English Springer Spaniel
History
- Spaniels were developed at least by the 1300s to flush birds into nets or to waiting falcons. Later, with the advent of shotguns, they were also used to find and point birds.
- Spaniels became specialized by their size, the terrain they hunted over, and the type of birds they hunted. The first record of land spaniels that may have been Springers was in the 1500s.
- By 1800, distinct strains of springer-type spaniels were bred in England. One prominent strain became known as Norfolk spaniels after the dogs bred by the Duke of Norfolk. These dogs heavily influenced the larger land spaniels.
- The American Spaniel Club was form in 1880, and began to separate the larger springer spaniels from the smaller Cocker spaniels. Until then, they were considered size variants of a single land spaniel breed.
- The larger land spaniel became known as the springer spaniel in 1900.
- The breed remained a popular and adept hunting spaniel, and also a formidable show dog.
- Springer spaniels have won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show six times between the first time in 1963 and the latest time in 2007.
- Both U.S. Presidents Bush have owned springer spaniels.
- The breed is the second most popular spaniel.
English Springer Spaniel Behavior Concerns
- Makes an exuberant and energetic companion.
- Usually good with children.
- A happy dog, not easily bothered by things.
- Eager to please and quick to learn, but can be excitable and easily distracted.
- Does best with reward-based training involving food.
- Outgoing toward strangers.
- Gets along well with other pets and dogs.
- Enjoys retrieving.
- Enjoys swimming.
- Some bark a lot.
- A few have been implicated in sudden aggressive episodes that appear to have little warning.
English Springer Spaniel Suggested Exercises
- Makes a fairly calm housedog if given adequate exercise.
- Requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog or energetic games.
- Field-bred dogs tend to be more energetic and require more exercise.
- A good candidate for dog parks.
- Obedience training is essential not only for control, but for the mental exercise it provides.
- Tolerates both warm and cool weather well.
English Springer Spaniel Grooming
- Coat is of medium length; silky, and either flat or wavy.
- The coat needs brushing and combing one to two times a week to prevent mats.
- Professional grooming and clipping is required every few months to keep up appearances.
- The ears must be checked weekly for problems.
- Shedding is average.
Suggested English Springer Spaniel Nutritional Needs
- Springers have a tendency to become overweight.
- Adult dogs should be fed a balanced diet, with restricted calories if the dog starts to gain too much weight.
- Puppies should be fed a balanced a puppy food.
