Komondor vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Komondor vs American Water Spaniel - Breed ComparisonAmerican Water Spaniel is originated from United States but Komondor is originated from Hungary. American Water Spaniel may grow 30 cm / 11 inches shorter than Komondor. American Water Spaniel may weigh 40 kg / 88 pounds lesser than Komondor. Both American Water Spaniel and Komondor has almost same life span. American Water Spaniel may have less litter size than Komondor. American Water Spaniel requires Moderate Maintenance. But Komondor requires High Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Working dog
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United States
Hungary
Height Male:
36 - 46 cm
14 - 19 inches
64 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
34 - 44 cm
13 - 18 inches
64 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
11 - 20 kg
24 - 45 pounds
40 - 60 kg
88 - 133 pounds
Weight Female:
11 - 18 kg
24 - 40 pounds
40 - 60 kg
88 - 133 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
8 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
3 - 10
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Amerikanischer Wasserspaniel • AWS • AM Water Spaniel
Hungarian sheepdog, Mop dogs
Colors Available:
Liver, Brown, Dark Chocolate
White
Coat:
DOuble, Wavy and Curly, thick
Long, thick, corded or dreadlocks
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
High Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

american water spanielThe American Water Spaniel was developed in the United States. He is the state dog of Wisconsin and was developed there in the 19th century. The bloodlines of this spaniel are varied but certainly include the English Water Spaniel and the Irish Water Spaniel. Even though they are the state dog of Wisconsin they were almost extinct when Dr. Fred J. Pfeifer rescued the breed. The numbers had fallen after World War II because hunting was now a recreational sport and not needed to provide food for the family. He then started a breed club and wrote a breed standard, both of which were recognized by the United Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club. When first developed the American Water Spaniel was known as the American Brown Spaniel. It was bred with a curly, thick coat so that it cold be sustained in Wisconsin winters and cold water. It was bred to hunt grouse, water fowl and prairie chickens as well as furry land animals. Pfeifer advertised his dogs for sale everywhere using a mailer that read: “, "The American Brown Spaniel is distinctively an American production. Hunters have known this type for years and it was through their efforts that this dog was propagated.... For years we have bred only selective stock, breeding for gameness, stability, courage, intelligence, and beauty. They are dogs to admire and trust under all conditions whether in the home circle or in the field with the outdoor man."[2]

In Wisconsin, around the wolf River and the Fox River, hunters were looking for a water dog that could also hunt on land. They needed a dog that could work a variety of fowl and game but who was small enough for a skiff and strong enough for the artic water temperatures of Wisconsin in the Winter. So, in addition to the spaniels named above, other breeds such as the Curly Coated Retriever, the Poodle, Native Indian dogs and the Sussex Spaniel were intermixed. When first developed the American Water Spaniel was known as the American Brown Spaniel. It was bred with a curly, thick coat so that it cold be sustained in Wisconsin winters and cold water. It was bred to hunt grouse, water fowl and prairie chickens as well as furry land animals. The American Water Spaniel was then itself used to develop another new breed, the Boykin Spaniel. In 1985 Wisconsin declared the American Water Spaniel to be the official state dog. Even so there remain only a few thousand dogs in existence. Though recognized by the AKC, they are neither spaniels nor retrievers and remain unclassified. Because of this they cannot compete in AKC field trials, but they do compete in AKC hunt tests. Though rare, the American Water Spaniel is a great hunting dog, retriever and companion.

komondorLooking like a giant mop, and sometimes being referred to as 'mop dogs' the Komondor, known also as the Hungarian sheepdog, hails from Hungary.

The dog was brought to Europe centuries ago so he is a well established breed. It has been declared as one of the country's national treasures.

He is a dog related to many other dogs such as the Pulim the Ovcharka, the Bearded Collie, Old English Sheepdog and others.

Description

american water spaniel puppy - descriptionThe American Water spaniel is a midsized, muscular dog. There is nothing flashy about his looks or his work performance. He is however a consistent, competent swimmer and hunter. His brown coat is wavy or tightly curled, waterproof and dense. His feet have thick pads and webbed toes. The AWS is intelligent, happy, and easy going. He is a very versatile hunting dog on land and in water. The breed has not changed much since it originated in the 19th century. They can be liver, chocolate or brown. The eyes should be the same as the color of the coat. They have broad skulls with wide, long ears and an undocked tail.

They have a square, medium sized muzzle and wide nose. They have a bite that is level or scissors. The legs of the muscular American Water Spaniel are medium in length and the tail is full, with a medium length, curved and feathered. The dewclaws might or might not be removed.

komondor puppy - descriptionKnown for his unique long corded, singular white coat, the Komondor, a molosser dog, is large. Females start at 64cm in height and both males and females can reach up to 76cm in height.

This unusual coat of theirs is wavy and actually forms cords or dreadlocks as the dog matures. You can't easily see the dog's face because of all the hair.You also can't see the tail easily, in fact you might think he hasn't got a tail as it is obscured by the hair. The tail is medium length and held low.

He has a large head, dark brown eyes, and floppy ears. The coat is certainly going to require grooming even though the dog doesn't shed much. His body is robust and well muscled with the body being slightly longer than the height of the dog.

Temperament:

The Komondor has been a dog used for guarding livestock, and while his character is calm and balanced, when the livestock is threatened, he can show another side – more aggressive – as he defends his flock. He makes an excellent watchdog.

He is an affectionate dog with his human family, being a gentle playmate of children. He is slightly reserved and wary of strangers, and is willing to guard and protect his human family from them.

He is also good with other family pets. When you look at him you might think of him as not being very energetic, but he is an athletic dog, fast and powerful. Because of his size and speed, it is best to have him trained and socialized as he can be obstinate. Training him makes him obedient.

Characteristics

american water spaniel dog - characteristicsBred to work the American Water Spaniels are loyal to their people, want to please them, but are not so great with strangers. They are stubborn and love to be the center of attention. They are often one person or one family dogs. They need an owner who is the pack leader and willing to put in the time to train them. However, they are a versatile breed and need variety in training and activities rather than repetitive activities. They are prone to resource guarding, slow maturation and dominance. These negative traits are dissipated with a strong leader, good training and a lot of daily activity. They are sensitive as well as stubborn. Do not use a punishment-oriented training with them. They will respond out of love and loyalty or not at all. This is a breed that wants to be the alpha over the people and will do so if you let him. Keep them fenced as being hunters they love to wander and will leave home whenever they can.

komondor dog - characteristicsThe Komondor is known for his strong guardian characteristics, especially with his human family. He is loving and loyal towards them while being wary of strangers.

True, his coat can make people think twice before making this dog a pet, but if you're game and ready to attend to his coat, he can make an excellent family pet. They're fine with other pets too, and he is also an intelligent dog, capable of being easily trained.

He needs a good deal of exercise and can become noisy and destructive without the right amount of stimulation. If you do your part with the Komondor and provide him with a loving, caring home, he will be an awesome pet and guard you with his life.

Health Problems

american water spaniel puppies - health problemsThe American Water Spaniel is a hardy, healthy breed without a lot of the genetic concerns of other breeds. Some of the concerns of this breed include vision, cardiac, hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy. They might also have skin issues and metabolic disorders.

komondor puppies - health problemsThe Komondor is a healthy dog breed who can live to be 10, 11 or 12 years if you look after him well. There aren't any known genetic disorders prominent with the dog, but it pays to know about some of those that could strike -

Entropion:

This is an irritating eye problem where the eyelash rubs up against the eyes.The result can be scratching of the cornea and eye infections. It is an eye problem which can be corrected with surgery.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a serious genetically inherited disorder and common in large dog breeds. It is caused by a malformation of the hip joint. It can cause problems for the dog, weakening the hip and making it incapable of supporting the weight of the dog.

It also leads to pain for the dog, difficulty with moving and even total lameness. Weight, size of dog, age and genetics are all factors which can increase the dog's likelihood of developing hip dysplasia.

Whimpering, lethargy and refusing to put weight on the leg are common signs of hip dysplasia and your vet will go ahead with ways to relieve the pain and symptoms of your Komondor.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

american water spaniel dogs - caringFeeding the American Water Spaniel is no mystery. They need a high quality dry dog food with an eye toward calorie consumption. Some AWS have a tendency to become obese. Treats are important to the AWS in training but can add to the obesity concerns.

Health

Like other isolated breeds that were bred true, the genetic issues we see in many other popular breeds are not seen as much in the American Water Spaniel. They do however have a few issues to contend with.

Eyes: These issues appear to be inherited with progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. Many AWS that develop cataracts do so at a very young age, usually under a year. Metabolic: Diabetes, hypothyroidism, glandular disorders and epilepsy. Baldness and Cardiac Issues. Orthopedic: Hip dysplasia. There is no evidence to suggest any elbow dysplasia. Additional concerns are hypothyroidism, allergies, epilepsy, diabetes and glandular disorders which Of course, the American Water Spaniel is an athlete who loves to be outdoors. He loves to swim, run and hunt. He needs daily exercise, or he can become loud and destructive. They thrive on having a job and they are not happy if they don’t have one. They are good at agility, obedience, dock diving and field trials. They also enjoy flyball and barn hunt.

Grooming:

komondor dogs - caringThe Komondor is most certainly not a low maintenance dog with that extraordinary coat.Before the dog turns 1, the coat begins to form its cords. These cords can become discolored and matted, In fact the cords will need to be separated to keep the dog clean and free of matted hair.

For those who keep the dog as a pet and who don't want him to be a show dog, he can be trimmed, otherwise the coat and its maintenance could turn out to be a real issue.

Of course once the distinctive coat has been sheared, he loses that typical and recognizable Komondor look.

Check his ears on a regular basis for wax- and dirt buildup so as to prevent ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked regularly to prevent tartar buildup and if you don't have the time or the knowledge to keep his teeth clean and maintained, take him to the vet as the teeth-treatments they do there will promote healthy teeth and gums.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. American Water Spaniel vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  4. American Water Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. American Water Spaniel vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. American Water Spaniel vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. American Water Spaniel vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. American Water Spaniel vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. American Water Spaniel vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. American Water Spaniel vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. American Water Spaniel vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. American Water Spaniel vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. American Water Spaniel vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. American Water Spaniel vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. American Water Spaniel vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
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  17. American Water Spaniel vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. American Water Spaniel vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
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  26. Komondor vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Komondor vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Komondor vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Komondor vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Komondor vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Komondor vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Komondor vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Komondor vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Komondor vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Komondor vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Komondor vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Komondor vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Komondor vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Komondor vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Komondor vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Komondor vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Komondor vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Komondor vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Komondor vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Komondor vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Komondor vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Komondor vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Komondor vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Komondor vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Komondor vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison