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History
The Springer Spaniel gets his name from his method of flushing game; he springs forward to drive birds out of hiding. This breed hunts well both on land and water and is good at working in brush. He also is a fine retriever. The English Springer's merry, gentle personality makes him an ideal family dog.
Description
A compact, hearty medium sized dog with long pendant ears, the English Springer Spaniel should be sturdy and neither too light nor too heavy. The dog should have a proud bearing, with a slightly sloping topline which is approximately the same length as the height at the withers (never longer). The tail is generally docked (and wagging!), and is held horizontally or slightly upward. The front legs should be straight. The feet are compact. The head is impressive but not too heavy, in good proportion to the rest of the dog. The length of the head should be about the same as the length of the neck. The stop is moderate with a groove rising between the eyes, gradually disappearing in the middle of the forehead. The topline of the skull and muzzle have approximately parallel planes. The eyes should have a kindly expression. The ears are set on in line with the eyes. When pulled forward, the ears should reach all the way to the tip of the nose. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite. The English Springer Spaniel has a double coat. The medium length outer coat is flat or wavy, and feathered. The undercoat varies according to climate and season. Colors are liver-and-white, and black-and-white (with or without tan markings), blue or liver roan. The white may have flecks of colored hairs.
Talents
Hunting, tracking, retrieving, watchdog, agility, competitive obedience, and performing tricks.
Personality
Most English Springers are great dogs for kids. Playful, gentle and energetic. A tail-wagger. Merry, brave and sweet. Best when with people as much as possible. Can get into trouble if left alone too long. Usually good with other pets with the possible exception of birds. Sometimes scrappy with same sex dogs. The English Springer breed has been experiencing a serious personality problem some individuals. An otherwise normal dog goes into sudden rage, viciously attacking people. During the attacks the dog does not respond to commands. This condition is generally not evident until the dog is one to two years old and any dog exhibiting this problem must be humanely euthanized. Check with breeders about history of "rage" in the lines.
Behavior
Children: Good with children.
Friendliness: Loves everyone.
Trainability: Easy to train.
Independence: Needs people a lot.
Dominance: Moderate.
Other Pets: May be aggressive with dogs of the same sex; do not trust with non-canine pets.
Combativeness: Friendly with other dogs.
Noise: Average barker.
Notes
Beware of hip dysplasia—buy from OFA certified stock (both parents and grandparents should be certified if possible). This breed tends to gain weight easily, so don't overfeed. Needs a lot of exercise to be happy. Train gently. Some skilled scissoring and clipping needed about every three months. The ears must be cleaned frequently.
Grooming
Grooming: Regular grooming needed.
Trimming & Stripping: Skilled trimming or stripping needed.
Coat: Feathered coat.
Shedding: Average shedder.
Docking: The tail is customarily docked.
Exercise: Vigorous daily exercise needed.
Jogging: An excellent jogging companion.
Indoors: Relatively inactive indoors.
Apartments: Will be OK in an apartment if sufficiently exercised.
Outdoor Space: Best with at least an average-size yard.
Climate: Does well in most climates.
Owner: Good for novice owners.
Longevity: Average (10 to 12 years).
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