American Water Spaniel- Input please-

K

Kevin Jones

Member
Hello-

Does anyone have and hunt with a AWS? I am thinking about getting one- how well do they hunt? do the hunt ducks as well as upland? how are they in the house? any breeders you would recomend or stay away from? i like the size- and the coat- i would want a started dog-

Regards-
 
I've owned, trained, campaigned & hunted over AWS's since 1996.

Even had the honor to own & train the 1st AWS HRCHUH in HRC.

Also sat on the hunt test committee for the national club for several years

Feel free to give me a call.

321 863 9182
 
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I have owned a AWS & 2 Boykins. I consider the temperament to be very similar (sort of splitting the difference between a lab and a Springer). The AWS was first & I tried to find another one but Boykin litters are easier to find through the Boykin Society's web page.

I have used mine for upland & ducks. All kept in the house. All great little dogs.

 
One other thing. Upland hunting here in the Northeast the Boykin's docked tail doesn't get beat up in close cover the way an AWS' does.
 
I had an AWS from 1993-2007. He was a great hunter and a great friend. He was also a yellow eyed lunatic who had his own thoughts about hunting. He was a fearless retriever who ate a few woodcock and mergies every year. He was trainable to a point- he already knew what to do; I just had to get him to do it for me. He ran birds on occasion, but would find any downed bird anywhere. I miss Gus almost every day still....
 
Dave McCraken from Sumter South Carolina is heavily involved with HRC, duck and goose hunting and most importantly is a breeder/ trainer af American water spaniels.I met Dave at an HRC event and a year or so later ran into him in North Dakota during our fall hunt. His dogs can do it all. His last email was wdmccracken@hotmail.com My wife keeps saying, in a few years when we are too old to handle our chessies, we are getting an AWS. Rich
 
My next AWS will be coming from Dave.

Gumbo is one He!! of a dog.

I actually had the opportunity to run Gumbo is his first started test (kinda).

I was judging a Started Test & we had just finished running the test dog.

I asked Dave if I could run Gumbo on the (2) two singles before we got started.

The (4) four month old pup marked both birds with no hesitation.

My wife had spent the morning puppy-sitting him & wanted to buy him from Dave even before the test.

We all see where Gumbo ended up!!!

GRHRCHUH
 
If I'm ever in a position to get another duck dog it will be an AWS.
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I love my lab, she's a great dog. But this is my line of thought as well, AWS or Boykin.
 
They are a great family dog. They don't respond well to professional trainers, but are very loyal and willing to work if they understand what they are supposed to do. They tend to get bored quickly, so you have to keep their training interesting.
My only hesitation in recommending an AWS is their cold water tolerance isn't as good as a lab or a chessie, so if you hunt icy waters a lot, then you might want to reconsider.
Rick
 
I have a 6 month old AWS out of Gumbo; I’ve owned Chesapeake’s and Boykin’s, the AWS falls in between leaning a little more to the chessie in temperament not mean by any sense but no shrieking violet either. The Boykin was hands down the smartest dog I ever had, the chessie most unrelenting in drive. So far the AWS is proving quite the dog at 6 mos very resourceful and loves the water. I may hunt him at the end of this season but by next year he should be good to go.
 
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