Skye Terrier vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Skye Terrier vs American Water Spaniel - Breed ComparisonSkye Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but American Water Spaniel is originated from United States. Skye Terrier may grow 20 cm / 7 inches shorter than American Water Spaniel. Both Skye Terrier and American Water Spaniel are having almost same weight. Both Skye Terrier and American Water Spaniel has almost same life span. Both Skye Terrier and American Water Spaniel has almost same litter size. Both Skye Terrier and American Water Spaniel requires Moderate maintenance.

History

skye terrier - historyThe Skye Terrier is a hardy dog breed and is actually considered to be an endangered native dog breed in the United Kingdom.

They were found on the Isle of Skye, although there is some confusion about its history. They were used long ago to hunt but these days they are essentially companion dogs.

They found their way to America and the Skye Terrier Club of America was founded in 1938. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1887.

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

skye terrier puppy - descriptionThe Skye Terrier is a medium-sized dog standing at between 23 and 26cm in height and weighing between 12 and 18kg. The legs are short and sturdy. He is double coated with the top coat being straight and hard and forming a beard around the face area. The coat can be fawn, and in various shades of grey which are sometimes even black. The ears of the dog are medium sized and erect.

Temperament:

The Skye Terrier has always been a hunting dog and he enjoys quite a bit of exercise – walks, ball games as well as indoor games. Small though he may be, he is strong willed with a mind of his own and will benefit from being trained and socialized.

This is also necessary as he has a fairly reserved nature. He gets on well with children and makes an excellent family pet but he is ready to take on smaller pets in the home. He will bark when confronting strangers and makes an excellent watchdog too.

He is able to adapt well into life in the city or the countryside. He isn’t a dog to be left outside day after day and will just die of boredom, frustration and loneliness.

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

skye terrier dog - characteristicsGive the Skye Terrier the attention he wants and he will reward you with his loving companionship.

He loves the entire family but is best suited to homes where children have been taught to be kind to animals and to treat them with respect.

He has moderate energy levels and will expect you to give him a fair amount of exercise. The Skye Terrier can make an excellent companion for you and your family.

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

skye terrier puppies - health problemsThe Skye Terrier is a healthy dog breed. Perhaps the only issue that could be a problem with him is orthopedic problems. He is an achondroplastic dog, meaning a large body on small legs.

He could develop spinal problems if he were allowed to constantly be jumping off beds and high chairs.

Orthopedic problems affect the bones, muscles and joints and can actually be debilitating. Orthopedic conditions can be ligament tears or hip dysplasia for instance, accompanied by arthritis.

You’ll notice your dog has an abnormal way of walking or running, inability to get up once lying down and he may have arthritis and pain.Be careful because obesity can trigger problems with the joints and bones.

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

skye terrier dogs - caring● The coat of the Skye Terrier is long and silky and will most certainly require brushing every day if you keep the hair long. Such silky hair can easily become matted.

● Little dogs like this will need their teeth being checked regularly. You can even try to buy special pet toothpaste and toothbrush and brush his teeth yourself. If you prefer, a professional dog groomer can do this for you and at the same time trim his nails and check his ears and clean the insides of the ears too to avoid infection.

● Provide him with his own warm, dry place to sleep.

● Don’t ignore his exercise needs. A dog without exercise will get sick.

● Provide him with top quality food as the quality of the dog food you buy makes a huge difference to his health and longevity. He is a small dog and there are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods specially made for small, energetic dogs.

Try to include some home-made food for him which can be simply mixed into the dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super tasty and nutritious. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

● Have him neutered or spayed if you aren’t wanting puppies.

● Keep his vaccines up to date against some deadly canine diseases, and get him to the vet when he shows signs of illness.

● He isn't a large dog but will still need to be trained and socialized.

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:
Terrier dog
Gun dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
United States
Height Male:
23 - 26 cm
9 - 11 inches
36 - 46 cm
14 - 19 inches
Height Female:
23 - 26 cm
9 - 11 inches
34 - 44 cm
13 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
12 - 18 kg
26 - 40 pounds
11 - 20 kg
24 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
12 - 18 kg
26 - 40 pounds
11 - 18 kg
24 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
4 - 6
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Skye
Amerikanischer Wasserspaniel • AWS • AM Water Spaniel
Colors Available:
shades of grey, Fawn
Liver, Brown, Dark Chocolate
Coat:
Long, straight, hard topcoat
DOuble, Wavy and Curly, thick
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Alert, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Skye Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Skye Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  3. Skye Terrier vs Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  4. Skye Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  5. Skye Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Skye Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Skye Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  8. Skye Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Skye Terrier vs Fox Terrier (Smooth) - Breed Comparison
  10. Skye Terrier vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Skye Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  12. Skye Terrier vs Lakeland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Skye Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. Skye Terrier vs Jagdterrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Skye Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Skye Terrier vs Indian Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Skye Terrier vs Irish Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Skye Terrier vs Japanese Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Skye Terrier vs Brazilian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  20. Skye Terrier vs Old English Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Skye Terrier vs Scoland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Skye Terrier vs Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Skye Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Skye Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Welsh Terrier vs Skye Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. English Springer Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  27. Brittany vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  28. English Setter vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  29. French Brittany vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  30. Boykin Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  31. Pudelpointer vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  32. American Water Spaniel vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  33. American Water Spaniel vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  34. Picardy Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  35. Braque d'Auvergne vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  36. Ariege Pointer vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  37. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  38. Irish Water Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  39. Blue Picardy Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  40. Canadian Pointer vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  41. Deutsch Drahthaar vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  42. Clumber Spaniel vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  43. Stabyhoun vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  44. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  45. Vizsla vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  46. Large Munsterlander vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  47. Tyrolean Hound vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  48. Cockalier vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  49. Braque du Bourbonnais vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  50. Cesky Fousek vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds