Overview
The English springer spaniel is compactly built, upstanding with proud carriage, slightly longer than tall but with fairly long legs and a deep body. Its build should suggest a combination of strength, agility and endurance, a dog capable of hunting tirelessly under the most difficult of conditions. The outer coat is of medium length, either flat or wavy, and the undercoat is soft and dense. This combination protects the dog from weather, water and thorns. The gait is long and ground-covering. The expression — alert, kindly and trusting — is an essential feature of springer type.
The English springer spaniel is cheerful, playful and energetic, ready for a day in the field and an evening by the hearth. It does everything with gusto and can be overly enthusiastic unless given plenty of exercise. The typical springer is the ideal family companion.
AKC RANKING 28
FAMILY Gundog, spaniel
AREA OF ORIGIN England
DATE OF ORIGIN 1800s
ORIGINAL FUNCTION Bird flushing and retrieving
TODAY'S FUNCTION Bird flushing and retrieving, spaniel field trials
AVERAGE SIZE OF MALE Height: 19-21 Weight: 50
AVERAGE SIZE OF FEMALE Height: 18-20 Weight: 40
Stats
Energy level High energy
Exercise needs High
Playfullness Very playful
Affection level Very affectionate
Friendliness toward other dogs Friendly
Friendliness toward other pets Very friendly
Friendliness toward strangers Very friendly
Ease of training Hard to train
Watchdog ability High
Protection ability Not very protective
Grooming needs High maintenance
Cold tolerance Medium tolerance
Heat tolerance Medium tolerance
Care & Health
As an energetic and inquisitive dog, the springer needs daily mental and physical exertion. Hunting is the first choice to satisfy both needs, but an outing in the field, long walk on leash and good obedience lesson can go far to making the springer a calm and well-behaved house dog. This breed does best if allowed to live in the house with access to a yard. Its coat needs brushing or combing one or two times weekly plus clipping and scissoring every three months. Springers from field, rather than show, lines tend to have less coat.
• Major concerns: otitis externa, CHD, PRA, elbow dysplasia
• Minor concerns: ectropion, entropion
• Occasionally seen: phosphofructokinase deficiency, skin fragility, gastric torsion, rage syndrome
• Suggested tests: hip, elbow, eye, DNA for phosphofructokinase deficiency
• Life span: 10 – 14 years
History
As the spaniels became increasingly specialized, the larger land spaniels that ranged farther afield became extremely useful at flushing or "springing" game. Before the advent of shotguns, the game was flushed into nets or then chased by falcons or greyhounds. The first reference to springers referred to land spaniels in the late 1500s. Around 1800, distinct strains of carefully bred springers began to develop; one of the best known was bred by the Duke of Norfolk. His dogs so heavily influenced the breed that for a while the breed was called Norfolk spaniels. The name was changed to springer spaniel in 1900. The matter is complicated by the fact that the larger springer and smaller cocker spaniels were simply size variations of the same breed. Only in 1902 did the English Kennel Club recognize the springer as a distinct breed. In America, the American Spaniel Club was formed in 1880 and began the task of separating the springer and cocker sizes. After separation, the springer continued to thrive. It has remained popular with hunters demanding a versatile gun dog that ranges fast and far and that can also flush and retrieve. It is also a popular show dog and pet.
**All stats & info above are courtesy of Animal Planet.
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