Kanni vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

The Kanni dog is a rare South Indian Sighthound. It is also known as the Maiden's Beastmaster and this is because it is known to be protector and defender of its owner's property.

During ancient times, the dog was used for hunting but today it is essentially kept as a pet and it is registered with the Kennel Club of India.

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.

These dogs are tall, slim and deep chested, coming in two-color combinations, but it is the black and tan variety that is the true Kanni. There is also a cream variety. There are other color variations and each color has a unique name connected to it. The coat of the Kanni is short and smooth.

They are medium sized dogs standing at 62 to 67cm at the withers and weighing in the region of 18 – 22kg. When you first look at these dogs you might think of them as being similar to a Greyhound in looks. This is also because of their lean, muscular looks.

The eyes are a golden color, the nose black and the ears are a medium size and floppy with the long tail being semi-curved.

Temperament:

The Kanni has always been a hunting dog so he is used to being sharp, strong-willed, independent and alert as well as having some aggressive tendencies. It is also quite a reserved dog but he shows love and loyalty to his owner. He is independent and easy to train. It is a good thing to have him trained and socialized so that he is obedient to the simple commands you give him.

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 Kanni looks much like your regular Doberman Pinscher but he has long tail and floppy ears. He is slim and agile but also powerful being able to have bursts of speed. It is why he requires a large place to run and play in, being better suited to a home with a large garden or farm.

He is a playful, quiet dog but he has quite a bark on him and is known to be a good watchdog because of this. He is a protective dog too, devoted and loyal and making a splendid family 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.

Not much is known about inherited health problems in this breed, and he can live up to a ripe old age of 16. It seems a pretty healthy dog, but still it helps to be aware of some of the more common dog illnesses that your pet can succumb to.

For first time dog owners it can be difficult knowing what health problems our beloved pets could suffer from. Every dog breed has certain diseases to which they are more prone to, but these are some common issues that most of our 4-legged friends will face -

Diarrhea:

This is a common dog health problem in India with the Kanni. There are so many things that disagree with their digestion. Most dogs may not want to eat their next meal, but when he is lethargic, he is hot and is vomiting, it is time to get your pet to the vet. This is because diarrhea causes rapid dehydration in dogs. To avoid diarrhea, steer clear of certain foods such as milk and dairy products as well as old, spoiled fatty foods. With diarrhea your dog must always have access to fresh, cool water.

Ear Infections:

This is a common dog disease, and ear infections can be painful and frustrating for your pet. He’ll scratch at his ear, shake his head and the inside of the ear may be red with a discharge. Check his ears for redness and try to keep them free from wax build up and dust.

Cleaning the ear is quite simple, and if you’re not sure how, the vet can do it quickly and effectively. Usually some dog ear cleaning solution on some cotton wool can do the trick. Ear infections are common in dogs like the Kanni with floppy ears.

Ticks and Fleas:

It is essential to control fleas on your dog from word go. Fleas thrive in warm temperature and humidity and your pet will scratch, bite and lick at the spot. When you brush your pet, look through his fur for fleas and tell you vet about it if you discover ticks and fleas. A topical ointment could nip the problem in the bud. You may want to consider a flea collar for your pet.

Worms:

Tapeworms, hookworms and roundworms for instance are commonly found in dogs, and even for healthy dogs, deworming tablets should be given from time to time. If your dog has worms, you’ll notice lethargy, loss of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting. It may be time to get your pet to the vet.

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.

Grooming:

The Kanni is a low maintenance dog with his short coat. You can give him a good brush twice a week, check that his nails don't grow too long and also check his ears inside and out. Ticks and fleas are rife in hot weather and you want to give your dog a thorough check for these. You should also be checking your dog's teeth and brushing them 2 or 3 times a week. Dental problems can cause havoc with your dog's health.

Exercise:

As a hunting breed, the Kanni is used to running so his needs for a good amount of exercise are quite high. While they do make good family pets, they hanker after wide open spaces and being busy. If you own one of these dogs, make sure that you exercise him often because otherwise he becomes frustrated and unhappy.

This dog has always been used to village life where he is free to roam wide open spaces. He is much more suited to country life than to city life, and as a pet, you will need to ensure that he receives a good amount of exercise.

Take him for walks, and if he's been socialized and trained, take him to the park and allow him off his leash to run.

Diet:

The dog has always been fed traditional food such as porridge and milk but we know better now that dogs need protein too as well as a diet rich in vitamins and minerals to ensure his health.

You can feed him a top quality commercially manufactured dog food and add in some cooked chicken, rice and vegetables from time to time. It is expensive, but if you can, try and add in some raw meat occasionally as well. Your Kanni dog must always have access to fresh, clean 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.