Spaniels were bred to be ‘gun’ dogs or, otherwise, dogs that were trained to flush out or spring on a hunting game. They retrieve animals that were hunted down. The English Springer Spaniel is considered the original breed of all English spaniels.
Known for its fine maneuvering is springing in the air a hunted animal, particularly the woodcocks, this is how the dog got its name, Springer, and because cocker spaniels were especially used in flushing out woodcocks.
As early as the 1500s, this breed of dog was already in existence. It is related to the Welsh Springer Spaniel and English cocker spaniel.
It was the Duke of Norfolk who painstakingly put much effort into developing this breed.
In 1902, the Kennel Club of England gave recognition to the English Springer Spaniel as a distinct spaniel breed.
Traits and Behavior
This breed is known for its friendliness, affectionate nature, and intelligence that can be observed from its willingness to learn and obey. This dog ranks 13th in Stanley Coren’s The Intelligence of Dogs.
Equipped with exceptional stamina, it serves not just as an endearing dog companion but a working dog, as well.
Some breeds are trained as sniffing dogs and are used for search and rescue missions.
Since this dog was originally bred to retrieve hunted animals, it has a strong tendency to bite or chew things and even dig the earth when they are left alone most of the time.
Otherwise, it remains sociable to people and its surrounding environment.
Pet Care and Diseases
The English Springer Spaniels are highly energetic dogs among the spaniels. Therefore, there’s a need for this kind to harness this energy into proper management and training approach for these dogs to remain always on alert, at the same time healthy.
A daily regimen of jogging or walking can keep them on guard and trains them, too, to be working watchdogs.
This would also benefit the dogs, health-wise, so they are always fit and not be considered like “couch potato” dogs that just lie down in living rooms with nothing to do but be companions to their owners.
If this sedentary life is the case for these dogs, they will end up obese.
Since these dogs are thickly covered with feathering coats, grooming is an essential, maintenance upkeep on them. Regular trimming of the hair is necessary. Brushing of coat daily must be considered to preventing matting of the hair.
For them to live according to their expectancy, they must get medical check-ups every year as their breed is prone to hip dysplasia, eye or blood disorders, and even extreme sickness like epilepsy.
Appearance
Tallest (19-20 in at the withers) among the spaniel breeds, the English Springer Spaniel possesses the classic “spaniel” look: large and gentle eyes, long-hanging ears, feathering coat on its legs, and a friendly wagging tail.
Looking closely at this dog’s features, its muzzles are of the same length as its skull, the head’s length is almost the same as its neck’s length, eyes are dark hazel, the nose is either liver or black depending on its coat color, teeth in scissors bite distance, the chest is deep, pendant ears are long and hang close to its cheeks, front legs are straight and feet are compact.
The predominant color combination of liver and white or white and black is visibly observed as coat colors of the English Springer spaniels wherein its coat covers the ears, cheeks, brisket and legs.
General Information
Their life expectancy lasts about 12-14 years. The litter size ranges from 4-10 puppies. Other names: Springer Spaniel.
Breed Club
Visit this dog club website dedicated to English Springer Spaniels. Click this link: http://www.englishspringer.org/