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American Water Spaniel Dogs for Adoption in Salt Lake City, UT

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

American Water Spaniels suit SLC best when their people get them outside most days. A medium, curly-coated dog does well in a Rose Park house with a yard or a Glendale home near the Jordan River Parkway. Water is the breed's thing, but the canyons that supply the valley's drinking water are closed to dogs, so swimming takes some planning here. Expect a clever, sensitive dog that barks at strangers and wants a job, whether that's fetch, scent games or long loops.

306 dogs similar to American Water Spaniel available in Salt Lake City and nationwide

Find your American Water Spaniel

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

American Water Spaniels and Similar Breeds Available for Adoption Near Salt Lake City

About the American Water Spaniel breed

The American Water Spaniel was developed in 19th-century Wisconsin from Irish Water Spaniels, English Water Spaniels, Curly-Coated Retrievers and other dogs, built small enough for a boat and tough enough to retrieve ducks from cold water. It's Wisconsin's state dog and was recognized by the AKC in 1940. The oily, curly double coat comes in liver, brown or chocolate and sheds moderately.

Most are devoted to their families, reserved with strangers and bright enough to get bored without a task. They can be stubborn, sensitive to harsh handling and slow to mature, often acting like adolescents until two or three. In Salt Lake City, that mix suits people who like being outside year-round and enjoy training games, though each dog's energy and noise level varies.

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 Salt Lake City

Having an American Water Spaniel in SLC

This is a medium, working-bred spaniel with stamina, a love of water and a close bond with its family. The cards below cover temperament, exercise, health and living space, with notes on how Salt Lake City's climate, parks and housing shape each one.

Temperament

Many American Water Spaniels are affectionate and loyal at home but reserved with new people, and some bark at strangers or noises. They're clever and sensitive, so calm, reward-based training works best. Socialization helps them get along with other dogs, though a bird-flushing heritage means some chase small animals.

Exercise Needs

Plan on an hour or more of real activity daily, from fetch and long walks to scent games. SLC has 11 off-leash park areas, including Rosewood Park and Fairmont Park, and dogs must stay under control there and be leashed elsewhere. Swimming is the breed's favorite, but it takes planning since the nearby canyons are closed to dogs.

Health Considerations

Hip dysplasia, eye conditions such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, allergies and epilepsy turn up in the breed, and a veterinarian can check hips, eyes and thyroid. Drop ears and a dense coat trap moisture, so dry them after swimming. On smoggy winter inversion days, keep walks short and watch for coughing.

Living Space

At 25 to 45 pounds, an American Water Spaniel fits many Salt Lake City homes, and a fenced yard is a real plus. Apartments can work for a well-exercised adult, but barking carries through thin walls, so teaching quiet habits early matters.

What it costs to own an American Water Spaniel in Salt Lake City

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*$550 to $1,400 per year$550 to $1,400
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,735 to $3,710

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

* The Salt Lake County dog license ($25 if spayed or neutered, $50 if not), flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning, toys and bedding, and brushing, baths and ear care for the curly coat.

Adopt an American Water Spaniel in Salt Lake City.

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

Rescues and Shelters in or near Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City's shelters and rescues list dogs of every size, age and mix, so listings change often. Here are the rescues & shelters in the SLC area with dogs available for adoption, worth asking whether an American Water Spaniel is coming in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can adopt an American Water Spaniel in Salt Lake City. Utah bans breed-specific rules statewide, so no city can restrict dogs by breed. Dogs must be licensed by 5 months old or within 30 days of moving in or adopting, with proof of rabies vaccination, and it costs less if the dog is spayed or neutered. Check your lease for pet limits too.

It can be, if you're active year-round. SLC has off-leash areas on every side of town, and the foothills are close for leashed hikes. The catches are limited swimming access, hot July afternoons, and cold, smoggy winter inversions that cut outdoor time. A dog left alone all day tends to get bored and noisy.

Rosewood Park, Jordan Park and Fairmont Park have off-leash areas where an energetic spaniel can run and fetch. Liberty Park and the Foothills Natural Area allow leashed dogs, and coyotes and cougars live in the Foothills. Big and Little Cottonwood, Parleys and upper City Creek canyons are closed to dogs because they protect drinking water.

They can, with planning. Salt Lake City summers are hot and dry, with July highs around 94°F and some stretches near 100°F, and a dense curly coat holds heat. Walk at dawn or after dark, when nights drop into the 60s, offer shade and water, and never leave a dog in a parked car.

Plan to brush a few times a week and bathe or trim as needed. The curly double coat can mat and holds moisture, so dry the ears and coat after swimming or snowy, muddy walks. Professional grooming falls in the Other line of the cost table, which runs roughly $550–$1,400 a year with license, dental care and prevention.

Only if the dog fits in a carrier. UTA buses, TRAX and FrontRunner allow pets only when they're securely contained in a cage, kennel, carrier or container, and staff can't help carry it. Most American Water Spaniels weigh 25 to 45 pounds, which is too big for most carriers. Service animals are the exception.

Only to approved patios. In Salt Lake County, restaurants need a Health Department dog-patio permit, so look for the Approved Dog Patio sticker. Dogs must be leashed, wear a collar with a current license and rabies tag, and enter from outside. Water in a disposable container is fine, but no food or treats.

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 about $35–$70 a month for food, $45–$85 for pet insurance if you carry it, $225–$450 a year for routine vet care and $550–$1,400 a year for other costs such as grooming, dental care and prevention. That comes to roughly $1,700–$3,700 a year, before any emergency care.

Explore Other Breeds in Salt Lake City

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