breed of sporting dog known for its jumping retrieving and excellent swimming abilities; popular along Mississippi River and in Minnesota, where it hunts well along lakes and ponds; coat consists of close-cropped and thick curls, which are water-resistant, along most of body; head is covered with short, smooth coat; may be solid liver or dark brown in color; curl-covered ears are lobular, long, and wide, and hang down from nearly top of head to bottom of neckline; tail is thin, tapering, and covered with moderate feathering or curls; eyes are slightly rounded and may be hazel to dark brown in color to harmonize with the coat color; adult stands 15–18 in. (38–46 cm) tall at shoulders and weighs 25–45 lbs (11–20 kg); originally called brown water spaniel; also able to retrieve rabbits and chickens; enthusiastic and efficient gun dog; uses tail as rudder when swimming; origins of breed are mysterious but believed to have originated in 1800s in U.S. from crossings of water dogs and spaniels who accompanied settlers and emigrants from Europe; virtually unknown outside of North America and even rare at American dog shows,