All About Springers

History

During the long history of Britain’s land spaniels, dogs described as “cockers” or “springers” were often born in the same litter. It would take many generations of careful, purposeful breeding before such sporting spaniels as the English Springer Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, and Field Spaniel could be sorted into the distinct breeds we know today.

England’s springer-type spaniel first emerged centuries ago to work on upland game birds. Before the invention of the wheel-lock firearm in the 17th century, springing spaniels worked in tandem with hunters who brought down their quarry with nets, falcons, or bows, or some combination of these. After the hunting rifle revolutionized the sport, springers quickly earned a reputation as eager and reliable gundogs.

The English Springer’s job is to detect game birds in high grass or bramble, flush or “spring” the birds from their cover, then point and retrieve the downed bird. Breed literature tells us that Springers will work relentlessly all day in the field and then, in the words of one historian, “retire to the easy companionship of family, hearth, and home after a good day’s hunt.”

At the first British dog shows, in the 1870s, English and Welsh Springer Spaniels were exhibited as the same breed. This held until 1902, when the Kennel Club (England) recognized the two Springers separately. English Springers gained their first great North American fame in the 1920s, and they soon made their mark as a tough but stylish gundog in the bird fields of America and Canada. The English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, the breed’s AKC parent club, held its first meeting in 1924. In recent years, the breed’s trainability, durability, and keen nose have been used to great advantage in K-9 detection work.

Source: AKC

Is an English Springer Spaniel the Right Breed for You?

Cheerful and affectionate, Springers love their families and like to stick close to their owners. They make excellent house pets but require daily exercise and need regular brushing and trimming to keep their coats neat and free of mats. They need and want to be part of the family and should be treated as such. They LOVE attention! Springer Spaniels are referred to as the “Velcro Dogs” for good reason. The English Springer Spaniel has been listed in the top 10 most trainable breeds recognized by AKC. They are smart! Sometimes smarter than we realize. They need structure, boundaries and attentive owners. If you can handle devotion, snuggles and a dog that follows you everywhere, this may be the breed for you! 

Springer Colors

Purebred English Springer Spaniels come in the following colors:

(1) Black or Liver with white markings or predominantly white with black or liver markings;
(2) Blue or liver roan;
(3) Tricolor: black and white or liver and white with tan markings, usually found on eyebrows, cheeks, inside of ears and under the tail. Any white portion of the coat may be flecked with ticking.
(4) Sable (may be black tipped)
(5) Lemon (very light variation of red)

Note: Sable and Lemon are currently considered out of standard by the AKC. However, dogs of these colors may still be registered.