English Springer Spaniel

English Springer Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel pictures
English Springer Spaniel suitability

In my own words

Are you busy at the moment? I’m bored indoors, can we go out for a walk? Maybe we can go to the beach for a swim? I’ll bring you back a nice stone to say thank you, promise! Or if we waited until later, maybe the children can come for walkies too, wouldn’t that be nice? I love playing with them even if they do pull my ears sometimes. Can we play now? I’m sorry if I start barking soon and I’ll try not to bite your new shoes but they are very tempting and I get so bored in here. I want to be outside running around free because I have lots of energy, you see.

Wow, did you see that out of the window? It was a bird! Can I chase it? Would you like me to go get it for you? I’m really good at that. I like hunting fowl, that’s my job. I still like family though, and people, I love people. I love long walks and swimming most of all though... Can we go for a walk yet?

My ideal owner(s)

Sportsmen

Active, Outdoorsy types

Families

What they say about me

Sturdy

Dignified

Outgoing

Gentle

Family orientated

Hardworking

Please read on, to find out more about me, and whether I will be someone you can be happy with for the next 14 years, or even longer!

Is this English Springer Spaniel for you?

Test your knowledge about the English Springer Spaniel

Information essential about the English Springer Spaniel

Kennel Club Group:

KC UK – Gun Dog

AKC – Sporting

Size:

Medium: Weight Male 45 – 55 lb (20 – 25 kg) Female 40 – 50 lb (18 – 23 kg)

Height Male 19 – 21” (48 – 56 cm) Female 18 – 20” ( 46 – 51 cm)

Popularity:

Breed History:

Dating back to 17th Century, Springer Spaniels have long been prized for their ability to assist hunters by driving or “springing” birds from bushes, trees and fields hence where the dog gets it's name. During the Renaissance, it was considered the ideal companion for the European hunter. In the late 1880s, Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels often appeared in the same litters, and it was not until 1902 that they were classified as distinct breeds based on size (the Springer being larger) by the UK Kennel Club. The English Springer Spaniel was first registered by the AKC in 1927, and to this day English Springer Spaniels continue to be valued for their agility, hunting skills, obedience and companionship.

The English Springer Spaniel is the founder of all the English hunting spaniels and is the largest of the Spaniel breeds. The Clumber, the Sussex, the Welsh Springer, the Field, the Irish Water, and the Cocker Spaniel have all developed out of the English Springer Spaniel.

The English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association was formed in 1924 and field trials were held for the first time. Their talents include hunting, tracking, retrieving, watchdog, agility, competitive obedience, and performing tricks. Currently, there are two distinct "types" of the English Springer Spaniel. Those bred for the conformation ring are referred to as "bench bred". Those that are bred for hunting and/or field trials are referred to as "field bred".

Character:

English Springer Spaniels love everybody, and everybody loves them. They are humble enough to adapt to child’s play, but they are secure enough to be comfortable around strangers and other pets. They are wonderful playmates for children and greet most strangers with an open heart. However, they have great protective instincts and will definitely sound the alarm if they sense a threat.

Springers are people-orientated dogs. They need lots of attention, companionship and positive feedback to feel settled and centered. Left alone for too long, they can get bored and could start to dig up a garden, bark for no reason or chew on shoes.

Temperament:

English Springer Spaniels are sociable, gregarious, and gentle. They are also courageous, highly intelligent, and sincere. They are excellent with children and love everyone. The English Springer Spaniel thrives on human interaction and need lots of attention from their family. If they are left alone for extended periods of time they will become destructive and are prone to excessive barking. They are good with other pets, but may not tolerate same sex dogs. Due to their fowl hunting nature they are not suitable for homes with pet birds.

Conformation:

English Springer Spaniels are medium-sized dogs with compact bodies and medium-length coats that grow feathery on their long ears, legs, chest and belly. Their heads are strong without seeming heavy, and their faces have a chiseled shape that gives them a pleasant expression. Their eyes are medium-sized, oval-shaped and somewhat sunken, giving off a bright and loving expression. They have long necks (about the length of their heads) that slope down to deep, developed chests. Their tails are usually docked (note that docking tails is illegal in most parts of Europe), and their flat or wavy coats can come in black and white, liver and white, or blue or liver roan. Overall, English Springer Spaniels have a gallant, alert and sturdy look.

Colour:

The coat can come in colours ranging from liver and white, black and white, predominantly white with black or liver markings, blue or liver roan, or a tricolor pattern of black and white or liver.

Training:

The English Springer Spaniel benefits from early intensive socialization and obedience. They must have firmness, fairness, praise, and consistency. This breed enjoys and excels in agility, flyball, tracking, retrieving, obedience, and, of course, hunting. They are also capable of making wonderful therapy dogs.

Care:

Health:

The lifespan of a healthy individual is between 12 and 14 years, which is normal for a dog of this size.  If you buy from a reputable, responsible breeder, health problems should not occur.  Common health issues include hip dysplasia, epilepsy, kidney disease and eye problems such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cataracts. Springers are prone to hip dysplasia so it is a good idea to get your puppy hip scored if you are thinking of breeding later on.

Other problems can include patella luxation, where the kneecap slips in and out of place and blood disorder Phosphofructokinase deficiency (PFK).  This breed tends to gain weight easily and must not be overfed. The English Springer Spaniel has recently become afflicted with a serious personality disorder called "Rage Syndrome". A rare disorder, this syndrome will cause an otherwise normal dog to go into a sudden rage and viciously attack. Should this occur, the English Springer Spaniel will not respond to any commands. This condition has been found to be a form of epilepsy and is treatable.

Exercise:

Springers are energetic and require daily exercise. They enjoy brisk walks, bicycling, ball chasing, and swimming. They can adapt to city life and will do well in an apartment dwelling provided they are sufficiently exercised and given a safe space to run. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. They should have chances to take daily long walks or jog alongside the human, and they will also benefit from a run and play off the leash. These dogs perform very well in both agility skills trials and obedience competitions.

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The following grid gives a fast track review which covers all breeds. You can apply it to help you decide if an English Springer Spaniel is suitable for you, the environment where you live, your personality and your lifestyle. On the grid, 1= strongly disagree, and 5= strongly agree. For example, if you are looking for a dog that likes to swim, look down the list under Activities, and you will see that English Springer’s love water and are strong swimmers, scoring 5. If you want a playful companion, look down the same list, and you will see that English Springers love to fetch and hunt, and score 5. You might like to save or print off this section and keep it for reference while you check some other breeds before making your final choice.

 

Add your own ratings on this breed »

Noahs Breed Rating | Community Breed Rating

Activities
Good jogging companion5/5
Good walking companion5/5
Likes water/swimming5/5
Likes learning new tricks5/5
Likes to hunt5/5
Likes to fetch5/5
Good gundog/retriever5/5
Behaviour
Barks a lot3/5
Gets easily jealous1/5
Protective3/5
Aggressive1/5
Timid2/5
Friendly with strangers5/5
Cost
Expensive to insure1/5
Expensive to feed1/5
Environment
Happy to sleep outside1/5
Prefers countryside5/5
Suits urban environment5/5
Prefers temperate climate5/5
Prefers hot climate4/5
Prefers cold climate5/5
Grooming
Moults a lot5/5
Hypoallergenic1/5
Requires lots of grooming4/5
Role and Suitability
Ideal for elderly2/5
Ideal for singles5/5
Ideal for couples with no children5/5
Ideal for family with children5/5
Good watch dog2/5
Good guard dog1/5
Sociability
Good with other pets0/5
Good with other dogs0/5
Time and Energy
Happy being left alone for 4hrs1/5
Happy being left alone for 2hrs2/5
Requires lots of exercise5/5
Training and Obedience
Good for first time owners5/5
Good for experienced owners5/5
Good recall5/5
Easy to train5/5
Activities
Good jogging companion5/5
Good walking companion5/5
Likes water/swimming5/5
Likes learning new tricks5/5
Likes to hunt5/5
Likes to fetch5/5
Good gundog/retriever5/5
Behaviour
Barks a lot1/5
Gets easily jealous2/5
Protective2/5
Aggressive1/5
Timid4/5
Friendly with strangers5/5
Cost
Expensive to insure4/5
Expensive to feed3/5
Environment
Happy to sleep outside4/5
Prefers countryside5/5
Suits urban environment2/5
Prefers temperate climate3/5
Prefers hot climate2/5
Prefers cold climate4/5
Grooming
Moults a lot3/5
Hypoallergenic2/5
Requires lots of grooming2/5
Role and Suitability
Ideal for elderly2/5
Ideal for singles3/5
Ideal for couples with no children3/5
Ideal for family with children3/5
Good watch dog3/5
Good guard dog2/5
Sociability
Good with other pets2/5
Good with other dogs4/5
Time and Energy
Happy being left alone for 4hrs3/5
Happy being left alone for 2hrs4/5
Requires lots of exercise5/5
Training and Obedience
Good for first time owners2/5
Good for experienced owners4/5
Good recall5/5
Easy to train4/5

*PLEASE NOTE: All our breed profiles are general, and all dogs are individuals. Always talk to the breeders and meet the owners you are buying from. Try to meet the dog and its parents if it is a puppy in their home environment.

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