English Springer Spaniel
An energetic, friendly flushing spaniel with a great nose and a lot of enthusiasm for life.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 48–53 cm · Females 46–51 cm
- Weight
- Males 20–25 kg · Females 18–23 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Silky, medium
- Colours
- Liver, Black, White, Tricolour, Roan, Bicolour
- Bred for
- Flushing game, Retrieving, Companionship, Rescue work
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 8, no. 125 · Retrievers, flushing & water dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 5/5 – Very high |
| Playfulness | 5/5 – Very high |
| Needs mental stimulation | 5/5 – Very high |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- are very active and enjoy outdoor activity
- want a friendly, sociable dog
- enjoy training or dog sports
Think twice if you …
- want a calm dog that is happy with short walks
- work long hours away from home
- want a low-maintenance coat
Care
Temperament
Friendly, enthusiastic and affectionate, usually good with people and dogs. It can be very excitable without enough exercise.
Exercise
Needs at least one and a half hours of activity a day, more for working lines. Retrieving, scent work, agility and gundog training suit it.
Grooming
Brush the coat a few times a week and keep ears clean. Show-line coats need regular trimming around ears and feet.
Training
Eager and quick to learn, especially with toys and food. Structured, consistent training channels its drive well.
Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia, inherited eye disease, ear infections and some inherited metabolic conditions are known in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip and elbow scores, eye results and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
DNA tests
- PRA (cord1)
- Fucosidosis
- PFK deficiency
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The English Springer Spaniel was developed in Britain to find and flush game, springing it into the air for the guns, and then retrieve it. It was recognised as a separate breed from the smaller Cocker in the early 20th century. Show and working lines now differ a lot in coat, build and energy.
It is affectionate, cheerful and very busy. Working-line Springers in particular need hours of activity and a job, or they invent their own. Show-line dogs are often a little calmer but still need plenty of exercise. With enough to do it is a loving and adaptable family dog.
Did you know?
English Springer Spaniels are widely used by police, customs and the military as detection dogs.