English Springer Spaniel
A Warm and Very Sociable Companion!
The English Springer Spaniel is renowned as a hunting dog for his alertness and great concentration.
He is considered to be the oldest of the sporting gun dogs, except for the Clumber, and the breed from which all land spaniels trace their roots.
In today's dog shows, Springers are seen in either field trials or conformance.
This is a very attractive dog with a body that is compact, symmetrical, and well balanced. Tails are normally seen docked - shorter for show dogs and
longer for field dogs. The eyes are gentle and the expression is charming.
The Springer part of the name is in reference to the springing action in flushing game from their cover.
Famous owners of the breed include both Presidents Bush.
Appearance, Coat and Care
One of the larger spaniels, he stands at a height of 19-20 inches, and a weight ranging between 48-53 lbs.
Color variations: Black/White, Liver/White, or tri-color - with either tan or liver markings.
The coat is long and slightly wavy, but sometimes flat, with a good amount of feathering on the undercarriage, legs and ears. Field bred dogs tend to have shorter and slightly coarser coats.
The Springer needs a lot of coat maintenance to keep it in tip-top condition.
Regular brushing and combing are a must to maintain this beautiful coat and keep it healthy. Longer coats need to be checked frequently for burrs or tangles, especially after field walking.
Shedding occurs year round which emphasizes the need for regular grooming to remove the dead hair and keep it from building up around the house.
The long ears of spaniels make them more prone to ear infection. To protect against this, plan for a weekly cleaning with a good quality ear wash and interior trimming to keep the area around the ear canal free of hair.
Grooming Tools
Personality and Traits:
The English Springer Spaniel is cheerful, playful and gentle and shows his happy demeanor by constantly wagging his tail. He is enjoyed by many as a fun family dog.
He is a loyal and attentive companion and does a good job as a guard dog.
The Springer is well behaved, quick to learn and adapts easily to either urban or rural settings. He is very much a dog that enjoys the company of people and does best in a home where someone is around all the time and he is not left alone.
Known for his intelligence, he is eager to please and willing to be obedient. This can be an advantage when training your Springer as long as you keep the training sessions short as well as varied and challenging.
Activity Level:
The English Springer Spaniel is a strong and active dog with stamina to spare. He needs plenty of regular exercise to stay fit and mentally contented.
Agility is a good way to channel his energy and is a competitive sporting event in which the breed does well and seems to enjoy. Just be sure to wait until his full bone growth is completed before starting to train. Classes are often available in urban areas.
These spaniels also love the water and games of retrieval.
Space Needs:
Can do well in apartment if sufficiently exercised. A home with a back yard where he can run freely
is always the most appreciated and the ideal setting.
Children:
The well-socialized English Springer Spaniel has a good reputation with children, but the caution remains that an adult should always supervise interaction with children.
Elderly:
Most often, the Springer is too energetic for a sedentary family or elderly owners. Best for families that like to be very active with their dogs.
Share Your Knowledge and Pictures
Do you have an English Springer? If you do, then you know a lot about what it's like to live with this renowned spaniel dog breed.
We would love for you to share your dog's pictures and his story as well as your knowledge about the breed in general.
You can upload photos and tell your dog's story
here. For inspiration, read some of the stories already submitted by other dog lovers.
Book Recommendations:
Your English Springer Spaniel will love these healthy homemade recipes. A sound diet that supplies the essential nutrients a dog needs helps him to ward off disease by strengthening his immune system. He will also
thank you for more tasty mealtimes!
The Doggies Want Your WOOF!
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