English Springer Spaniel - Dog Breed Profile

Author: Dooziedog.com

Key Facts:

Size: Small - medium

Height: About 51 cm (20 inches)

Weight: About 23 kg (50 lb)

Life Span: 13 years

Grooming: Reasonable

Exercise: Demanding

Feeding: Medium

Temperament: Friendly & adaptable

Country of Origin: England

AKC Group: Sporting

Temperament:

The English Springer Spaniel is eager, willing, intelligent and active. English Springer Spaniels are able to adapt to either country or city life and make ideal family pets. They are loyal and affectionate towards their family and make good watchdogs. This breed get along with children, household animals and strangers. Training English Springer Spaniels is usually straightforward with their intelligence and pliable nature.

Grooming:

The coat needs to be brushed regularly and the excess hair in the ear canal and below the ear needs to be removed for adequate ventilation. English Springer Spaniels also need occasional trimming to keep the coat looking neat and tidy.

Exercise:

English Springer Spaniels tend to adapt to the family activities for their exercise needs. But they do enjoy retrieving, swimming and long walks.

History:

Apart from the Clumber Spaniel, this breed is the root from which all English land spaniels originated from. Because the sizes varied, spaniels were put into different classifications, due to being utilized for different purposes. In the 1800s, spaniels that were under 6.7kg (14 lb) were considered as lap (toy) spaniels; from 6.7 - 13kg (14-28 lb) they were known as Cocking Spaniels and the ones over 13kg (28 lb) were called Field Spaniels, English or Welsh Springer Spaniels. It was not until the 20th century that the English Springer Spaniel was separated from the others and became a separate breed.

Physical Characteristics:

General Appearance: Well-balanced, compact and steady.

Color: Liver/white, black/white, with or without tan.

Coat: Flat, close, water-resistant, straight with some feathering on the ears, forelegs, body and hindquarters.

Tail: Set low, commonly docked, never carried above the level of the back and well feathered.

Ears: Set at eye level, lobular, reasonable length, hanging close to the head and slightly arched.

Body: The body is strong and well proportioned. They tend to be heavier and long-legged than other spaniels. The chest is deep and the shoulders are sloping and well laid back.

Additional Comments:

English Springer Spaniels perform well in both agility and obedience competitions.

About the author: This article provided courtesy of http://www.dooziedog.com/dog_breeds/english_springer_spaniel/