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American Water Spaniel Dogs for Adoption in Honolulu, HI

Your guide to finding and caring for an American Water Spaniel in Honolulu

An American Water Spaniel fits Honolulu best in a neighborhood like Hawaiʻi Kai, where water is never far away. This medium-sized, curly-coated dog was developed to retrieve from water, so single-family homes around the marina and a nearby off-leash park give it plenty to do. Expect a loyal, busy dog that's a little reserved with strangers and likes to announce visitors. It needs real exercise every day, ideally including a swim, and a rinse and thorough dry afterward so that dense coat doesn't stay damp.

301 dogs similar to American Water Spaniel available in Honolulu and nationwide

Find your American Water Spaniel

While we don't have enough dogs near Honolulu, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.

American Water Spaniels and Similar Breeds Available for Adoption Near Honolulu

About the American Water Spaniel breed

The American Water Spaniel was developed in the nineteenth-century lake country of Wisconsin as a compact hunting companion that could work from a small boat and retrieve from water. It's Wisconsin's state dog and still an uncommon breed. The dense, curly coat, in liver, brown or chocolate, sheds water well and sheds moderately.

Personalities vary from dog to dog, but many are devoted, clever and sensitive, with a streak of stubbornness and a youthful side that can last until two or three years old. Gentle, reward-based training works best. Because they were made for water and work, they usually enjoy island life when their days include exercise and a job, such as fetch or scent games. Weekly brushing and regular ear care keep the coat and ears healthy in humid air.

Weight
25–45 lbs
Height
15–18 in
Lifespan
10–14 yrs
Temperament
Energetic, Loyal, Intelligent
Group
Sporting
Shedding
Moderate

Owning an American Water Spaniel in Honolulu

Having an American Water Spaniel in Honolulu

Stamina, a love of water and a curly coat define this spaniel. In Honolulu that means daily exercise, careful ear and coat care in humid air, and a household where someone is home often enough to keep a busy, attached dog company.

Temperament

Many American Water Spaniels are affectionate with family and reserved with strangers, and some bark at hallway footsteps or visitors, which matters in Honolulu's condos. Sensitive dogs respond best to calm, reward-based training. Some chase small animals, so keep a leash on around birds and other wildlife.

Exercise Needs

Plan on an hour or more of activity a day. Off-leash time and fetch at the Elaine Dobashi Hawaiʻi Kai Dog Park, plus leashed outings at Kailua Beach Park, suit this breed; most other City parks don't allow dogs. Go early or after sunset, since sand and asphalt get hot, and add a swim where dogs are permitted.

Health Considerations

Hip dysplasia, eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts, hypothyroidism, allergies and epilepsy are documented in the breed. Drop ears and a dense coat trap moisture, so ear infections are common in humid Honolulu. A veterinarian can check hips, eyes and ears, and discuss the leptospirosis vaccine for a dog that loves water.

Living Space

At 25 to 45 pounds, this spaniel fits a Honolulu condo or a Hawaiʻi Kai house as long as its exercise is covered. Barking carries in high-rises, and continuous barking for ten minutes can count as a nuisance under island rules. A fenced yard helps; in a condo, plan steady outings.

What it costs to own an American Water Spaniel in Honolulu

ExpenseTypical costPer year
Food$35 to $70 per month$420 to $840
Pet insurance$45 to $85 per month$540 to $1,020
Routine vet care$225 to $450 per year$225 to $450
Other*$525 to $1,350 per year$525 to $1,350
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,710 to $3,660

Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.

* Flea, tick and heartworm prevention, dental cleanings, toys and bedding, and brushing, baths and ear care for the curly coat; Honolulu has no dog license.

Adopt an American Water Spaniel in Honolulu.

Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have dogs available in and near Honolulu.

Rescues and Shelters in or near Honolulu

Oʻahu's shelters and rescues care for dogs of every size and age, from puppies to seniors. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Honolulu area with dogs available for adoption, worth asking whether an American Water Spaniel is coming in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can own an American Water Spaniel in Honolulu. No breed bans are known, and dangerous-dog status depends on a dog's behavior, not its breed. Dogs 3 months and older need a registered microchip instead of a license, must be leashed off your property, and households are limited to ten dogs. Rental buildings may add their own pet rules.

Elaine Dobashi Hawaiʻi Kai Dog Park, Kahua O Waikalua in Kāneʻohe and Mililani Park & Ride offer off-leash space, and leashed dogs are allowed at Kailua Beach Park and Sandy Beach Park. Waikīkī, Ala Moana and Diamond Head don't allow pets. City parks not on the dog list are generally off-limits to dogs. Keep 50 feet from monk seals.

It can be, if you're active and home often. Year-round warmth, beaches and off-leash parks suit a water-loving spaniel, but this dog needs daily exercise, coat and ear care in humid air, and company, since many are attached to their families and bark at noises. Long workdays away or strict building pet rules make it harder.

Yes, with sensible routines. Honolulu summer highs reach the upper 80s and nights stay near 75°F, so sun and humidity matter more than extreme heat. Exercise early or after sunset, test pavement and sand with the back of your hand, provide shade and fresh water, and rinse and dry the dense coat after swimming.

Plan on brushing the curly coat about weekly, a bath every month or two, and regular ear checks. Honolulu's humidity and salt water mean rinsing after beach days and drying the drop ears thoroughly, since trapped moisture causes infections. Professional grooming is optional and falls within the roughly $525 to $1,350 yearly Other costs shown on this page.

Only in a small enclosed carrier. TheBus and Skyline allow pets only in a closed carrier on your lap or under the seat, and an adult American Water Spaniel at 25 to 45 pounds is too big for most carriers. Service animals are the exception. For most outings, plan to travel by car.

Sometimes, on patios. Since August 2025, Hawaiʻi allows pet dogs in outdoor dining areas at restaurants that choose to participate, as long as the dog doesn't pass through the interior. Indoor dining rooms remain off-limits. Bring a leash and a mat, since a calm, settled dog is far more welcome than a barky one.

Yes, American Water Spaniels shed, usually moderately and more heavily in spring and fall when the undercoat turns over. Their curly or wavy coat holds some loose hair, which can mat if neglected. Brushing about once or twice a week, with extra sessions during seasonal sheds, keeps the coat healthy. Occasional baths and trimming around the feet and ears help too.

American Water Spaniels make good watchdogs but are not true guard dogs. Many are reserved with strangers and will bark to announce visitors or unusual sounds, which can be useful. They were bred to hunt and retrieve rather than protect, so most are more likely to alert and then retreat than to confront anyone, and they should never be encouraged toward aggression.

Expect roughly $1,700 to $3,700 a year for an American Water Spaniel in Honolulu: food at $35 to $70 a month, insurance at $45 to $85 a month, routine vet care at $225 to $450 a year, and $525 to $1,350 a year in other costs such as grooming and parasite prevention. Honolulu has no dog license.

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