Russian Spaniel

The Russian Spaniel is a compact Soviet-era gun dog, made to work the terrain the imported English spaniels struggled with.

History

Russian hunters had been importing Cockers and Springers since the nineteenth century and found them short of leg and stamina for Russian conditions. Breeders in Leningrad crossed them from the 1940s to produce a longer-legged, hardier spaniel, and the breed was standardised in 1951. It remains common in Russia and little known elsewhere.

Temperament

The breed is known for being cheerful, biddable and closely attached to its family, sociable with people and keen to work.

Care and training

It needs substantial exercise and work for its nose. The moderate feathered coat needs regular brushing and the drop ears want checking.

Health

Generally robust, with ear infections and a tendency to obesity among the known concerns. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.