General Characteristics
The English Springer Spaniel is a medium sized dog with a compact body and a moderately feathered tail that can be either docked or undocked. Its coat is moderately long with feathering on the legs, chest, ears and belly. The long ears, gentle expression and wagging tail proclaim to all that it is a member of the spaniel family. Its carriage is proud, body is sturdy and its legs are long and muscular. The Springer is a moderate dog gifted with a presence that suggests power, endurance, agility, style, symmetry, balance and enthusiasm. It is a distinct spaniel character combining beauty and utility.
The English Springer Spaniel stands 19-20 inches tall at the shoulders and weighs 49-55 pounds with bitches slightly smaller than dogs and field-bred dogs a bit lighter than those bred for the show ring. His head is about the same length as his neck, with a moderate stop; fairly broad, flat skull; flat cheeks; and jaws long enough to carry a bird — even if he’ll never know the joy of the hunt. His neck is moderately long for his body, and he works with his head carried high. His topline slopes gradually from withers to tail head, with the steepest incline from the withers to the back. His chest is moderately deep and ribs are neither flat nor overly rounded. His tail wags constantly. The show Springer is generally black and white or liver and white, with the either the white or the color predominating, but dogs of either color can have tan markings on eyebrows, cheeks, inside ears and under tail or show a blue roan or liver roan effect caused by white hairs in the colored portions of the coat. The field style tends to have a more mottled pattern to the coat. The Springer standard emphasizes the strong working gait that helps the breed excel in the field, in the breed ring, and in obedience and agility competitions. The gait should reflect a balanced conformation characterized by strong front and rear assemblies. The dog should have good reach (the front end) matched by strong drive (the rear end).
The Springer is gifted with a presence that suggests pride, power, endurance, agility, style, symmetry, balance and enthusiasm. It is a distinct spaniel character combining beauty and utility. The English Springer Spaniel is a dog characterized by a wagging docked tail whose enthusiasm, happy disposition , adaptability and willingness to please make it an excellent choice for a companion dog. Springers are cheerful dogs with a sense of humor. They are affectionate, good with children and noisy with intruders. They are ‘reactors’, but most don’t bark without a reason. Springers are comfortable at home in front of the fire or out romping through the park after the ever illusive squirrel, bird or ball. While thriving on the love and companionship of people it must be remembered that they require moderate exercise. Their loyal, patient, understanding and sweet disposition make the Springer an excellent friend for children and adults alike. They are actively represented in conformation, hunting, obedience, agility, fly-ball, tracking and therapy.
The breed character is merry, alert, and eager to please; the dog should be relatively easy to train for any purpose. Field-bred dogs have a higher energy level and need more exercise, but dogs of both types are good family companions. They are not overly suspicious of strangers and seem to get along well with other animals.
The English Springer Spaniel is a medium sized dog with a compact body and a moderately feathered tail that can be either docked or undocked. Its coat is moderately long with feathering on the legs, chest, ears and belly. The long ears, gentle expression and wagging tail proclaim to all that it is a member of the spaniel family. Its carriage is proud, body is sturdy and its legs are long and muscular. The Springer is a moderate dog gifted with a presence that suggests power, endurance, agility, style, symmetry, balance and enthusiasm. It is a distinct spaniel character combining beauty and utility.
The English Springer Spaniel stands 19-20 inches tall at the shoulders and weighs 49-55 pounds with bitches slightly smaller than dogs and field-bred dogs a bit lighter than those bred for the show ring. His head is about the same length as his neck, with a moderate stop; fairly broad, flat skull; flat cheeks; and jaws long enough to carry a bird — even if he’ll never know the joy of the hunt. His neck is moderately long for his body, and he works with his head carried high. His topline slopes gradually from withers to tail head, with the steepest incline from the withers to the back. His chest is moderately deep and ribs are neither flat nor overly rounded. His tail wags constantly. The show Springer is generally black and white or liver and white, with the either the white or the color predominating, but dogs of either color can have tan markings on eyebrows, cheeks, inside ears and under tail or show a blue roan or liver roan effect caused by white hairs in the colored portions of the coat. The field style tends to have a more mottled pattern to the coat. The Springer standard emphasizes the strong working gait that helps the breed excel in the field, in the breed ring, and in obedience and agility competitions. The gait should reflect a balanced conformation characterized by strong front and rear assemblies. The dog should have good reach (the front end) matched by strong drive (the rear end).
The Springer is gifted with a presence that suggests pride, power, endurance, agility, style, symmetry, balance and enthusiasm. It is a distinct spaniel character combining beauty and utility. The English Springer Spaniel is a dog characterized by a wagging docked tail whose enthusiasm, happy disposition , adaptability and willingness to please make it an excellent choice for a companion dog. Springers are cheerful dogs with a sense of humor. They are affectionate, good with children and noisy with intruders. They are ‘reactors’, but most don’t bark without a reason. Springers are comfortable at home in front of the fire or out romping through the park after the ever illusive squirrel, bird or ball. While thriving on the love and companionship of people it must be remembered that they require moderate exercise. Their loyal, patient, understanding and sweet disposition make the Springer an excellent friend for children and adults alike. They are actively represented in conformation, hunting, obedience, agility, fly-ball, tracking and therapy.
The breed character is merry, alert, and eager to please; the dog should be relatively easy to train for any purpose. Field-bred dogs have a higher energy level and need more exercise, but dogs of both types are good family companions. They are not overly suspicious of strangers and seem to get along well with other animals.
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