Definition

Noun: 1. A dog accustomed to water and trained to retrieve waterfowl: A type of dog, often a specific breed like a Labrador Retriever or Chesapeake Bay Retriever, that is comfortable in water and trained to fetch birds shot by hunters. 2. A person who enjoys being in or on the water: An informal term for someone who loves aquatic activities, such as swimming, boating, or sailing.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Animal):
  • The hunter relied on his trusted water dog to retrieve the ducks from the lake.
  • Labrador Retrievers are classic water dogs, bred for their love of swimming and retrieving.
• Noun (Person):
  • My brother is a real water dog; he spends every weekend on his sailboat.
  • You'll always find her at the beach—she's a true water dog.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically to describe someone with a natural affinity for water-based environments or professions.
  • As a marine biologist and avid surfer, she was a water dog through and through.

Variants and Related Words

• Waterdog (noun): An alternative, often single-word spelling with the same meanings.
• Retriever (noun): A type of gun dog bred to retrieve game for a hunter, often synonymous with "water dog" in the first definition.
• Aquatic (adjective): Relating to water. (e.g., )

Synonyms

• For the dog: retriever, gun dog, hunting dog.
• For the person: water lover, aquaphile, sailor, boater, swimmer.

Related Idioms

• In one's element: To be in a situation where one feels comfortable and confident. A water dog is when on or in the water.
  • Once he jumped into the ocean, the water dog was in his element.

Noun

1. a dog accustomed to water and usually trained to retrieve waterfowl
2. a person who enjoys being in or on the water