Tag archives: English springer spaniel

The intelligent, prey-driven English springer spaniel (ESS) has forged its path as a popular, hardworking companion for bird hunters while maintaining a loyal and affectionate personality suitable to family life. Until the early 1900’s, springer spaniels were produced in the same litters as cocker spaniels; springers were chosen from the largest puppies of the litter and were trained for flushing or “springing” game while the smaller littermates were labeled cocker spaniels and were trained for hunting the elusive woodcock. Since then, springer spaniels have been further split into the generally leaner, shorter haired field (hunting) variety and the denser boned, densely haired show (“bench”) line. Unfortunately, like other purebred dogs, English springer spaniels are known to inherit genetic diseases that can keep some individuals from reaching the great potentials for which the breed is capable. One such inherited condition is an eye disease known as progressive retinal atrophy, cone-rod dystrophy 4 (PRA-crd4) caused by a mutation in the RPGRIP1 gene.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is not a single disease, but rather a group of inherited diseases each caused by different genetic mutations in different genes. The various forms of PRA affect over 100 different dog breeds. Though there are variations ...

A medium-sized gun dog that is affectionate and eager to please, the English springer spaniel was the foundation stock for several other spaniel breeds, including the clumber, Welsh, Irish water and field spaniels. However, the breed it is most closely related to is the English cocker spaniel.

At one time, both springers and cockers were born in the same litter, the main difference being size – larger springers were used to flush (or “spring”) and retrieve all manner of game birds while the smaller cockers were used primarily for woodcock hunting (both breed names were derived from their hunting styles). As the two breeds developed, the differences became more pronounced, and in 1902 the springer was recognized as its own breed in England and in America in 1910.

The breed standard dictates that springers stand approximately 20 inches in height and weigh between 40 and 50 pounds. As with many breeds, a split has occurred that has created differences in those dogs used for working in the field and those shown in the conformation ring. This split is perhaps the most evident of all breeds and has been evident for at least 70 years. Working field dogs tend to be ...