How long does a American Water Spaniel live?

The listed lifespan for a American Water Spaniel is 10–14 years.

How tall is a American Water Spaniel?

The listed height for a American Water Spaniel is 15–18 in.

Is a American Water Spaniel good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a American Water Spaniel is 3 out of 5.

What is the energy level of a American Water Spaniel?

The AKC energy score for a American Water Spaniel is 3 out of 5.

Sporting Group

American Water Spaniel

American Water Spaniel is a medium dog in the Sporting Group. Adult weight is 30–45 lb (male), 25–40 lb (female), height is 15–18 in, and the listed lifespan is 10–14 years. AKC describes the temperament as Charming, Eager, Happy.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

American Water Spaniel dog — Photo: Flickr user Noma's American Water Spaniels . Photo uploaded to commons by user ltshears · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan10–14 years

Weight30–45 lb (male), 25–40 lb (female)

SizeMedium GroupSporting Group

Height

15–18 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

1 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 59 single-size medium breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 12 years is about 1.3 years shorter than the 13.3-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 35 lb is about the same as the 34.1 lb average for those medium breeds.

The listed origin is United States. The coat is described as curly, double, medium. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 1.1 points below the group average of 4.1 for the Sporting Group. Shedding scores 1 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 176 in 2025.

AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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