Snorkie vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Both Snorkie and American Water Spaniel are originated from United States. Snorkie may grow 16 cm / 6 inches shorter than American Water Spaniel. Snorkie may weigh 14 kg / 30 pounds lesser than American Water Spaniel. Both Snorkie and American Water Spaniel has almost same life span. Both Snorkie and American Water Spaniel has almost same litter size. Both Snorkie and American Water Spaniel requires Moderate maintenance.

History

The Snorkie is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer.

The exact origins of this dog are unknown, but it is believed that it is a designer dog from the United States. Known also as the Schnerrier, this toy breed is a popular pet as he can slot into life in the city or the countryside, in small homes or large.

The Snorkie’s history is short and unknown but both the parent breeds each have a long history.

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

Coming from two small dog breeds, the Snorkie will be small too, and will measure anything from 14 to 30cm and weigh anything from 3 to 6kg.

The Yorkshire Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer are fairly similar to look at and you will no doubt get high set erect ears, a small, compact body and a medium length tail which will be thickly furred.

The coat of the dog will be longish and could end up being the silky hair of the Yorkie or being the crisp coat of the Schnauzer. Colors of the coat can be grey, tan, silver, black. Shedding will be minimal.

Temperament:

When you get two purebred dog breeds being used to bring about a new dog breed, you cant really say what the temperament of the dog will be – because it could actually be a mix of characteristics from either breed. Either way your little pet will be social, playful, loving, loyal and companionable and make a great little watchdog.

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

Your Snorkie will be a sociable little dog who loves hanging out with his human family. He is loyal and loving towards them. He gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

Small he may be, but he makes a great watchdog and will alert you to suspect behavior with his constant yapping.

Suitable for life in the city or the countryside and also a great choice for first time dog owners, the Snorkie promises to make you an awesome family pet.

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

Because a Snorkie is a mixed breed, they can inherit any one of the health issues from each of the parent breeds – the Yorkshire Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer.

Because this is a small dog, you can probably expect dental problems - overcrowded teeth and pancreatitis. The idea is to make sure you feed your little pet excellent food to minimize health issues.

Pancreatitis:

The pancreas has many functions, one of which is the production of digestive enzymes which are critical for food digestion.

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and then digestive enzymes, normally inactive until they reach the small intestine, become active in the pancreas instead. This brings about swelling and pain. Obesity, medications, high-fat diets and a disease such as hypothyroidism can cause pancreatitis.

Your dog will lose his appetite, be lethargic and restless and be vomiting too. He will have to get to the vet.

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

Being a small dog, the Snorkie will be fairly easy to care for, and for anyone on a low budget who badly wants to own a dog, he won’t cost you a whole lot of money in food.

Let’s look at how to care for your Snorkie -

♦Give him exercise – walks, ball games and indoor games.

◆Brush the coat twice a week to rid the coat of loose hairs. The Snorkie isn’t a heavy shedder but he loves the grooming session. His coat may need to be professionally trimmed.

◆When you brush him, check for fleas and ticks. Check inside the ears for redness and make sure the eyes are bright and alert.

◆The Snorkie is small but will be a handful if left untrained. He is intelligent and will make a superb pet if he is trained and socialized.

◆ Provide your Snorkie with his own quiet, comfortable place to sleep.

◆Keep his vaccines up to date to eliminate killer canine diseases and get him to the vet if he appears to be ill.

◆Have your Snorkie spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted puppies.

◆Feed your Snorkie the best food there is. The commercially manufactured dog foods can be a good, convenient choice. Read the labels and buy the food appropriate to your pets size, age and energy levels.

Try and give him some home-made food. You can add a little bit of home-made food to the dry kibble to enhance it. You can do this twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a tasty healthy choice for your little pet. Just chop it all up for him.

Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water for him.

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:
United States
United States
Height Male:
14 - 30 cm
5 - 12 inches
36 - 46 cm
14 - 19 inches
Height Female:
14 - 30 cm
5 - 12 inches
34 - 44 cm
13 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
11 - 20 kg
24 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
11 - 18 kg
24 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 8
4 - 6
Size:
Toy dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Schnerrier
Amerikanischer Wasserspaniel • AWS • AM Water Spaniel
Colors Available:
silver, Grey, black., tan
Liver, Brown, Dark Chocolate
Coat:
Short, medium or long - silky or crisp
DOuble, Wavy and Curly, thick
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, 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. Snorkie vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Snorkie vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  3. Snorkie vs Morkie - Breed Comparison
  4. Snorkie vs Havanese - Breed Comparison
  5. Snorkie vs Chorkie - Breed Comparison
  6. Snorkie vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  7. Snorkie vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Snorkie vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  9. Snorkie vs Chug - Breed Comparison
  10. Snorkie vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  11. Snorkie vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  12. Snorkie vs Chipoo - Breed Comparison
  13. Snorkie vs Chiapom - Breed Comparison
  14. Snorkie vs English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) - Breed Comparison
  15. Snorkie vs Long Haired Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  16. Snorkie vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  17. Snorkie vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Snorkie vs Franzuskaya Bolonka - Breed Comparison
  19. Snorkie vs Phalene - Breed Comparison
  20. Snorkie vs Bugg - Breed Comparison
  21. Snorkie vs Cockachon - Breed Comparison
  22. Snorkie vs Shih Tzu - Breed Comparison
  23. Snorkie vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Toy Bulldog vs Snorkie - Breed Comparison
  25. Toy Mi-Ki vs Snorkie - 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