Last Updated: Apr 11, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Pomeranian Versus American Water Spaniel: Introduction
- Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel: Overview
- Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel
- The Similarities Between the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel
- Size Comparison of the Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel
- Appearance (Colors) of the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel
- Lifespan of Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel
- Temperament of the Pomeranian Versus the American Water Spaniel
- Adopting the Pomeranian versus Adopting the American Water Spaniel
- The Intelligence of the Pomeranian versus the Intelligence of the American Water Spaniel
- The Popularity of Pomeranian versus Popularity of American Water Spaniel
- Health Problems of Pomeranian versus Health Problems of American Water Spaniel
- Tolerates Being Alone: Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel
- Do Pomeranians shed more than American Water Spaniels?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Pomeranian or the American Water Spaniel?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Pomeranian or the American Water Spaniel?
- Are Pomeranians good family dogs? What about American Water Spaniels?
- Is the Pomeranian Easier to Train than the American Water Spaniel?
- Which one drools more, the Pomeranian or the American Water Spaniel
- How Kid-friendly are Pomeranians and American Water Spaniels?
- Does the Pomeranian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the American Water Spaniel?
- Do Pomeranians Bark and Howl? What about American Water Spaniels?
- Can Pomeranians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can American Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Pomeranian vs. American Water Spaniel
- Can Pomeranians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can American Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?
Pomeranian Versus American Water Spaniel: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel better suits you.
We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.
Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Pomeranian and for the American Water Spaniel. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Pomeranian or the American Water Spaniel.

Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel: Overview
A very important difference between the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Pomeranian is a tiny-sized dog while the American Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Pomeranian belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.
On the other hand, the American Water Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.
Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Pomeranian to the American Water Spaniel based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.
When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets
Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.
However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel
| Factor | Pomeranian | American Water Spaniel |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Life Span | 12 to 16 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Weight | 3 to 7 pounds | 25 to 45 pounds |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Easygoing | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Height | 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder | 1 foot, 3 inches to 1 foot, 6 inches tall at the s |
| Average Lifespan | 14.0 years | 13.5 years |
| Average Price | $2150 | No Data |
| Price Range | $1500 – $2500 | No Data |
| Temperament Score | 77.8 percent | 77.8 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | ||
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 22 | 159 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 23 | 44 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pomeranian in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the American Water Spaniel. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.
The Better-Pet score for the Pomeranian is 79 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the American Water Spaniel is 71 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Pomeranian is a better pet than the American Water Spaniel. So, you should get a Pomeranian!

The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel
Below is a list of where the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel are most different:
The Similarities Between the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel
The Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel.
The Pomeranian weighs 3 to 7 pounds when fully grown. The Pomeranian is 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the American Water Spaniel weighs 25 to 45 pounds when fully grown. The American Water Spaniel is 1 foot, 3 inches to 1 foot, 6 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

Appearance (Colors) of the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel
Pomeranian Colors
The Pomeranian comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Red / Chestnut / Orange
- Brown / Chocolate
- White / Cream
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Black
- Apricot / Beige
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Merle (Blue)
- Sable
- Gray / Blue / Silver
- Bicolor
- Golden
- Brindle
The Pomeranian comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- Black
- White / Cream
- Brown / Chocolate
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Brindle
- Red / Chestnut / Orange
- Apricot / Beige
American Water Spaniel Colors
The American Water Spaniel comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Red / Chestnut / Orange
The American Water Spaniel comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
Lifespan of Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel
The lifespan of the Pomeranian is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Pomeranian is 14.0 years.
The lifespan of the American Water Spaniel is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the American Water Spaniel is 13.5 years.
The Pomeranian live longer than the American Water Spaniel.

Temperament of the Pomeranian Versus the American Water Spaniel
The Pomeranian has the same temperament score as the American Water Spaniel.
This is because the temperament score for the Pomeranian is 77.8 percent while the temperament score for the American Water Spaniel is 77.8 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).
The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.
Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.
The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.
With its temperament score of 77.8 percent, the Pomeranian has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 77.8 percent, the American Water Spaniel has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 36 Pomeranians and 9 American Water Spaniels.

Adopting the Pomeranian versus Adopting the American Water Spaniel
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Pomeranians and many American Water Spaniels are currently available for adoption.
These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Pomeranian named Yoda Bear that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Pomeranians like Yoda Bear on pefinder.com.
Also, like Pomeranians, American Water Spaniels are also available for adoption. For example, Zena is a Male American Water Spaniel that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more American Water Spaniels like Zena that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

Tom is the name of another Pomeranian (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
You can find more Pomeranians and American Water Spaniels that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Pomeranian versus the Intelligence of the American Water Spaniel
| Pomeranian | American Water Spaniel | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 23 out of 130 dog breeds | 44 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions |
Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.
This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.
To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the Pomeranian has an obedience intelligence rank of 23 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pomeranian belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Pomeranians tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
The American Water Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 44 out of 130 dog breeds. The American Water Spaniel belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that American Water Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Pomeranian is more intelligent than the American Water Spaniel.
However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.
The Popularity of Pomeranian versus Popularity of American Water Spaniel
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).
The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pomeranian is more popular with dog owners than the American Water Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pomeranian is 22 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the American Water Spaniel is 159 out of about 200 dog breeds.

Popularity of Pomeranian

Popularity of American Water Spaniel
| Year | Pomeranian Popularity Rank | American Water Spaniel Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 19 | 144 |
| 2014 | 20 | 160 |
| 2015 | 21 | 157 |
| 2016 | 22 | 156 |
| 2017 | 22 | 167 |
| 2018 | 23 | 166 |
| 2019 | 24 | 164 |
| 2020 | 23 | 158 |
| 2021 | 24 | 166 |
Health Problems of Pomeranian versus Health Problems of American Water Spaniel
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
Both the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.
Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Pomeranian is prone to more genetic health problems than the American Water Spaniel.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Pomeranian than for the American Water Spaniel.
6 health tests are recommended for Pomeranian while 3 tests are recommended for the American Water Spaniel.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Pomeranians and in American Water Spaniels.
Pomeranian Health Problems
Pomeranians are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Pomeranian puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Pomeranian puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Pomeranian breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Pomeranians for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pomeranians here.
American Water Spaniel Health Problems
American Water Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing American Water Spaniel puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a American Water Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your American Water Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen American Water Spaniels for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for American Water Spaniels here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Pomeranians and American Water Spaniels
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Pomeranian Breed is Patella problems.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks 1 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1542 Pomeranians, 456 of them had Patella problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Pomeranians, and how common these diseases are in Pomeranians relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the American Water Spaniel Breed is Eyes problems.
This is because the American Water Spaniel ranks 16 out of 182 dog breeds for Eyes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 160 American Water Spaniels, 6 of them had Eyes problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in American Water Spaniels, and how common these diseases are in American Water Spaniels relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
The table below lists the common health problems in Pomeranian and in American Water Spaniel and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel:
| Disease | Pomeranian Rank | American Water Spaniel Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Patella problems | 1 out of 145 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Congenital Cardiac problems | 49 out of 159 dog breeds | 38 out of 159 dog breeds |
| Hips problems | 75 out of 198 dog breeds | 133 out of 198 dog breeds |
| Thyroid problems | 89 out of 115 dog breeds | 95 out of 115 dog breeds |
| Eyes problems | 171 out of 182 dog breeds | 16 out of 182 dog breeds |
| Degenerative Myelopathy problems | Not Common | 21 out of 70 dog breeds |
| Elbow problems | Not Common | 122 out of 144 dog breeds |
*To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.
Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.
Tolerates Being Alone: Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel
Pomeranians do not like to be left alone.
American Water Spaniels do not like to be left alone.
Do Pomeranians shed more than American Water Spaniels?
Pomeranians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
American Water Spaniels shed moderately.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Pomeranian or the American Water Spaniel?
Pomeranians require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
American Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Pomeranian or the American Water Spaniel?
Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.
American Water Spaniels do not get along well with other dogs.
Are Pomeranians good family dogs? What about American Water Spaniels?
Pomeranians are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
American Water Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Pomeranian Easier to Train than the American Water Spaniel?
Pomeranians are very easy to train.
American Water Spaniels are very easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Pomeranian or the American Water Spaniel
Pomeranians do have a very low tendency to drool.
American Water Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Pomeranians and American Water Spaniels?
Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
American Water Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Pomeranian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the American Water Spaniel?
Pomeranians have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.
American Water Spaniels have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.
Do Pomeranians Bark and Howl? What about American Water Spaniels?
Pomeranians are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
American Water Spaniels bark and howl, but not very much.
Can Pomeranians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can American Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
Pomeranians can very well tolerate cold weather.
American Water Spaniels cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Wanderlust Potential: Pomeranian vs. American Water Spaniel
Pomeranians do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
American Water Spaniels have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Pomeranians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can American Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
Pomeranians cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
American Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.
Is the Pomeranian Better for Apartment Owners than the American Water Spaniel?
Pomeranians adapt very well to apartment living.
American Water Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Pomeranian or the American Water Spaniel?
Pomeranians are very good for new dog owners.
American Water Spaniels are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Pomeranian compares to other breeds aside from the American Water Spaniel. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Pomeranian to other breeds:
Pomeranian versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne Pomeranian versus Great Dane Pomeranian versus Scottish Terrier Pomeranian versus Ibizan Hound Pomeranian versus Cavachon Pomeranian versus Cesky Terrier Pomeranian versus Miniature Schnauzer Pomeranian versus Shetland Sheepdog Pomeranian versus Akita Chow Pomeranian versus Havanese Pomeranian versus Flat-Coated Retriever Pomeranian versus Alaskan Klee Kai Pomeranian versus Canaan Dog Pomeranian versus Saint Berdoodle
Conclusion: Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?
In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Pomeranian and the American Water Spaniel better suits you and your family.