The American Water Spaniel is a retrieving dog that can handle any type of game. This was the first breed developed in the United States as an all-around hunter that could retrieve from boats. Before its recognition by the AKC in 1940, the American Water Spaniel had never been introduced to the show ring due to fear that it might damage its prowess as a hunter.

Common misspellings are american waterspaniel, american water spaniels, american water spaneils, american water spanielses, american water spanials, american waterspanials, american water-spaniel, american water-spanial, amerikan waterspaniel, amerikan water spaniel.