English Springer Spaniel

Temperament:

Friendly, Unconcerned, Stubborn
Size: Medium
Height: 51 cm
Weight: 23-25 kg
Lifespan: 12-14 years
Coat: Medium Hair
Colors: White-liver, Black-white, Lemon yellow-white, Red-white, Orange-white
FCI Group: Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs

The cheerful and lively English Springer Spaniel impresses with its splendid appearance. It offers character, health and a racy build. Its friendly, easy-going and obedient nature will quickly win your heart. Characteristics such as aggression or fearfulness are alien to him. In the past, he was used purely as a hunting dog to track down game. Today, he is a reliable companion even without a working test.

English Springer Spaniel
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Characteristics

The English Springer Spaniel is a robust, medium-sized and friendly companion. It belongs to the rummaging and retrieving dogs and hunts with a strong bark. This loud hunting sound has a higher pitch than the usual barking. Of all British spaniels, it is the tallest on the legs. His dark brown, almond-shaped eyes look curious and alert.

The tail used to be docked. Today it harmonizes with the symmetrical overall appearance of the Spaniel. When walking slowly, the typical gait of the breed becomes visible.

He loves his human and is loyal to his pack. A spaniel never becomes dominant, but wants to please its owner. He tries to assert his stubbornness with intelligence. With the right mixture of consistency and love, you can get on well with them.

Spaniels do not like to be left alone. They want to be with their pack and quickly feel lonely and abandoned. The child-loving hunting dog is a late developer. Their mental and physical development is not complete until they are 2 years old.

In England and the USA, it is one of the most popular dog breeds. Two different breeding lines have emerged there. One that promotes the nature of the family dog and one that values the characteristics of the proven, confident hunting dog.

The differences lie not only in their temperament. Hunting dogs from English-speaking countries have shorter and higher-set ears as well as a smaller stature. In Germany, there are no differences in appearance between the two main lines. Find out beforehand which show line your Springer comes from.

You don't want to hunt with your spaniel? But he has a strong hunting instinct? Simply use his passion for hunting to play games together. Tracking, retrieving exercises and search games are particularly fun for him and keep him occupied in a species-appropriate way. Your hunting dog will be optimally encouraged and kept busy.

With an English Springer Spaniel, you are not buying a guard dog. He will alert you when strangers are in the vicinity. However, its gentleness prevents intruders from being consistently chased away.

Some English Springer Spaniels urinate with joy. This usually happens when the owner comes home. This submissive urination can be prevented by a more discreet greeting ritual.

There are only a few hereditary diseases that affect this robust breed. Progressive retinal atrophy and fucosidosis occur sporadically. Both diseases are inherited recessively. This means that both parents must be affected by this genetic defect. A puppy from a reputable breeding program will not suffer from these diseases later on.

Some jumpers are susceptible to ear infections.

Inherited dominant aggression can occur in this breed. It is also known as Springer Rage Syndrome. The aggression is directly directed towards family members. They can attack these people for no reason at all and cause bite injuries. You should therefore take a very close look at the pedigree before deciding on a spaniel.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

This friendly dog is a real vacuum cleaner. He loves to eat and is not a whiner. This makes him easy to train, but he can quickly put on a few extra pounds.

A higher food bowl prevents the long floppy ears from getting stuck in the food.

When choosing food, make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients, is balanced and meets your dog's requirements. Age, size or weight, activity and health status play an important role here. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food.

Treats should only be fed in moderation and deducted from the basic diet to avoid obesity.

Puppies can be fed 4-6 times a day. The number of meals should be gradually reduced to 2 per day until the dog is fully grown. A rest period should be observed after meals.

Health & Care

The dense, smooth and weatherproof coat needs your attention. If it is not brushed daily, it tangles easily. It should be trimmed every 2 to 3 months. Get him used to this procedure in good time, then he will take it in his stride and you will build up a deeper bond with him.

As its fur is soft, you can easily remove dirt.

You should keep an eye on his lop ears as they are prone to infection. You can prevent this by keeping his ears clean. As he often has his nose down and likes to sniff around, his ears tend to drag on the ground. This way they pick up anything that gets stuck.

In the predominantly white coat with liver-brown or black patches, you will find ticks and other creatures more quickly than with completely dark-haired dogs.

Dogs lose a lot of hair during the shedding period.

Some dogs develop an unpleasant odor due to increased sebaceous gland production. In mild cases, the vet will prescribe a mild dog shampoo.

Teeth should also be cared for regularly.

The claws usually wear off by themselves. If this is not the case, the claws should be trimmed regularly to prevent injuries and misalignment.

Suitable accessories

This very active dog loves exercise and play. Go jogging or cycling with him. If you have less time, you can give him a workout with a stimulation rod. A ten-minute game with it will challenge him just as much as a one-hour walk.

Unfortunately, the only way to combat animal infestations on and in dogs is usually with chemicals. Your vet will be happy to help and advise you.

You pay dog tax for your dog in Germany. You simply register it with the authorities. Liability insurance is recommended. It is not very expensive, but can protect your wallet from disappointment in the event of a claim.

Your dog needs a harness or collar and a lead so that you are both safe when out and about. Your dog must be well secured in the car. A transport box is suitable for this. You should also think about bowls, a lying area and possibly a dog flap.

A dummy or food bag is suitable for retrieving. Sometimes hidden pieces of food are enough to encourage the dog to search.

For grooming, you will need a brush, shampoo and tick tweezers. The ears are cleaned with a clean, damp cloth. Claw nippers are recommended for the claws. If you want to trim the dog yourself, you will also need the right equipment.

English Springer Spaniel History

Origin & History

The Springer Spaniel is one of the oldest hunting dog breeds. Shortly after the beginning of our era, the Romans occupied Britain. They took the ancestors of the English Springer Spaniel with them. There they were crossed with native dogs. The result was a robust hunting dog with a reddish-brown coat.

In 1520, the "Springer" was mentioned for the first time in Great Britain in the description of hunting methods. The Duke of Norfolk bred the hunting dog breed "Norfolk Spaniel" from them in the 17th century.

This breed name was changed to English Springer Spaniel 1 century later.

In 1902, the dog was recognized as an independent British breed.

It was precisely at this time that hunters in Germany became aware of the hunting dog. International recognition by the "Fédération Cynologique Internationale" followed in 1954.