Sable Name for American Water Spaniel

Sienna is an earth pigment, a type of clay rich in iron oxide that produces a range of colors from yellowish-brown to a deep reddish-brown when heated ('burnt sienna'). This name perfectly captures the rich, warm, and earthy tones of the American Water Spaniel's coat. It connects the dog's color not to something artificial, but to the natural pigments of the earth, reinforcing its identity as a creature of the landscape.

From Siena, Italy, where the pigment was produced during the Renaissance. It refers to an earthy pigment containing iron oxide and manganese oxide, used as a yellowish-brown or reddish-brown color.

Sorrel is a reddish-brown color, most often used to describe horses. This name is perfect for an American Water Spaniel whose brown coat has distinct reddish or liver-colored highlights. It connects the dog to the broader world of animal coloration and the specific language used to describe it. 'Sorrel' also refers to a common woodland plant, adding a second layer of natural, earthy meaning to the name.

From the Old French 'sor', referring to a reddish-brown color. The name is also used for several plant species of the genus Rumex, which often have reddish stems or flowers.

Russet is a dark brown color with a reddish-orange tinge, often associated with autumn leaves and rustic simplicity. This name beautifully captures the warm, earthy tones of the AWS's coat, especially in the fall sunlight. It evokes a sense of the changing seasons and the peak of the hunting season. 'Russet' suggests a dog that is perfectly camouflaged and at home in the autumn landscape, a creature whose color is in perfect harmony with the natural world.

From the Old French 'rousset', a diminutive of 'rous', meaning 'reddish'. It refers to a reddish-brown color.

Umber is another natural brown earth pigment, darker and less red than sienna. It is known for creating deep, rich shadows in paintings. This name captures the darker, more mysterious shades of the AWS's coat—the deep chocolate and dark liver colors.[11] 'Umber' suggests a dog with depth and substance, a creature that is at home in the shadows of the forest and the murky depths of the water. It evokes a sense of quiet, powerful presence.

From 'terra d'ombra', Italian for 'earth of Umbria', the region in Italy where it was originally extracted. It is a natural brown or reddish-brown earth pigment.

The breed standard for the American Water Spaniel describes its tail as being 'curved in a rocker fashion'.[11, 13] This name is a direct and joyful celebration of that unique physical trait. A rocker implies a smooth, rhythmic, and balanced motion. The name captures not just the shape of the tail, but the lively, happy gait of the dog itself. It suggests a creature with a buoyant spirit and a well-balanced, symmetrical structure.

Refers to the shape of a rocking chair's leg or a rocking horse. The term is used in the AWS breed standard to describe the characteristic curve of the tail.[11]

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]

A name that ties the dog to the larger ecosystem of its birth, referencing Lake Winnebago, a massive freshwater lake fed by the Fox and Wolf Rivers where the breed was developed.[4, 5] It speaks of vast, cold waters and the challenging environment that shaped this dog. The name carries the weight of the Great Lakes region, a landscape that demanded a compact, hardy, and versatile water dog capable of handling icy temperatures and working from small skiffs.[1, 6]

From the name of Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin, which itself is derived from the name given to the Ho-Chunk Native American tribe by neighboring Algonquian peoples. The rivers where the AWS was developed feed this lake.[4]

This name directly references one of the two primary river valleys—the Fox and Wolf Rivers—where the American Water Spaniel was first developed.[5, 7] It is a name steeped in the wild, untamed spirit of 19th-century Wisconsin. 'Wolf River' suggests not just a place, but an active, flowing force of nature that is both beautiful and demanding. It captures the essence of a dog bred to navigate those currents, a creature as a part of that river system as the fish and fowl.

Named for the Wolf River, a tributary of the Fox River in Wisconsin. This river valley is the documented region where the American Water Spaniel breed originated in the 19th century.[1, 5]