Field Spaniel
Temperament:
Are you looking for a loyal, kind, gentle family member? Then the rare Field Spaniel could be the right canine friend for you. The former hunting dog scores not only with his elegant appearance, but also with his bright nature.
Characteristics
The Field Spaniel has a long, silky coat. Its color is black, liver brown or moldy. Tan markings are a typical feature of the breed. White markings on the chest are also permissible. The ears, forelegs, belly and tail of the Field Spaniel show pronounced feathering. The Field Spaniel has a height at the withers of about 46 cm and a weight of about 25 kg.
With a friendly, gentle and good-natured nature, this medium-sized dog breed is the perfect choice for the active family. Maybe you are looking for a companion for various (dog) sports. Then you should take a closer look at this four-legged friend, because in agility and co. he can live out his urge to move. Of course, the persistent four-legged friend is also the ideal companion for hiking, jogging or cycling.
Despite its quiet character, the Field Spaniel is not a dull boy. He wants to be challenged and encouraged - physically and mentally. As an original working and hunting dog, he has also retained a certain independence. Towards strangers, the four-legged dog is usually somewhat skeptical and reserved at first.
There are few problems in raising the sensitive Field Spaniel, as he is very docile and likes to please. However, care should be taken not to encourage the characteristic hunting instinct. Otherwise, a free run in the forest can quickly end in a search operation, if the attentive four-legged friend has startled a rabbit.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
When the Field Spaniel begs for food with his heartwarming "Dachshund look", hardly anyone can resist. But one should beware of simply stuffing everything into the dog.
High quality feed is important. It does not matter so much whether it is fresh food or a ready-made food. For an adult Field Spaniel 250 grams of meat per day is sufficient. Of course, the ration can be supplemented with vegetables or pasta/rice/potatoes.
It goes without saying that, as with all dogs, you do not feed food scraps from the table.
Field Spaniel Care
The long and silky coat of the Field Spaniel should be combed or brushed daily. Especially the long feathering on the paws, the ears or also on the belly tends to mat. Bathing with mild shampoo can also help keep the coat supple. However, the agent should be used sparingly, so as not to damage the protective layer of the skin.
Particular attention should be paid to the long drooping ears. Regular cleaning prevents inflammation associated with unpleasant odor.
Suitable accessories
Of course, like all dogs, the Field Spaniel needs a water bowl and a bowl for his food.
In addition, a small assortment of combs and brushes should be available for grooming.
A special agent for cleaning the ears and a mild dog shampoo can be purchased at specialty stores. Also recommended is a small pair of sharp scissors to cut tangles from the fur.
The playful Field Spaniel is happy about dog toys that keep him physically and mentally occupied.
Origin & History
The Field Spaniel, which originated in England, cannot deny its kinship with the better known Cocker Spaniel. In the 19th century, spaniels in Great Britain were divided only into land (field) and water spaniels. All Spaniels were also interbred, which explains their similarity. In 1892, the Field Spaniel was recognized as a show dog. Before that, he was used exclusively as a hunting dog.
He is thus one of the first Spaniels with its own breed type.
Over the years, breeders tried again and again to change the appearance of the breed. However, by crossbreeding with different types of dogs, the Field Spaniel lost many of its characteristics that made it a good hunting companion. For example, they tried to make the breed more leggy by mixing it with an Irish Setter. The Basset Hound was supposed to bring about more varied color strokes.
All attempts to breed the breed more attractively failed and so the field spaniel almost fell into oblivion several times in the 20th century. The increasing popularity of the cocker spaniel made the attention for the partly overbred field spaniel shrink further.
In 1923, the "Field Spaniel Society" was founded in England and a few breeders managed to preserve a few original representatives and thus the breed.
It was not until 1954 that the Field Spaniel was recognized and registered by the FCI as an independent breed. Only very slowly the population of this lovable breed recovers.
If you want to call a purebred, original representative your own, you usually have to search for a long time and travel long distances - but it's worth it!
