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American Water Spaniel Dogs for Adoption in Nashville, TN

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

American Water Spaniels suit the detached ranch houses of Donelson, where a medium-sized, energetic dog has room to move. Two Rivers Dog Park on McGavock Pike is the city's largest, at 6.64 acres, so a daily game of fetch is easy to arrange. These dogs bond tightly with family but stay reserved with strangers, and some bark about it. Because the breed is uncommon, adopting one in Nashville means watching the listings on this page.

292 dogs similar to American Water Spaniel available in Nashville and nationwide

Find your American Water Spaniel

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

American Water Spaniels and Similar Breeds Available for Adoption Near Nashville

About the American Water Spaniel breed

The American Water Spaniel was developed in 19th-century Wisconsin, drawing on breeds such as the Irish Water Spaniel and the Curly-Coated Retriever, to flush birds and retrieve from small boats. It's Wisconsin's state dog and a medium sporting breed, usually 25 to 45 pounds, with a curly, slightly oily coat in liver, brown or chocolate. It sheds moderately.

The personality tends toward affectionate and devoted with family, a bit reserved with strangers, and clever but sometimes stubborn. These dogs mature slowly, so expect a playful adolescent for a couple of years. In Nashville, that means planning daily exercise, keeping towels handy for a coat that holds moisture, and using gentle, reward-based training. Dogs vary, and breed alone doesn't decide how any one of them behaves.

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 Nashville

Having an American Water Spaniel in Nashville

Stamina, a love of water and a moisture-holding coat shape daily life with this breed. In Nashville, they show up in walk timing, towel-drying after wet outings and ear care, more than in any special equipment or setup.

Temperament

Many American Water Spaniels are devoted with family and cautious with new people, and some bark readily at visitors or noises. Nashville's apartment buildings and close-set streets can bring that out, so early socialization and calm, reward-based training help. Some chase small animals, and dogs vary a lot.

Exercise Needs

Plan on vigorous daily exercise: long walks, fetch and, ideally, swimming. Swimming is harder to arrange here, so retrieving games and scent work help fill the gap. Two Rivers, Shelby and Warner dog parks offer fenced off-leash running, while greenways like Shelby Bottoms require a leash of six feet or less.

Health Considerations

Hip dysplasia, eye conditions such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, epilepsy and allergies are documented in the breed. Drop ears and a dense coat hold moisture, and Nashville's rainy, humid weather makes ear infections more likely. A veterinarian can check ears, eyes and hips, and parasite prevention should stay current for ticks and mosquitoes.

Living Space

A medium-sized American Water Spaniel can live in many Nashville homes, from detached houses to apartments, if daily exercise is reliable. A fenced yard helps, since greenways require a leash. Barking can matter more in shared-wall buildings, so a dog that settles well indoors is a better match.

What it costs to own an American Water Spaniel in Nashville

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*$533 to $1,358 per year$533 to $1,358
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,718 to $3,668

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

* The $8 Davidson County rabies license, flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and bedding, and brushing, baths and ear care for the curly coat.

Adopt an American Water Spaniel in Nashville.

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

Rescues and Shelters in or near Nashville

Nashville's adoption community includes the Metro shelter and private nonprofits, and the groups listed below post pets regularly. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Nashville 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 Nashville, since Metro has no breed-specific restrictions. Dogs six months or older need a rabies vaccine and a Davidson County rabies tag, and off your property they must be leashed or otherwise physically controlled. Spay/neuter and microchipping aren't required, but renters should confirm their building's pet rules first.

It can be, if you can offer daily exercise and tolerate some barking. Nashville has fenced dog parks, leashed greenways and mild spring and fall days, while the wet climate calls for regular ear care. These dogs tend to bond closely with family, so very long days alone are a poor match for most.

Most can with some planning. Nashville summers are hot and humid, and the dense coat holds heat, so schedule walks around dawn or evening, provide shade and fresh water, and keep the dog in air conditioning on the hottest days. Heavy panting, drooling or weakness can signal heat stroke and needs a veterinarian right away.

Start with Metro's off-leash dog parks: Two Rivers in Donelson is the largest at 6.64 acres, and Shelby in East Nashville and Warner in Edwin Warner Park are also fenced. For leashed walks, try Shelby Bottoms Greenway along the Cumberland River. Skip Radnor Lake, which bans dogs on its trails. Puppies under four months can't enter dog parks.

Expect brushing a few times a week, since the curly coat tangles and sheds moderately, plus an occasional bath. Nashville's humidity and rain make ear checks and thorough towel-drying the priority, because drop ears hold moisture. Grooming, parasite prevention and dental care fall within the roughly $533 to $1,358 yearly Other costs, so you can budget for home grooming or occasional salon visits.

Often yes, but only outside. Nashville restaurants with a Metro patio permit may allow leashed dogs, and the dog needs a rabies license tag on its collar and a non-retractable leash of six feet or less. Dogs can't go indoors or sit on furniture, and a restaurant can refuse a dog that isn't under control.

Probably not, unless the dog is a service animal. WeGo's code of conduct allows non-service animals on buses and property only in an approved transfer cage, and the WeGo Star train follows a similar rule. An adult American Water Spaniel, often 25 to 45 pounds, will likely be too big for a carrier, so plan on walks or a car.

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.

Plan on roughly $35 to $70 a month for food, $45 to $85 a month for insurance, and $225 to $450 a year for routine vet care. Other yearly costs, such as parasite prevention, grooming, dental care and the license, run about $533 to $1,358. Actual costs depend on the dog's age, health and coverage.

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