Head: must be in proportion to the overall dog. Moderate in length. Expression is alert, self-confident, attractive and intelligent. Skull: rather broad and full. Stop: moderately defined, but not too pronounced. Nose: dark in colour, black or dark brown. The nose sufficiently wide and with well-developed nostrils to insure good scenting power. Muzzle: moderate in length, square with good depth. Lips: clean and tight without excess skin or flews. Jaws/Teeth: either scissor or level bite. Eyes: medium size, set well apart, while slightly rounded, should not appear protruding or bulging. Lids tight, not drooping. Eye colour can range from a light yellowish brown to brown, hazel or dark tone to harmonize with coat. Disqualify yellow eyes. Yellow eyes are a bright colour like that of lemon, not to be confused with the light yellowish brown. Ears: set slightly above the eye line but not too high on the head, lobular, long and wide with leather extending to nose.
Neck: round and of medium length, strong and muscular, free of throatiness, set to carry head with dignity, but arch not accentuated. Body: well developed, sturdily constructed but not too compactly coupled. Topline: level or slight, straight slope from withers. Loins: strong. Chest: well-developed brisket extending to elbow neither too broad nor too narrow. Ribs: well-sprung, but not so well-sprung that they interfere with the movement of the front assembly. Flanks: not showing tuck up.
Forelegs medium in length, straight and wellboned, but not so short as to handicap for field work or so heavy to appear clumsy. Shoulders: sloping, clean and muscular. Pasterns: strong with no suggestion of weakness. Front dewclaws are permissible. Legs from hock joint to foot pad moderate in length, strong and straight with good bone structure. Hips: well-developed. Thighs: well-developed. Hock joint: slightly rounded, should not be small and sharp in contour, moderately angulated. Hocks: parallel. Feet: size of feet to harmonize with size of dog. Toes closely grouped, webbed and well-padded.
Is moderate in length, curved in a rocker fashion, can be carried either slightly below or above the level of the back. The tail is tapered, lively and covered with hair with moderate feathering.
Coat can range from marcel (uniform waves) to closely curled. The amount of waves or curls can vary from one area to another on the dog. It is important to have undercoat to provide sufficient density to be of protection against weather, water or punishing cover, yet not too coarse or too soft. The throat, neck and rear of the dog well-covered with hair. The ear well-covered with hair on both sides with ear canal evident upon inspection. Forehead covered with short smooth hair and without topknot. Tail covered with hair to tip with moderate feathering. Legs have moderate feathering with waves or curls to harmonize with coat of dog. Coat may be trimmed to present a wellgroomed appearance; the ears may be shaved; but neither is required. Colour either solid liver, brown or dark chocolate. A little white on toes and chest permissible.
The American Water Spaniel moves with well-balanced reach and drive. Watching a dog move towards one, there should be no signs of elbows being out. Upon viewing the dog from the rear, one should get the impression that the hind legs, which should be well-muscled and not cowhocked, move as nearly parallel as possible, with hocks doing their full share of work and flexing well, thus giving the appearance of power and strength.
Weight — 11-18 kg. Height — 38-46 cm.
