• American Water Spaniels are active dogs and require daily exercise. Give him one to two hours a day of walks, runs, or games of fetch. You can break up exercise periods throughout the day--an hour here, a half hour there. Without it they may express their pent-up energy with recreational barking and excessive chewing.
• The AWS craves companionship, and if you leave him alone for more than a few hours, he may express his boredom and loneliness in destructive ways. The AWS is best suited for homes where someone's home during the day.
• American Water Spaniels can be stubborn and manipulative. You must show them that you mean what you say by establishing rules and being consistent in enforcing them.
• American Water Spaniels like to roam and may leave your yard or your side to go hunting on their own if they're not confined by a fence or restrained by a leash.
• AWS's may become one-person dogs but will be friendly toward family members. Don't expect them to fawn over visitors or strangers, though.
• Harsh treatment can make your AWS timid or stubborn. The breed responds best to a gentle touch and training techniques that use rewards for getting it right, rather than punishment for getting it wrong.
• Some American Water Spaniels are territorial and aggressive with strange dogs, although they get along with other family dogs and pets.
• They have a natural tendency for chewing, digging, and jumping, but you can overcome these behaviors with training.
• To get a healthy dog, never buy a puppy from an irresponsible breeder, puppy mill, or pet store. Look for a reputable breeder who tests her breeding dogs to make sure they're free of genetic diseases that they might pass onto the puppies, and that they have sound temperaments.

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