Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Orange vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

The Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange is one of three Grand Anglo-Français breeds. The dogs comes from crossing French scenting hounds with English Foxhounds way back in the 19th century.

The sporting dog is rare, believing to be be pretty much confined to their country of origin – France. It is recognized in France by the French Kennel Club and also internationally by the Federation Cynologique Internationale. Since 2006, they have been recognized by the UKC and are thought to be kept essentially as a working dog as opposed to being kept as a companion dog.

The 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.

The lean, muscular Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange is a large, powerful dog standing at 60 – 70cm at the withers and weighing 30 to 36 kg.

He has a short, broad head with a broad, flat skull. He has long legs, a long tail and long, floppy ears. His coat is white with orange markings. These dogs are instinctive hunters with a superb sense of smell and the ability to track their prey for miles.

Temperament:

Sociable, independent, loving and loyal, the Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange can become attached to his owner. He doesn't want to be left alone for long periods of time, becoming bored and destructive.

Training and socialization is excellent for your dog, making him obedient and also more relaxed when you're not there.While he is patient and good with children, if you're looking for a playful pet, this dog wouldn't come as recommended for children, as his heart longs to just be outside on the hunt.

The 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.

The Grand Anglo – Francais et Orange has always been a pack dog and used to being social. He will get on well with his entire human family as well as with any other pets in the home.

The Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Orange is a loyal dog, and when trained he becomes an excellent companion. He is patient with children, but doesn't make a particularly great playmate as he has a more serious personality.

The Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Orange is a dog that has been specifically developed to hunt, so ensure that he gets a good amount of exercise. While he is essentially a dog that loves working in a pack, he can still make his human family a loving and devoted pet.

Bred 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.

Capable of reaching 10 to 12 years in age, you won't really find any particular health issues with this dog. He is a fairly healthy dog and will be able to reach a good age with good nutrition, exercise, love and care.

Because of the long, floppy ears, you want to be checking inside the ears. As a hunting scentdog, he will chase his prey through water if needs be, and damp ears can encourage bacteria.

Ear infections are common in most dogs, and you'll notice your pet scratching and rubbing at his ear and even shaking his head. You may also notice swelling or redness. Veterinary intervention will be necessary.

If your dog's ear infection has cleared up, you can maintain the health of the ear by cleaning them with a gentle cleanser and cotton wool. There is always caution when cleaning a dog’s ear, and rupturing the ear drum is one. Be careful, and if you're not sure, rather make an appointment with your vet to have his ears cleaned.

The 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.

Exercise:

As a scenthound, your Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange loves being outdoors and following a scent trail. These dogs therefore are better suited to life in the countryside as opposed to life in the city. Make sure you provide him with plenty of exercise – walks, swimming and running with you when you go cycling or jogging. Include ball- and rope games too.

Grooming:

Your orange and white scent dog will thrive on you taking time out for him to brush his short coat twice a week and to also check for fleas and ticks at the same time.

Diet:

Looking forward to his food, your energetic Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange will require a high quality commercially manufactured food. Make sure that you buy the best brands to ensure your pet gets his vitamins and minerals in instead of just a lot of fillers, colorants and preservatives.

Many dog owners prefer giving their dogs several smaller meals throughout the day as opposed to one or two large meals. With his dry kibble you can add in some raw meat from time to time as well as cooked brown rice, cooked chicken and vegetables. See that he has access to a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Feeding

Feeding 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.