The breed was first recognised by the American Kennel Club in 1940 but its origins extend much further back to the 1880s in the Fox and Wolf River valleys in Wisconsin. The American Water Spaniel was bred originally to work out of small boats (skiffs) and retrieve from the icy rivers and lakes, so to be fit for function he had to be smaller in size and weight than the larger retrievers and be built to swim for long periods and retrieve. His coat, one of the main features of the breed, gives him some waterproofing quality and is thought to come from the introduction of some Irish Water Spaniel blood although breed huntsmen claim that the chief ancestor of the breed was the now extinct English Water Spaniel, the Curly Coated Retriever and the Field Spaniel.

Standing 38-46 centimetres (15-18 inches) tall, the American Water Spaniel should not weigh more than 20.5 kilograms (45 pounds). His coat is liver brown or chocolate and can be curly or waved (“Marcel”). A small amount of white is permitted on the chest and toes. He is sturdily built with good spring of rib, not too short in the couplings and with a scimitar-shaped tail which can be carried above or below the level of the back. He can be shown in natural coat or tidied up to present a well-groomed appearance. His head is broad with a square muzzle of good depth and strength, important for his retrieving function. Whilst it is hard to get dark brown eyes in the breed, yellow eyes are a fault.

The American Water Spaniel is lively, sporting and biddable and has also adapted to work on land as a flushing dog working on grouse and pheasant.