Dogs in a kennel aren't going to tell you what you want to know. But maybe the breeder will give you names of his customers you can talk to.
My AWS was a very family dog, and so were every other AWS I've known.
Contact some of these people for their perspectives:
http://www.americanwaterspanielclub....ntact%20Us.htm
http://www.awsfa.org/Club%20Info/ass...n_officers.htm
http://mnhuntingspaniel.com/board.html