Brogdan Name for American Water Spaniel

This name is a direct tribute to Dr. Fred J. Pfeifer of New London, Wisconsin, the man singularly credited with saving the American Water Spaniel from extinction.[1, 2] It embodies a story of preservation and dedication, a recognition that the dog's existence is a legacy. 'Pfeifer' is not just a sound; it's a historical anchor, grounding the dog in the narrative of a passionate advocate who saw the breed's intrinsic worth when others had moved on to more specialized, foreign hunters after World War II.[1, 3]

A German surname meaning 'pipe-player' or 'fifer'. It honors Dr. Fred J. Pfeifer, the pivotal figure in the American Water Spaniel's history who established the breed standard and gained its initial kennel club recognition in 1920.[1, 4]

This name honors the first American Water Spaniel registered with the United Kennel Club in 1920, a dog belonging to Dr. Fred J. Pfeifer himself.[1, 4] It is the foundation name, representing the moment the 'little brown dog' of the Wisconsin river valleys was formally recognized as a distinct breed. 'Curly Pfeifer' is a name that carries the full weight of the breed's official history, symbolizing the culmination of decades of development and the beginning of its journey toward preservation.

The registered name of the first American Water Spaniel recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1920, owned by Dr. F.J. Pfeifer. 'Curly' describes the coat, and 'Pfeifer' is the owner's surname.[1, 4]

A name that honors Thomas Brogdan of Rush Lake, Wisconsin, one of the key figures who worked alongside John Scofield to gain AKC recognition for the breed in 1940.[1] This name represents the second critical phase of the breed's history: the transition from a regional hunting dog to a nationally recognized purebred. 'Rush Lake' symbolizes collaboration, foresight, and the effort required to secure a breed's future beyond its original sphere of influence.

Named in reference to Rush Lake, Wisconsin, the home of Thomas Brogdan, who was instrumental in securing American Kennel Club recognition for the American Water Spaniel in 1940.[1]

A name that directly ties the dog to its cradle of development, the Fox River Valley in Wisconsin.[5, 7] Alongside the Wolf River, this waterway was the primary theater of operations for the 19th-century hunters who required this specific type of dog. The name 'Fox River' evokes imagery of winding currents, marshy banks, and the clever, adaptable nature required to hunt there. It speaks to the breed's intelligence and its innate understanding of a complex, water-rich environment.

Named for the Fox River in Wisconsin, a key waterway in the region where the American Water Spaniel was developed during the 19th century for waterfowl hunting.[1, 5]

Bantry is a town and a bay in County Cork, Ireland, a place deeply associated with the sea. This name serves as another nod to the Irish Water Spaniel's contribution to the AWS. The name evokes a sense of history, of a hardy people and their dogs living and working by the water. It suggests a lineage of toughness and resilience, bred for the harsh conditions of the North Atlantic and later adapted to the icy lakes of Wisconsin.

From the Irish 'Beanntraí', referring to a tribe called the 'Beannraige'. It is the name of a town and a large bay on the southwest coast of Ireland.

An echo is a sound that is repeated or reflected after the original sound has ceased. This name is a beautiful metaphor for a rare breed like the AWS. The dog is an 'echo' of a past era, a reflection of the 19th-century hunting dogs that are no longer common. The name 'Echo' speaks to the breed's preserved history, its unchanged character, and its role as a living link to a bygone time. It suggests a dog whose every bark is a sound from the past.

From the Greek 'ekho', 'sound'. In Greek mythology, Echo was a nymph who could only repeat the last words spoken to her.

A relic is an object surviving from an earlier time, especially one of historical or sentimental interest. For a rare breed like the AWS, which preserves the characteristics of a 19th-century gundog, this name is profoundly fitting. It positions the dog as a precious artifact, a tangible link to a bygone era of American history. 'Relic' speaks to the breed's rarity, its value, and its importance as a piece of living history.

From the Latin 'reliquiae', meaning 'remains'. A relic is an object, custom, or belief that has survived from an earlier time.

This name pinpoints the geographical heart of the breed, New London, Wisconsin, the town where Dr. Pfeifer established his kennels and where a historical marker designates the 'Birthplace of the American Water Spaniel'.[2, 3] It evokes a sense of small-town American ingenuity and rugged, unpretentious origins. The name suggests a dog developed not by aristocrats, but by practical farmers and hunters in the backyards of a Midwestern community, a symbol of grassroots creation.[3]

Named for the city of New London, Wisconsin, in Waupaca County. This location is historically recognized as the center of the breed's development and preservation efforts by Dr. F.J. Pfeifer.[2]