Medium
14 Years
25 Kg
Gun Dogs
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Intelligent, Lively
The English Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized sporting dog and probably the most popular of the spaniel-type dogs for working in the field. It shares the same lineage and ancestry as the Cocker Spaniel and is the largest among the land spaniels. The most popular colour is liver and white with featherings on the legs, ears, chest and brisket. Another striking feature of the Springer is its low set, lobular ears which are also covered in medium-length hair and would reach the tip of the nose if pulled forward. It is a well-balanced breed with an incessantly wagging tail. The Springer Spaniel comes in field-bred type and a show-bred type. A field-bred English Springer Spaniel has a shorter, coarser coat with slightly shorter ears, a more natural look and is selected based on its hunting ability. A show-type springer has a longer coat, more lobular ears with slight dewlap and dangling fews. It is also heavier boned than the field-bred springer. At a glance, the Springer Spaniel looks similar to the Cocker Spaniel with the only major difference is the size, with the latter being smaller, but the former also has a shorter, more higher-set ears, longer muzzle, less prominent eyes, and less abundant coat. A male show-bred type typically stands between 46 to 51 cm at withers while a female should be between 43 to 48 cm at withers. Weight ranges from 23 to 25 kg for a male and 16 to 20 kg for a female. A field-bred type is slightly lighter and finer-boned.
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The English Springer Spaniel is believed to be the oldest sporting gun dog, although it was not known by its present name until the early part of the 20th century. It is believed to have originated in Spain, brought to England and other parts of Europe by the Romans. There are literatures in the early 1300s that describe dogs similar to the spaniel as well as art works dating to the 16th and 17th centuries that depicts Spaniels. These “spanielles” were divided into water spaniels and land spaniels. It is from the land spaniels that the English Springer descended from. Before the separation of the spaniel breed, each puppy could come from the same litter. The larger spaniels were used to spring game (Springer) while the smaller spaniels were used to hunt woodcocks (Cocker) and other birds. From the larger spaniels came the Field Spaniel and the Springer Spaniel which was officially recognised by the Kennel Club (UK) in 1902.
Like all spaniel-type dogs, the English Springer Spaniel is a dog that has a friendly, affectionate and loyal attitude that is eager to please and willing to learn new tricks. It has a good sense of humour which makes it a good therapy dog to bring into hospitals and nursing homes, but it can also be a nuisance barker if it’s bored or left alone. It will bark at strangers to get your attention, which makes it a good watchdog (but not a good guard dog). It is a people-oriented breed and will not do well on its own for long periods of time. It prefers to have a strong bond to its human family members. Some Springer Spaniels are known to develop a serious aggressive behaviour known as “Rage syndrome” – a sudden flare up of extreme aggression or dominance.
The English Springer Spaniel is smart, enthusiastic and eager to please so it is moderately easy to train. It can excel in several dog sports including obedience, agility, tracking and flyball. As far as skills is concerned, breeders train the Springer Spaniel to perform basic hunting skills appropriate for their job including retrieve to hand, soft mouth delivery, quarter flushing, scenting, hupping and how to follow hand signals. Some Springer Spaniels are also used as sniffer dogs by the police and the military, helping law enforcers find hidden explosives, contrabands, and other illegal stuff in airports and prisons, among other places.
Grooming requirements vary depending on the coat type but regular combing and brushing are important. A dog with an excess amount of cottony hair is prone to matting and should be groomed more often. A dog that has silky and flat hair may not need frequent grooming. The ears are prone to infection so make sure to inspect and clean them for excess wax when necessary.
Common health issues associated with the English Springer Spaniel include skin allergies, cataracts, deafness and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Rare health issues include canine hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, canine dilated cardiomyopathy and hurt murmurs. Springer Spaniels have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
This sturdy breed stores a lot of energy which it can transfer to mischievous activities if not properly exercised. A Springer Spaniel with inadequate exercise can become nervous and destructive but a properly trained and exercised English Springer Spaniel makes a wonderful family companion. Daily long walks or jogs are ideal exercises as well as running and playing off the leash in a well-secured yard. This dog loves to retrieve and swim so a yard with a swimming pool is an added bonus.
It is generally good with children particularly if it is brought up with the kids from puppyhood. It is also generally good with other dogs, cats and other small animals, but care must be taken when it is around birds and other avians as it may treat them as prey.
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