclassified. Because of this they cannot compete in AKC field trials, but they do compete in AKC hunt tests. Though rare, the American Water Spaniel is a great hunting dog, retriever and companion.

Description

chinese crested dog puppy - descriptionThis is a toy breed and very small. The Hairless and the Powderpuff are two types of the same breed, although they do not look like it. The Hairless type can have fur anywhere on its body, but it will not have much. It will have hair on its paws, tail and head. The Powderpuff on the other hand will have a thick double coat. When discussing the color of the hairless, one is referring to the color of its skin. It can range from flesh to black.

The Powderpuff has a soft, thick, straight double coat. It can have very long hair. The Hairless must have its skin taken care of and protected. Both types of Chines Crested are small in stature with well proportioned, athletic bodies.

american water spaniel puppy - descriptionThe American Water spaniel is a midsized, muscular dog. There is nothing flashy about his looks or his work performance. He is however a consistent, competent swimmer and hunter. His brown coat is wavy or tightly curled, waterproof and dense. His feet have thick pads and webbed toes. The AWS is intelligent, happy, and easy going. He is a very versatile hunting dog on land and in water. The breed has not changed much since it originated in the 19th century. They can be liver, chocolate or brown. The eyes should be the same as the color of the coat. They have broad skulls with wide, long ears and an undocked tail.

They have a square, medium sized muzzle and wide nose. They have a bite that is level or scissors. The legs of the muscular American Water Spaniel are medium in length and the tail is full, with a medium length, curved and feathered. The dewclaws might or might not be removed.

Characteristics

chinese crested dog dog - characteristicsThe Chines Crested Dog is very intelligent and love to perform for audiences. They do well with obedience courses and they are very affectionate lap dogs. They want to be with you and on you or in your arms all the time. They are loyal and playful.

american water spaniel dog - characteristicsBred to work the American Water Spaniels are loyal to their people, want to please them, but are not so great with strangers. They are stubborn and love to be the center of attention. They are often one person or one family dogs. They need an owner who is the pack leader and willing to put in the time to train them. However, they are a versatile breed and need variety in training and activities rather than repetitive activities. They are prone to resource guarding, slow maturation and dominance. These negative traits are dissipated with a strong leader, good training and a lot of daily activity. They are sensitive as well as stubborn. Do not use a punishment-oriented training with them. They will respond out of love and loyalty or not at all. This is a breed that wants to be the alpha over the people and will do so if you let him. Keep them fenced as being hunters they love to wander and will leave home whenever they can.

Health Problems

chinese crested dog puppies - health problemsThe Chinese Crested Hairless version must have its skin take care of much in the same way we take care of our own. It will burn if exposed to too much sun without protection. They can suffer from dry skin, acne, need moisturizing cremes. They get skin allergies as well and it is important to take care of the skin instead of the brushing you don’t have to do.

The Chinese Crested does not suffer from most of the diseases other toy breeds do. They can have ye issues. The Hairless have a “primitive mouth” . They have pointy teeth and poor dentition. This is not true of the Powderpuffs however. Their eye issues include:

  • Lens Luxation
  • PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy)
  • Glaucoma

Other issues include:

  • Luxating Patellas
  • Legg-Perthes Disease
  • Canine Multiple System Degeneration (CMSD)
  • Allergies

american water spaniel puppies - health problemsThe American Water Spaniel is a hardy, healthy breed without a lot of the genetic concerns of other breeds. Some of the concerns of this breed include vision, cardiac, hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy. They might also have skin issues and metabolic disorders.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

chinese crested dog dogs - caringLike several other toy breeds, it is easy to overfeed the Chinese Crested because it has such a small stature. Feed once or twice a day but never more than one fourth of a cup total for the day.

Health issues

  • Lens Luxation – causes blindness and is inherited
  • PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) – can also lead to blindness
  • Glaucoma – also leads to blindness
  • Dry Eye Syndrome

Other issues include:

Luxating Patellas – kneecaps move out of place and cause lameness and arthritis

Legg-Perthes Disease – a hip disorder where blood does not reach the head of the femur. The bone dies, and growth stops.

Canine Multiple System Degeneration (CMSD) – a progressive movement disorder can call falls

  • Allergies – skin and sometimes food

Exercise and games

This Breed does not need an excessive amount of exercise, but they do enjoy running. They are competitive and athletic, so they can excel at flyball, lure coursing, agility and obedience. They are sensitive and trainable enough to become a therapy dog.

Feeding

american water spaniel dogs - caringFeeding the American Water Spaniel is no mystery. They need a high quality dry dog food with an eye toward calorie consumption. Some AWS have a tendency to become obese. Treats are important to the AWS in training but can add to the obesity concerns.

Health

Like other isolated breeds that were bred true, the genetic issues we see in many other popular breeds are not seen as much in the American Water Spaniel. They do however have a few issues to contend with.

Eyes: These issues appear to be inherited with progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. Many AWS that develop cataracts do so at a very young age, usually under a year. Metabolic: Diabetes, hypothyroidism, glandular disorders and epilepsy. Baldness and Cardiac Issues. Orthopedic: Hip dysplasia. There is no evidence to suggest any elbow dysplasia. Additional concerns are hypothyroidism, allergies, epilepsy, diabetes and glandular disorders which Of course, the American Water Spaniel is an athlete who loves to be outdoors. He loves to swim, run and hunt. He needs daily exercise, or he can become loud and destructive. They thrive on having a job and they are not happy if they don’t have one. They are good at agility, obedience, dock diving and field trials. They also enjoy flyball and barn hunt.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Gun dog
Origin:
Mexico
United States
Height Male:
28 - 30 cm
11 - 12 inches
36 - 46 cm
14 - 19 inches
Height Female:
26 - 28 cm
10 - 12 inches
34 - 44 cm
13 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
4 - 5 kg
8 - 12 pounds
11 - 20 kg
24 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
11 - 18 kg
24 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
4 - 6
Size:
Toy dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Crested, Puff
Amerikanischer Wasserspaniel • AWS • AM Water Spaniel
Colors Available:
Any color or combination of colors
Liver, Brown, Dark Chocolate
Coat:
hairless or Puff has double coat
DOuble, Wavy and Curly, thick
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Playful
Alert, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. English Springer Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  2. Brittany vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  3. English Setter vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  4. French Brittany vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  5. Boykin Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  6. Pudelpointer vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  7. American Water Spaniel vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  8. American Water Spaniel vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  9. Picardy Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  10. Braque d'Auvergne vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  11. Ariege Pointer vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  12. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  13. Irish Water Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  14. Blue Picardy Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  15. Canadian Pointer vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  16. Deutsch Drahthaar vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  17. Clumber Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  18. Stabyhoun vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  19. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  20. Vizsla vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  21. Large Munsterlander vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  22. Tyrolean Hound vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  23. Cockalier vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  24. Braque du Bourbonnais vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  25. Cesky Fousek vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  26. Chihuahua vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Morkie vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Havanese vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  29. Chorkie vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  30. Pekingese vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  31. Chinese Crested Dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Chinese Crested Dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  33. Chinese Crested Dog vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  34. Chinese Crested Dog vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  35. Chinese Crested Dog vs Bugg - Breed Comparison
  36. Chiweenie vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  37. Chug vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  38. Chipoo vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  39. Chiapom vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  40. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  41. Long Haired Chihuahua vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  42. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  43. Franzuskaya Bolonka vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  44. Phalene vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  45. Cockachon vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  46. Shih Tzu vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Silky Terrier vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  48. Snorkie vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  49. Toy Bulldog vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  50. Toy Mi-Ki vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds