Morkie vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Morkie vs American Water Spaniel - Breed ComparisonBoth American Water Spaniel and Morkie are originated from United States. American Water Spaniel may grow 16 cm / 7 inches higher than Morkie. American Water Spaniel may weigh 14 kg / 31 pounds more than Morkie. Both American Water Spaniel and Morkie has almost same life span. Both American Water Spaniel and Morkie has almost same litter size. American Water Spaniel requires Moderate Maintenance. But Morkie requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Toy dog
undefined
United States
United States
Height Male:
36 - 46 cm
14 - 19 inches
24 - 30 cm
9 - 12 inches
Height Female:
34 - 44 cm
13 - 18 inches
24 - 30 cm
9 - 12 inches
Weight Male:
11 - 20 kg
24 - 45 pounds
4 - 6 kg
8 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
11 - 18 kg
24 - 40 pounds
4 - 6 kg
8 - 14 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
1 - 5
Size:
Medium
Toy
Other Names:
Amerikanischer Wasserspaniel • AWS • AM Water Spaniel
Morkie Poo
Colors Available:
Liver, Brown, Dark Chocolate
tan, cream, Brown, black
Coat:
DOuble, Wavy and Curly, thick
Longish, straight or wavy
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Alert, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
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.

morkieThese cute little dogs originated in the United States. As a cross between a Maltese Poodle and Yorkshire Terrier, the idea of breeders was to bring out a gorgeous looking little dog that would be low shedding.

The Morkie Poo inherits this low shedding characteristic from the poodle side of things. It is not precisely clear as to when the first Morkie was born, but these days he is as popular as ever.

Certainly, both the parent breeds are recognized with kennel clubs but the Morkie isn’t.

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.

morkie puppy - descriptionThe small Morkie is a crossbreed, and this means you can’t be 100% guaranteed of the dog’s looks. They usually stand at about 24 – 30cm in height and weigh between 4 and 6kg.

You also get the Teacup Morkie which is even smaller. The coat of the Morkie can become fairly long and is black, brown and tan.

Temperament:

This is a little crossbreed dog who simply loves spending time with his human family. He is loving and gentle and will get along well with other pets in the home as well as with children.

Some people are inclined to think that these little balls of fluff are a total walkover, but don’t be mistaken, as these cheeky, feisty dogs have attitude. They’re social and playful and love to be involved in games with the kids. Just make sure your children have been taught how to be gentle with a small dog like this.

He becomes very attached to his family and doesn’t want to be left alone for too long.

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.

morkie dog - characteristicsYour Morkie is such a sweet dog, and that’s to be expected, coming from such sweet parent breeds.

He just loves his human family and is friendly and social as well as being loyal. He has quite a bit of attitude, and if you allow it, he’ll develop some horrible small dog syndrome characteristics, such as being snappy, whiny and barking.

Small though he is, training and socialization will do him the world of good and he then lives up to everything wonderful that Morkie dog owners have got to tell you about– playful, friendly fun-loving, jaunty, loving and the cutest little thing there is.

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.

morkie puppies - health problemsAs a responsible dog owner it is to your benefit to be aware of some of the common dog illnesses that your Morkie can succumb too. Not that he is likely too, as with good care, these robust little dogs can live to be 15 years of age or so.

A dog's lifespan can certainly be impacted by the lifestyle they lead. Some of the common dog illnesses to look out for -

Parvo:

Parvo can be a killer, and that’s why your 8 week old puppy needs to have his parvo vaccination. You’ll find puppies in shelters and puppy mills that get parvo. Dogs contact parvo by coming into contact with an infected dog.

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and weight loss. Quick medical treatment can save your dog but it is better to ensure he doesn't get it in the first place. Other diseases that require vaccinations are hepatitis, distemper and rabies.

Lyme Disease:

This is a tick-borne illness brought on by bacteria transmitted by deer ticks that attach to the dog. One of the symptoms is lameness in limbs and a loss of appetite. Without treatment, lyme disease can lead to kidney problems.

Bloat:

Prevent your dog getting bloat by ensuring he doesn’t get ravenous with one meal a day. He then wants to wolf his food down. Rather give him smaller meals that he eats slower to avoid bloat. The stomach swells and can actually twist. If your dog has an enlarged stomach, is restless, salivating and wanting to vomit, get him to the vet immediately.

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.

morkie dogs - caringThe Morkie is such a small dog so it won’t require much effort to brush him. Because the hair is thin and fine, you may want to brush him every day just to keep the silky hair from matting.

Many Morkie owners opt to have their Morkie’s trimmed at a professional dog parlor. Check around his eyes and check inside his ears to make sure both are clean and free from infection.

Little dogs always have trouble with their teeth, so make sure to check these regularly. Keep his nails trimmed too as if they grow long they can hook onto things and can cause injury.

Exercise:

The Morkie is an energetic little dog, but because he is small he isn’t going to require too much exercise. A walk now and then will delight him and some ball games indoors or outside. He is a dog that will settle happily into city- or country life, so long as he is with his beloved owner.

Diet:

Morkies love their food and they can tend to gobble it up. Rather give your Morkie smaller meals than one main meal as he wolfs it down, causing digestive problems.

If you feed him kibble, make sure the packaging is marked for little dogs and make sure its the best there is to ensure he gets the right amount of minerals and vitamins in.

As a treat boil some chicken, brown rice, pasta and vegetables and chop it up very finely and add it into his kibble from time to time.

Make sure your Morkie can easily reach his bowl of fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

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