Online Encyclopedia
English Springer Spaniel
| English Springer Spaniel | ||||||||||||||
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| United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||
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FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC |
The English Springer Spaniel is a gun dog breed of dog used for flushing and retrieving game. This spaniel is an older breed, appearing in paintings as early as the 1600s. It is possibly the ancestor of most modern spaniels; springer spaniels and cocker spaniels were not recognized as separate breeds until the 1800s.
It has unlimited stamina and needs plenty of activity to focus its mind and to provide substantial exercise.
The Springer is an affectionate and easy-going family dog, and its alertness and attentiveness make it the ideal hunting companion. An intelligent dog, and eager to please, a Springer is easily incorporated into a family setting. Its long-legged build makes it among the fastest of the spaniels.
Like many breeds developed for specific work, in modern times the show dog lines have diverged from working dog lines, depending on which aspect of the dog the breeders have chosen to focus on.
Males in the show dog line average approximately 18-20 inches at the withers and weigh on average between 50 and 55 pounds. Females are generally smaller, averaging closer to 40 pounds. Dogs in the working dog line tend to be smaller and lighter boned.
Its coat comes in a wide variety of markings even within a certain color combination. Black-and-white and liver-and-white colors are among the best known.
