INTRODUCTION

The English Springer Spaniel dog breed was developed as a hunting dog for flushing, or jumping, game in the field, but they are also popular companions. Athletic and versatile, they have been known to participate in agility, hunting trials, tracking, obedience trials and more, and are great friends to have along hiking or camping. It’s hard to find a more affectionate family member, but this puppy needs room to run. AniMall24 recommends a dog bed to give your medium-sized English Springer Spaniel a good night’s sleep. You should also buy a dog toy to burn off your puppy’s high energy.

HIGHLIGHTS

English Springer Spaniels do not like to be left alone and can become nuisance barkers if they are bored or lonely.In recent years, there have been reports of English Springer Spaniels being aggressive or overly submissive. Make sure your Springer comes from a breeder who tests their breeding dogs for health and temperament.Essentially, there are two varieties of English Springer Spaniel: those intended for field work and those intended for show. Make sure you know the difference and purchase the type that best suits your needs. Do not expect your English Springer Spaniel to be a good watchdog. They bark at noises and when strangers approach, but calm down quickly and want to be petted.English Springer Spaniels were developed to have great stamina and energy. Make sure you can provide your dog with adequate exercise or it may become nervous and destructive.Some English Springer Spaniels may demonstrate submissive urination, meaning they urinate in excitement or anxiety when you come home. The best way to deal with this is to make arrivals home very discreet by not looking at or paying attention to your dog until you have been home for a few minutes. Be sure to keep your English Springer Spaniel on a lead when taking him into unprotected areas. To get a healthy dog, never buy a puppy from an irresponsible breeder, puppy mill or pet shop. Look for a reputable breeder who tests their breeding dogs to make sure they have no genetic diseases that can be passed on to puppies, and that they have a sound temperament.

HISTORY

Spaniel type dogs are believed to have originated in Spain – hence the name – many centuries ago and were probably taken to other parts of the world by the Romans or via trading ships. Spaniels are mentioned in Welsh legislation as early as 300 A.D. That’s more than 1,700 years ago! Spaniels similar in appearance to today’s English Springer Spaniel are depicted in works of art from the 16th and 17th centuries. Before guns were invented, the spaniel was used to scare away game birds or small animals by jumping on them and driving them out into the open so that they could be caught by hunting hawks, hounds or nets thrown over them. When firearms were invented in the 17th century, spaniels proved to be especially adept at hunting for marksmen.During the 19th and early 20th century in England, dogs in the same litter were classified by their hunting use rather than by their breed. The smallest dogs in the litter were used for woodcock hunting and were therefore called Cockers. In 1902, the Kennel Club of England granted a special place in its stud book for the English Springer Spaniel, and a separate classification at its show in 1903. At that show, Mr. William Arkwright judged the breed. He awarded the Challenge Certificate to Mr. Winton Smith’s dog Beechgrove Will and the Best of Opposite Sex went to Mr. Harry Jones’ bitch Fansome. In 1906, Beechgrove Will became the first Champion of the breed and in 1913, an English Springer Spaniel was imported by a Canadian breeder. Just over 10 years later, the breed had become one of the most popular breeds registered by the American Kennel Club. The English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, the parent club of the breed in the United States, was formed in 1924. This changed in the early 1940’s, when field trial enthusiasts began breeding dogs with qualities that would produce the best results in the field, and show enthusiasts began breeding dogs that were consistent with the breed standard, and had the “flash” to win in the show ring.Field bred dogs are bred for a keen sense of scent, speed, style, working ability and stamina above all else, and today the two types do not interbreed. Both types have the working instinct and can be trained for shooting, but very few English Springer Spaniels work both in the field and in show trials. The last dual champion (meaning he was champion in both field trials and conformation) was a dog named Green Valley Punch in 1938. However, whether a field or show dog, the English Springer today is a popular breed, ranking 26th among breeds registered by the American Kennel Club.