English Mastiff vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

English Mastiff vs American Water Spaniel - Breed ComparisonEnglish Mastiff is originated from United Kingdom but American Water Spaniel is originated from United States. English Mastiff may grow 30 cm / 12 inches higher than American Water Spaniel. English Mastiff may weigh 93 kg / 206 pounds more than American Water Spaniel. Both English Mastiff and American Water Spaniel has almost same life span. English Mastiff may have more litter size than American Water Spaniel. English Mastiff requires Low maintenance. But American Water Spaniel requires Moderate maintenance

History

english mastiff - historyThroughout most of history there have been images created by people of very large, sturdy dogs that they shared their space with. The English Mastiff can trace some part of her ancestry to these same dogs. This breed is thought to have come from the stock of ancient breeds such as the Alpine Mastiff, Pugnaces Britanniae and Alaunt. The Mastiff in general has then become a main descendent of many other breeds of dogs since the 1880’s. The images of these types of dogs goes back to the 5th and 6th century.

There is no genetic evidence linking these dogs to the modern Mastiffs and the English Mastiff, but the resemblance is obvious. There is anecdotal evidence that these Mastiff type dogs were exported from England – the English Mastiff – to Greece to hunt game but were also used as war dogs by the Celts. The Alaunt was probably used the Normans and bred by the Alans. Writings and images throughout these times depicted a dog that looked very much like today’s English Mastiff. Some speculate that the English Mastiff came to the United States of the Mayflower.

There was a decline in the English Mastiff in its homeland in the 1800’s following the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835 which prohibited owners and trainers from baiting animals. Then in the 19th century, prior to the first World War, systematic breeding programs began with J.W. Thompson. His first English Mastiff was a female named Dorah. Dorah’s ancestors included dogs from Thompson’s Grandfather. Captain John Garnier of the Royal Engineers also had dogs that contributed to the development of the English Mastiff.

During this time some breeders got away from pure type and began to breed for other factors. In the late 1800’s, Edgar Hanbury and Mark Hanbury Beaufoy began restoring the breed to its original soundness. One of their dogs was exported to the US were breeding to soundness continued until the First World War reduced the number of English Mastiffs around the world. By the time the war ended there were no English Mastiffs outside of England.

There was a dog in Canada named Beowulf and direct descendent of imports from Britain, who came to the States after the war and began to re-establish the breed on this continent and registered with the American Kennel Club. Yet as of 1945, the contribution from North

Breeding was stopped again for World War II and started again after the war. Many of these puppies died of distemper. Only one female had pups that were able to grow up into adults. North America sent dogs to England at this time and all of the Mastiffs from that time, could be traced back to Nydia and the 14 North American Mastiffs. Since then the breed has been restored slowly in Europe, North America and everywhere in the world.

The English Mastiff is known by his massive head with a black mask and comes in a wide variety of colors. He is also known as a gentle giant because of his personality and the love he has for his people.

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

english mastiff puppy - descriptionThe English Mastiff is a giant dog with a broad head and body. In terms of mass it is the worlds largest dog, just a little bigger that the Saint Bernard. The Great Dane and the Irish Wolfhound are 6 inches taller but do not carry the weight and bulk of the Mastiff. Mostly square in his body and his head with a massive chest and wide set forelegs. The head is square and very large. No matter the color of the coat, the face should have a black mask like the St. Bernard. His eyes and nose are also dark.

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

Children friendliness

english mastiff dog - characteristicsThe English Mastiff is very happy to play with children. You willl need to be careful with small children as he does not know his size and is likely to sit on them.

Special talents

This lovable giant is noble and loyal. He will protect his family and he will be courageous about it.

Adaptability

This is a big dog but he doesnt live outside. You need a big yard and perhaps a big house. He may not adapt to an apartment.

Learning ability

The English Mastiff is smart and certainly trainable. He can be independent and stubborn at times but he has the ability to learn.

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

english mastiff puppies - health problemsBeing a massive dog can take its toll on the body’s development and that is certainly true of the English Mastiff. A lot of running is not recommended in the early life of the dog – preferable for the first two years. This could damage the joint’s growth plates and cause him a lot of problems in later years. Too much exercise in this massive dog can hurt him but so can, not enough exercise.

Some of the health issues other than this that the English Mastiff is prone to include:

  1. Calluses –
  2. On their paws. Must be taken care of before infection sets in.
  3. Arthritis

A large dog like the English Mastiff is always prone to pain from arthritic joints. See your vet about pain medication.

Hygroma

A spot under the skin that is swollen and filled with fluid. Can be treated. It is not an infection or contagious.

Hip Dysplasia

Can result in lameness and arthritis.

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

english mastiff dogs - caringThis is an enormous dog that grows quickly. It is important to feed them properly as they grow. If he doesn’t get what he needs as a puppy you will not be able to make it up to him later on.

Feeding the puppy

The English Mastiff puppy needs good nutrition for growing properly.

From 12-16 weeks of age feed him 3-4 cups a day of a high protein, high quality dry food. Break this up into 3-4 meals.

From 4 -6 months of age feed him 8-10 cups a day of a high protein, high quality dry food. Break this up into 2-3 meals.

From 6-18 months of age feed him 8-12 cups a day of a high protein, high quality, dry food. Break this up into 2-3 meals.

Feeding the adult

The English Mastiff is still growing from a year to 18 months. Starting at 18 months feed him 10-12 cups a day of high protein, high quality dry food. Break this up into 2 meals.

As your Mastiff ages, cut down on the protein and feed a dry food appropriate for his age.

Points for Good Health

The English Mastiff is a very large dog that should not be allowed to get obese since he is prone to dysplasia. He needs protein throughout puppyhood and until he is about 8-10.

Games and Exercises

This is a couch potato if you let him be. Make sure he gets at least one long walk per day or he will tend to gain weight. Play with them off leash about an hour every day.

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:
Molosser dogs
Gun dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
United States
Height Male:
74 - 76 cm
29 - 30 inches
36 - 46 cm
14 - 19 inches
Height Female:
70 - 73 cm
27 - 29 inches
34 - 44 cm
13 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
68 - 113 kg
149 - 250 pounds
11 - 20 kg
24 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
54 - 84 kg
119 - 186 pounds
11 - 18 kg
24 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
7 - 12 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
4 - 6
Size:
Giant dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Mastiff Old English Mastiff
Amerikanischer Wasserspaniel • AWS • AM Water Spaniel
Colors Available:
silver-fawn, apricot-fawn, or dark fawn-brindle, fawn
Liver, Brown, Dark Chocolate
Coat:
fine, smooth
DOuble, Wavy and Curly, thick
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Courageous, Docile, Friendly, Independent, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Stubborn
Alert, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. English Mastiff vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  2. English Mastiff vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  3. English Mastiff vs Cao de Gado Transmontano - Breed Comparison
  4. English Mastiff vs Broholmer - Breed Comparison
  5. Neapolitan Mastiff vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  6. Gaddi Kutta vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  7. Nebolish Mastiff vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  8. Great Dane vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  9. English Mastiff vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  10. English Mastiff vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  11. English Mastiff vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  12. English Mastiff vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison
  13. English Mastiff vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  14. English Mastiff vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  15. English Mastiff vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  16. English Mastiff vs American Staghound - Breed Comparison
  17. English Mastiff vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed Comparison
  18. Newfoundland Dog vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  19. Leonberger vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  20. Irish Wolfhound vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  21. English Springer Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  22. Brittany vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  23. English Setter vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  24. French Brittany vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  25. Boykin Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  26. Pudelpointer vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  27. American Water Spaniel vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  28. American Water Spaniel vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  29. Picardy Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  30. Braque d'Auvergne vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  31. Ariege Pointer vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  32. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  33. Irish Water Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  34. Blue Picardy Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  35. Canadian Pointer vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  36. Deutsch Drahthaar vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  37. Clumber Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  38. Stabyhoun vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  39. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  40. Vizsla vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  41. Large Munsterlander vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  42. Tyrolean Hound vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  43. Cockalier vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  44. Braque du Bourbonnais vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  45. Cesky Fousek vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds