American Eskimo Dog versus American Water Spaniel. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

American Eskimo Dog versus American Water Spaniel

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American Eskimo Dog Versus American Water Spaniel: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the American Eskimo Dog and for the American Water Spaniel. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the American Eskimo Dog or the American Water Spaniel

American Eskimo Dog versus American Water Spaniel: Overview

A very important difference between the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The American Eskimo Dog is a small-sized dog while the American Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the American Eskimo Dog belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the American Water Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

American Eskimo Dog versus American Water Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the American Eskimo Dog to the American Water Spaniel based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor American Eskimo Dog American Water Spaniel
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Height 15 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 3 inches to 1 foot, 6 inches tall at the s
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
General Health 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight Starts at 30 pounds 25 to 45 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1220 No Data
Price Range $750 – $1500 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination- Biennial exams until age 6 (every two years).
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 118 159

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the American Eskimo Dog in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the American Water Spaniel. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a American Eskimo Dog is 87 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a American Water Spaniel is 71 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the American Eskimo Dog is a better pet than the American Water Spaniel. So, you should get the American Eskimo Dog!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel are most different:

  • American Eskimo Dogs adapt well to apartment living. However, American Water Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • American Eskimo Dogs can tolerate cold weather. However, American Water Spaniels cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • American Eskimo Dogs get along well with other dogs. However, American Water Spaniels do not get along well with other dogs.
  • The Similarities Between the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel

    The American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel are most similar:

  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel are very easy to train.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of American Eskimo Dog versus American Water Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel.

    American Eskimo Dogs weigh Starts at 30 pounds when fully grown. American Eskimo Dogs are 15 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, American Water Spaniels weigh 25 to 45 pounds when fully grown. American Water Spaniels are 1 foot, 3 inches to 1 foot, 6 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    The Popularity of American Eskimo Dog versus Popularity of American Water Spaniel

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the American Eskimo Dog is more popular with dog owners than the American Water Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the American Eskimo Dog is 118 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the American Water Spaniel is 159 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of American Eskimo Dog

    Popularity of American Eskimo Dog

    Popularity of American Water Spaniel

    Popularity of American Water Spaniel

    Year American Eskimo Dog Popularity Rank American Water Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 110 144
    2014 120 160
    2015 118 157
    2016 122 156
    2017 118 167
    2018 122 166
    2019 120 164
    2020 119 158

    Health Problems of American Eskimo Dog versus Health Problems of American Water Spaniel

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the American Eskimo Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the American Water Spaniel.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the American Eskimo Dog than for the American Water Spaniel.

    8 health tests are recommended for American Eskimo Dog while 3 tests are recommended for the American Water Spaniel.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in American Eskimo Dogs and in American Water Spaniels.

    American Eskimo Dog Health Problems

    American Eskimo Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing American Eskimo Dog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a American Eskimo Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your American Eskimo Dog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen American Eskimo Dogs for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for American Eskimo Dogs here.

    American Water Spaniel Health Problems

    American Water Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing American Water Spaniel puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a American Water Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your American Water Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen American Water Spaniels for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination- Biennial exams until age 6 (every two years).
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for American Water Spaniels here.

    Which one drools more, the American Eskimo Dog or the American Water Spaniel

    American Eskimo Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    American Water Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: American Eskimo Dog versus American Water Spaniel

    American Eskimo Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    American Water Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Can American Eskimo Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can American Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    American Eskimo Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    American Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the American Eskimo Dog or the American Water Spaniel?

    American Eskimo Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    American Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the American Eskimo Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the American Water Spaniel?

    American Eskimo Dogs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    American Water Spaniels have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Wanderlust Potential: American Eskimo Dog vs. American Water Spaniel

    American Eskimo Dogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    American Water Spaniels have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the American Eskimo Dog or the American Water Spaniel?

    American Eskimo Dogs are very good for new dog owners.

    American Water Spaniels are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Do American Eskimo Dogs Bark and Howl? What about American Water Spaniels?

    American Eskimo Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    American Water Spaniels bark and howl, but not very much.

    Is the American Eskimo Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the American Water Spaniel?

    American Eskimo Dogs adapt very well to apartment living.

    American Water Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Can American Eskimo Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can American Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    American Eskimo Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    American Water Spaniels cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Are American Eskimo Dogs good family dogs? What about American Water Spaniels?

    American Eskimo Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    American Water Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are American Eskimo Dogs and American Water Spaniels?

    American Eskimo Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    American Water Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the American Eskimo Dog or the American Water Spaniel?

    American Eskimo Dogs get along very well with other dogs.

    American Water Spaniels do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do American Eskimo Dogs shed more than American Water Spaniels?

    American Eskimo Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    American Water Spaniels shed moderately.

    Is the American Eskimo Dog Easier to Train than the American Water Spaniel?

    American Eskimo Dogs are very easy to train.

    American Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the American Eskimo Dog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the American Water Spaniel that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the American Water Spaniel:

  • Border Collie (74 percent match with American Water Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the American Eskimo Dog vs Border Collie.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the American Water Spaniel

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the American Eskimo Dog that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the American Eskimo Dog:

  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with American Eskimo Dog). Here is our comparison of the American Water Spaniel vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Keeshond (82 percent match with American Eskimo Dog). Here is our comparison of the American Water Spaniel vs Keeshond.
  • West Highland White Terrier (81 percent match with American Eskimo Dog). Here is our comparison of the American Water Spaniel vs West Highland White Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the American Eskimo Dog and how the American Water Spaniel compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the American Eskimo Dog and of the American Water Spaniel to other breeds:

    American Eskimo Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    American Eskimo Dog versus Plott     American Eskimo Dog versus American Foxhound     American Eskimo Dog versus Skye Terrier     American Eskimo Dog versus German Longhaired Pointer     American Eskimo Dog versus German Wirehaired Pointer     American Eskimo Dog versus Golden Retriever     American Eskimo Dog versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     American Eskimo Dog versus German Shepherd Dog     American Eskimo Dog versus Standard Poodle     

    American Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    American Water Spaniel versus Havanese     American Water Spaniel versus Cavachon     American Water Spaniel versus Carolina Dog     American Water Spaniel versus Great Dane     American Water Spaniel versus Maremma Sheepdog     American Water Spaniel versus Rottweiler     American Water Spaniel versus Irish Terrier     American Water Spaniel versus Peek A Poo     American Water Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever     American Water Spaniel versus Pyrenean Shepherd     

    Conclusion: American Eskimo Dog versus American Water Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the American Eskimo Dog and the American Water Spaniel better suits you and your family.