English Springer Spaniel

English Springer Spaniels are generally a hardy breed. However, as with many breeds, they can suffer from various hereditary eye disorders, and hip and elbow dysplasia (joint conditions that can be painful and lead to mobility problems). Eye testing and hip scoring of dogs prior to breeding is therefore important. A particular type of anaemia is also seen more frequently in the breed.  

The breed club monitor the health of the breed carefully and should be contacted for the most up-to-date information and details of any DNA or additional testing they recommend. Breed Clubs can be found on the Kennel Club website.

This is an energetic, outdoor dog, with plenty of stamina for either work or play. Several hours exercise per day is required although some of this should take the form of mental stimulation via scent games and retrieve work to help exercise this working dog’s busy mind and body.  

They will enjoy being involved in family activities, and should be taught to settle quietly from a young age, avoiding the temptation to try to exhaust them – a task that will never be fulfilled! 

English Springer Spaniels are economical dogs when it comes to housing and transportation and don’t need a large indoor space, but are happiest when wet and muddy in the middle of the countryside. As such, these are very much rural dogs that will need long energetic walks with plenty of opportunities to run, sniff and explore.

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food.

The body coat of the Springer Spaniel is flat or wavy and of medium length, and the ears, chest, legs, tail and under carriage have moderate feathering. As a result of this feathering some amount of grooming is required. Some trimming will be necessary around the head, feet and ears. Extra grooming is required especially after a day out in the undergrowth, as the coat can and will pick up all sorts of twigs and grass. Pay attention to ears and between paw pads, as these areas can easily pick-up grass seeds and other foreign bodies.

This is a breed who will actively enjoy training, whether in traditional gundog activities or any of the wide variety of dog sports and activities now available. They lend themselves well to scent work of any kind, and would enjoy tracking, man-trailing or scent discrimination. Springers are still very much working dogs at heart and so need a ‘job’ to do – whatever that is – as a bored Springer Spaniel is difficult to live with. 

Responding best to positive, reward-based training, English Springers should be taught early on to retrieve and swap found objects happily, and to recall reliably as their busy noses can lead them anywhere.

The Springer Spaniel is a friendly affectionate dog who is great for an active outdoorsy family, who aren’t afraid of mud and rain and love long country rambles. For less active families however they may be too demanding in their exercise requirements and while they would be happy to curl up in the pub after a long walk, they are certainly not a couch potato on a daily basis.  

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.