English Springer Spaniel

The English Springer Spaniel is the flushing spaniel most British shooting is built around — it springs game from cover for the gun and retrieves it afterwards.

History

It comes from the old population of British land spaniels, separated by size rather than pedigree: the larger dogs that flushed game became springers, the smaller ones that worked woodcock became cockers, and the two appeared in the same litters until the twentieth century. Working and show lines have since diverged so far that a field-bred springer and a show-bred one look like different breeds.

Temperament

The breed is known for being cheerful, affectionate and eager to work, sociable with people and other dogs, and happiest with a job and a person to do it for.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and real occupation, particularly from working lines. It trains willingly. The feathered coat needs regular brushing and the long drop ears want checking after wet work.

Health

Known tendencies include hip dysplasia, ear infections, progressive retinal atrophy and, in some lines, an inherited enzyme deficiency breeders test for. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.