English Springer Spaniel History

Every breed has an origin story, some are quite fascinating and take us back to a different time.

The springer-type spaniel was bred in the United Kingdom to flush out upland game birds while hunting. They would have the role of finding the birds, ‘springing’ them out of cover, pointing in the bird’s direction with their muzzle, and then retrieving them once they were down. Springer Spaniels were known for their ability to work all day long in bad weather conditions without tiring. They would then come home and provide companionship to the family in the evenings.

Springer Spaniels have been used extensively as detection dogs. Some of them have served with the military abroad, in hunting for explosives. Others are used for drug detection, in prisons, or for sniffing out illegal immigrants. Some mountain teams use them as search and rescue dogs, as they are hard working, and able to navigate rough terrain.

In 1913 an English Springer Spaniel was imported to Canada. They quickly grew in popularity both in Canada and the USA, and competed in dog shows as well as field trials. By the 1940s though, breeders had started to focus their efforts on one or the other. So nowadays they are bred to be good at winning either field trials or dog shows, but not both.

English Springer Spaniel Personality

Find out the personality you can expect from this breed.
English Springer Spaniels are full of life, enthusiasm and happiness, with a constantly wagging tail. They are affectionate people dogs, and will bark at visitors but make friends quickly. They need plenty of exercise to stay well behaved and may track some dirt into the house!

English Springer Spaniel Characteristics

Each dog is certainly unique, but every breed also has certain characteristics encoded into it's DNA.

This breed has a sturdy build, with a gentle expression on its face and long droopy ears. The coats tend to vary depending on whether they are bred for show or for hunting. Hunting dogs usually have a shorter and coarser coat, whereas show dogs have longer hair. Their coat color is usually either black or brown with white markings, white with black or liver markings, or a mix of the three colors.

Adaptability

English Springer Spaniels need their exercise, so you can live with them in an apartment, but need to make time to give them activity. Ideally they should have at least a medium sized yard to run around in. They don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time and may get mischievous or destructive. They are definitely people dogs, so if you work long hours you should probably choose a different breed.

Friendliness

These Spaniels like to be with their family, with children, and with anyone who will give them some attention. They may bark at strangers, but will make friends with them quickly, so they don’t make good guard dogs. They are good with children, but children should be taught how to interact with them, like not to approach them while they’re eating or pull their tail. Pets and other dogs usually get on fine with this breed, but remember they are bred to hunt birds. So a pet bird might not be such a good idea.

Grooming

Springer Spaniels should be brushed a few times a week to keep their coats looking good and prevent matting. They shed all year round, so brushing will also help with keeping the hair from decorating your house. Some owners take their Springer Spaniels to a professional groomer every few months to keep their coat trimmed and looking its best. Their teeth should be brushed a few times a week to keep them healthy, and their nails should be trimmed unless they wear them down naturally.

Trainability

These dogs have a strong desire to please so they are relatively easy to train. Socialization and obedience classes are a good idea to help them develop into a well rounded dog. With their energy and enthusiasm, English Springer Spaniels do need continued training and an active owner who is firm and in control. They have a strong hunting drive so will need to be kept on a leash when they’re outside so they don’t run off after birds. They should also be kept in a fenced in area at home for the same reason.

Exercise Needs

English Springer Spaniels will generally take as much exercise as you want to give them. They love outdoor activities, hikes and field trips. Long walks or play times will also work well, and ideally a large yard that is fenced in will give them some room to run off steam. They also do well in agility, obedience and tracking activities. These lively dogs can be quite hyperactive if they are not exercised, so if you want your home to remain intact then you will want to make sure they get enough activity.

English Springer Spaniel Nutritional Needs

Proper nutrition is key to raising a healthy dog, especially during their early days.

Try to feed your dog a high quality dog food, as it should pay off in health benefits later. Fresh water should always be available.

Puppy Stage

When you first bring your puppy home, keep him on the same food your breeder was giving him for a few days, and gradually transition him over. This will help him not to get an upset stomach. Their diet should be a food that is designed for puppies, as they have different nutritional requirements from adults.

Puppies should be fed 4 meals a day till they are about 4 or 5 months old. They can then be transitioned to 3 meals a day, till about 9 months old. By this stage they should generally be fine with two meals a day, although some owners feed them only one meal a day.

Diet Needs

Sometimes they may go off their food. If this happens you can try flavoring it with some beef or chicken stock, or mixing in some chicken or beef mince or pasta to give some variety. Be aware that giving them too many table scraps may make them picky so that they go off their normal food. If your Springer Spaniel is especially hyperactive you might want to experiment with giving him some food that doesn’t contain any additives, as some owners claim this calms them down.

Feeding

Recommended daily feeding amount: 1.5 to 2 cups of high quality food daily divided into two meals.

Puppies will usually need more food than adults. Food requirements will also vary through your dog’s life, depending on his activity, age and metabolism. Working dogs will need more calories, and dogs that live outside will need more to eat when it is cold.

Pregnant dogs will also need more to eat, especially as they near the end of their pregnancy, and while they’re feeding their puppies. As a guide to making sure your dog doesn’t become overweight, you should be able to see his waistline and feel his ribs.

English Springer Spaniel Common Health Concerns

The one thing none of us want to even imagine, but it's important to be informed on the common breed specific issues.

English Springer Spaniels are prone to Hip Dysplasia as are many other breeds. This results in the thigh bone not fitting properly into the hip socket and can cause lameness. If you buy your puppy from a reputable breeder you can ask for proof that the parents were cleared of having it. It is generally genetic but can also be caused by rapid growth at a young age, or from injuries.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is another condition that is genetic. The Retina gradually deteriorates, causing night blindness to start with, and eventually daytime blindness as well. Dogs can still live a relatively normal life with this condition, since they get used to where all the furniture is.

Other hereditary conditions include Retinal Dysplasia, which can cause blindness, and Phosphofructokinase (PFK) Deficiency. PFK is an enzyme that the body uses to produce sugar for energy. A deficiency might not give many symptoms, but in severe cases it can cause wasting away of muscles, hyperventilation and fever. It can be tested for using a blood test.

With their floppy ears there is a lack of circulation in the area, so Springer Spaniels do have a tendency to get ear infections. The best way to prevent these is to check and clean their ears regularly and keep them dry. If their ears do get infected then a vet will usually prescribe antibiotics and a daily cleaning solution.

English Springer Spaniel How to Get One

Interested in procuring this breed for yourself or your close ones? Here are some helpful resources.

Rescue Groups: English Springer Rescue America | Mid Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue | New England English Springer Spaniel Rescue

English Springer Spaniels are often purchased without any clear understanding of what goes into owning one. There are many English Springer Spaniels in need of adoption and or fostering. There are a number of rescues that we have not listed. If you don’t see a rescue listed for your area, contact the national breed club or a local breed club and they can point you toward an English Springer Spaniel rescue.

Breed Organizations: Eastern English Springer Spaniel Club

Above are breed clubs, organizations, and associations where you can find additional information about English Springer Spaniels.