Muskrat Name for American Water Spaniel

The river otter is a master of the aquatic environment, a sleek, powerful, and playful swimmer that shares the same habitat as the AWS.[21] This name is a metaphor for the dog's own prowess in the water. It speaks to the AWS's strong swimming ability, its webbed feet, and its natural love for the water. 'Otter' also captures the breed's playful, intelligent, and sometimes mischievous nature, suggesting a creature that finds pure joy in its element.

From Old English 'otor'. The otter is a semiaquatic, carnivorous mammal in the weasel family, known for its playful behavior and skill in water.

The mink is a semi-aquatic furbearer native to the Wisconsin river valleys, known for its rich, dark brown coat and its fierce, tenacious nature.[21] This name is a metaphor for the AWS's appearance and spirit. It evokes the dog's deep, lustrous brown coat and its sleek, efficient movement in the water. 'Mink' also suggests a creature with a fiery, determined spirit, a small but mighty hunter that is perfectly at home in its riverine environment.

From Swedish 'mink' or 'mänk'. The mink is a semiaquatic species of mustelid native to North America, known for its valuable fur.

The Northern Pike is a large, predatory freshwater fish found in the lakes and rivers of Wisconsin, known for its explosive power and aggressive nature.[8, 16] This name is a metaphor for the American Water Spaniel's strength and drive in the water. It suggests a creature that is a powerful, determined force in its aquatic element. 'Pike' evokes a sense of raw, predatory instinct and a mastery of the underwater world.

A shortening of 'pike-fish', named for its long, pointed head, from Old English 'pīc', meaning 'a sharp point'.

A covey is a small flock of birds, particularly partridges or quail. While the AWS is a renowned waterfowl retriever, it is also a superb upland flushing dog, used for hunting ruffed grouse and prairie chicken.[1, 9] This name specifically honors its upland capabilities, evoking the sudden, explosive flush of a hidden flock. It also carries a secondary meaning of a small, close-knit group, reflecting the breed's tendency to be a 'one-family dog' that bonds deeply with its pack.[1]

From the Old French 'covée', meaning 'a brood of birds', from 'cover', 'to hatch'. It refers to a small flock of game birds.

Alder trees and shrubs are characteristic of Wisconsin's shrub/scrub wetlands, forming dense thickets along riverbanks and in boggy areas.[15] This name grounds the AWS in the very vegetation it was bred to navigate. Alders are hardy, water-loving plants that thrive in difficult soil. The name is a metaphor for the dog's own resilience, its thick, protective coat, and its ability to push through the dense cover of its native habitat to find game.

From Old English 'alor'. Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants (Alnus) belonging to the birch family, typically found in wet ground.

The cattail is the quintessential plant of the marsh, the defining feature of the landscape where the AWS does its most iconic work.[15] Its dense stands provide the cover that waterfowl love and the challenge that a great retrieving dog must overcome. This name is a direct and unambiguous link to the dog's purpose and place. It evokes the sights, sounds, and smells of a duck hunt more powerfully than almost any other name.

Named for its cylindrical, brown, furry flower spike that resembles a cat's tail. Cattails (genus Typha) are common wetland plants found in or near water.

Teal are small, fast-flying river ducks, a common quarry for the hunters who developed the American Water Spaniel. This name is a direct and specific link to the breed's primary function: waterfowl retrieval. It evokes the challenge of the hunt—the speed and agility of the bird, which requires an equally quick and agile dog. 'Teal' is a name that is steeped in the action and excitement of a day on the water, a tribute to the dog's purpose.

The common name for several species of small dabbling ducks in the genus Anas. The name is of Germanic origin.

The American Kestrel is North America's smallest falcon. It is known for its incredible speed, agility, and keen eyesight. This name is a metaphor for the American Water Spaniel's character as a hunter. Though a medium-sized dog, the AWS is quick, athletic, and possesses a sharp, focused intensity when on game.[9] 'Kestrel' suggests a compact but powerful hunter, a creature with a high prey drive and a remarkable ability to pinpoint its target.

From Old French 'crécerelle'. The kestrel is a small falcon that hovers with rapidly beating wings while searching for prey on the ground.