The English Springer Spaniel is a breed of gun dog traditionally used for flushing and retrieving game. It is one of many spaniel breeds. Download high resolution version (800x607, 56 KB)Photograph by Jurriaan Schulman copyright Jurriaan Schulman. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) is the peak body in Australia responsible for promoting excellence in breeding, showing, trialling, obedience, and other canine-related activities and the ownership of temperamentally and physically sound purebred dogs by responsible individuals across Australia. ... The Canadian Kennel Club (or C.K.C.) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. ... The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom is a club aiming to improve the relationships between dogs and their owners. ... The New Zealand Kennel Club is an organisation responsible for dog pedigree registration services in New Zealand. ... The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Gundogs, also called bird dogs, are a category of dog breeds developed to assist hunters to find and retrieve game, usually birds. ... Most spaniels, like this English Cocker Spaniel, are small-to-medium dogs with drop ears and a longer coat. ...

Description

Solid liver and white coat colour (show-bred)

English Springer Spaniel solid liver and white Spencer (7 months old) Taken Feb 22,2004 at the SMART/USDAA dog agility competition in Salinas, CA. Photo by Ellen Levy Finch (Elf). ... English Springer Spaniel solid liver and white Spencer (7 months old) Taken Feb 22,2004 at the SMART/USDAA dog agility competition in Salinas, CA. Photo by Ellen Levy Finch (Elf). ...

Appearance

Standards

Field Bred Dog, though AKC registered

The English Springer Spaniel represents perhaps the greatest divergence between working and show lines of any breed of dog. A field-bred dog and a show-bred dog appear to be different breeds, but are registered together. In fact, the gene pools are almost completely segregated and have been for at least 70 years.^[1] A field bred dog would not be even remotely competitive in a modern dog show while a show dog would be unlikely to have the speed or stamina to succeed in a field trial. Image File history File linksMetadata Field_Bred_ESS_on_the_Line. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Field_Bred_ESS_on_the_Line. ...

Field-bred dogs tend to have shorter, coarser coats than the show-bred dogs. Their ears are less pendulous. Field-bred dogs are wiry and have more of a feral look than their show-bred cousins. The tail of the field bred dog is only docked by a few inches in comparison to the show dog to provide a "flag" for the hunter. Docking also prevents laceration of the tail during hunting. Field-bred dogs are generally selected for nose, hunting ability, and trainability rather than appearance.

Show dogs have longer fur and more pendant ears, dewlaps and dangling flews. The tail is docked to a short stub in those countries that permit docking. They are generally more thickly boned and heavier than field-bred springers. A Mastiff with a dewlap A dewlap is a flap of skin that hangs beneath the chin of an animal. ...

Coat

Field-bred dogs tend to have shorter, coarser coats than the show-bred dogs, which should have longer fur. They normally only shed in summer and spring months, but shed occasionally in the fall.

Colours

The coat comes in three different colour combinations. Black and white, liver and white and either combination can have tan above the eyes or muzzle. Dogs bred for show are generally more colour than white, whereas sporting dogs tend to have more white in their coats for visibility. A dogs coat is its fur. ...

Sizes

Males in the show dog line average approximately 18–20 inch (45–50 cm) at the withers and weigh on average 50–55 lb (23–25 kg). According to the UK (FCI) Breed Standard, the English Springer Spaniel should be 20 inches (51 cm) at the withers. The withers is the highest point on an animals back, on the ridge between its shoulder blades. ...

Temperament

English Springer Spaniels make good family dogs.

The Springer is an affectionate and easy-going family dog, and its alertness and attentiveness make it the ideal hunting companion. An intelligent dog, active and eager to please, a Springer is easily incorporated into a family setting.

Although good with children, it tends to have a moderate to high energy level. Its long-legged build makes it among the fastest of the spaniels. It has unlimited stamina and needs plenty of activity, to focus its mind and to provide substantial exercise, although this is different for each dog.

Like any breed described as "good with children", a Springer Spaniel must be accustomed to children. Any dog that is not well socialised with children will not behave predictably around them. A family posing for a group photo socializes together. ...

In general, the breed is good with other pets, such as cats and ferrets. However, some English Springer Spaniels may not be suitable for homes with pet birds without additional training, due to their natural hunting instinct. As with all breeds, dogs must become accustomed to other pets, and it's better to introduce two pets when they are both very young. Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ... This article is about the mammal. ...

English Springer Spaniels are energetic, cheerful, happy and playful animals; many owners find humour in their play. As with many playful dogs or hunting dogs bred as retrievers, these dogs will play with things as simple as empty plastic bottles, socks, or towels. These spaniels easily remember where such things are kept and are good at getting them out. English Springer Spaniels need a lot of regular exercise and mental stimulation for optimum mental health. Composite body, painted, and glazed bottle. ... For other uses, see Sock (disambiguation). ... A towel is a piece of absorbent fabric or paper used for drying or wiping. ...

Health

As in most breeds, there are some health issues that are more likely to occur in this breed. Hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) are two such diseases for which veterinarians are working on genetic markers to determine carriers. Retinal dysplasia (RD) and Phosphofructokinase deficiency (PFK) are two other hereditary conditions the English springer spaniel should be screened for prior to breeding. Canine Eye Research Foundation (CERF) and Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) certifications for the father and mother of a litter of pups provides some information about eye and hip wellness. This article covers Hip dysplasia, a condition affecting the hip joint, which occurs in humans but is more commonly associated with animals, especially dogs (Canine hip dysplasia). ... Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a genetic disease of the retina that occurs bilaterally and is seen in certain breeds of dogs. ... Retinal dysplasia is an eye disease affecting the retina of animals. ... Phosphofructokinase deficiency, also known as Taruis disease[1], is a metabolic disorder with autosomal recessive inheritance, in which deficiency of the M subunit of the phosphofructokinase enzyme impairs the ability of cells such as erythrocytes and rhabdomyocytes to use carbohydrates (such as glucose) for energy. ... The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is an organisation that aims to research and prevent orthopedic and Hereditary diseases in animals. ...

Some English Springer Spaniels are prone to ear infections. Susceptible individuals should have their ear canals cleaned weekly with a solution that will leave the ear in an acidic state to retard the growth of yeast and bacteria. Keeping the hair trimmed around the ear can also help. The ear canal (external auditory meatus, external acoustic meatus), is a tube running from the outer ear to the middle ear. ... For other uses, see Acid (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Candida albicans (C.P. Robin) Berkhout 1923 Synonyms Candida stellatoidea [1] Candida albicans is a diploid asexual fungus (a form of yeast), and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and vaginal infections in humans. ... Phyla Actinobacteria Aquificae Chlamydiae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Lentisphaerae Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Verrucomicrobia Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are unicellular microorganisms. ...

Other health issues include autoimmune diseases, which include allergies and other sensitivities to the environment. These are not common, but are found in the breed. Autoimmunity is the failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts (down to the sub-molecular levels) as self, which results in an immune response against its own cells and tissues. ... Allergy is an abnormal reaction to a substance foreign to the body that is acquired, predictable and rapid. ...

Skills

An English Springer Spaniel catching a tennis ball

An English Springer Spaniel is first and foremost an upland flushing dog. In performing this task there are some skills the dog must be trained to perform. Picture of Spot Fetcher - G.W. Bushs Dog Picture taken from: http://www. ... Picture of Spot Fetcher - G.W. Bushs Dog Picture taken from: http://www. ... A green Penn tennis ball. ...

• Retrieve to Hand The majority of hunters and all hunt test or field trial judges require that a dog deliver a bird to hand, meaning that a dog will hold the bird until told to give it to the hunter directly.
• Soft Mouth It is desired that a springer deliver game with a soft mouth, meaning he does not puncture it with his teeth. The game should always be fit for the table. If a springer damages the bird, it may be hard mouthed. This is a serious fault, but it can be difficult to determine whether it may have been genetic or caused by poor training methods. It is usually wise to avoid breeding any springer that is hard mouthed.
• Quarter A flushing spaniel's primary role is often as an upland flushing dog. Dogs must work in a zig-zag pattern in front of the hunter seeking upland game birds. The dog must be taught to stay within gun range to avoid flushing a bird outside of shooting distance. This pattern is one of the primary criteria used to judge a dog in a field trial.
• Scenting Having the ability to scent game is of vital importance to the hunter. A springer should have a good nose in both wet and dry conditions. A dog with a good nose will learn to use the wind as it quests for game, ever adjusting its pattern according to the nuances of the wind.
• Flushing The springer should have a positive flush. It should not hesitate or point when encountering game. Some field trial dogs will often get airborne during a flush. This is exciting to watch, but is not necessary to win. Most hunters prefer that their dog not flush in that style, as it can present a risk to the dog.
• Hup This is the traditional command to sit and stay. When hupped the dog can be given direction called to the handler. The ability to hup a dog actively working a running bird allow the handler and any gunners to keep up without having to run.
• Follow Hand Signals Upland hunting involves pursuing wild game in its native habitat. Gun dogs must investigate likely covers for upland game birds. The dog must be responsive to hand signals in order for the hunter to be able to direct the dog into areas of particular interest.
• Steady When hunting upland birds, a flushing dog should be steady to wing and shot, meaning that he sits when a bird rises or a gun is fired. He does this in order to mark the fall and to avoid flushing other birds when pursuing a missed bird.
• Blind Retrieve An adequately trained and experienced working springer can be expected to use all of the aforementioned attributes to be conducted by hand, whistle and command to a position whereby an unmarked lost game bird can be picked and retrieved to hand.

A hunt test is an event at which the ability and training of gun dogs are evaluated against a standard. ... A Spaniel Field Trial A field trial is a highly competitive event at which hunting dogs usually compete against one another. ... Upland game is an American term which refers to those game birds hunted with pointing breeds, flushing spaniels, and retrievers which are not water fowl. ... A Spaniel Field Trial A field trial is a highly competitive event at which hunting dogs usually compete against one another. ...

History

This spaniel is an older breed, appearing in paintings as early as the 1600s. It is possibly the ancestor of most modern spaniels; Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels were not recognized as separate breeds until the 1800s. Most spaniels, like this English Cocker Spaniel, are small-to-medium dogs with drop ears and a longer coat. ... Cocker Spaniel refers to two different breeds of dogs, both of which are commonly called simply Cocker Spaniel in their countries of origin: American Cocker Spaniel English Cocker Spaniel Categories: | ...

The purpose of the breed was to serve as a hunting dog. Before guns were used to shoot game, the land spaniel would "spring"—or flush—the gamebird into the air where a trained falcon or hawk would bring it to the handler. This article is about the hunting of prey by human society. ... Game is any animal hunted for food. ... For other uses, see Falcon (disambiguation). ...

As the shotgun replaced the bird of prey for the hunter, the English Springer Spaniel continued to serve as a hunting companion. Although most are hunted on traditional upland game, the springer spaniel is adept at hunting waterfowl and small game, as well. They are excellent rabbit dogs.^[2] The spaniel is trained to "hup"—or sit—until the hunter casts the dog off to start hunting. A good spaniel is bold to cover, has an excellent "wet" or "dry" nose, works within gun range in an efficient, merry fashion and has a strong flush. The dog should mark the fall of the bird – or accept minimal handling to the area of the fall, where its nose can locate the downed bird's scent. After finding dead or wounded game, the spaniel should have a quick pick up, return to the hunter and deliver the prize with a soft mouth. For other uses, see Shotgun (disambiguation). ... Falcated Duck at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands centre, Gloucestershire, England Wildfowl or waterfowl, also waterbirds, is the collective term for the approximately 147 species of swans, geese and ducks, classified in the order Anseriformes, family Anatidae. ...

Famous English Springer Spaniels

Millie, pet of George H. W. Bush

• Buster, Dickin Medal recipient, Royal Army Veterinary Corps arms and explosives search dog serving with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment in Iraq, for finding an extremist group's hidden arsenal of weapons and explosives.
• Spot Fetcher, pet of US President George W. Bush
• Millie Bush, pet of former President George H. W. Bush and mother of Spot Fetcher.
• Merlin MacDonald, pet of Celtic lore that aided William Wallace in the defeat of the English army in the Battle of Stirling Bridge

Download high resolution version (514x702, 81 KB)Spot Spotty Fetcher, an English Springer Spaniel is photographed on the South Lawn, May 28, 2001 Picture of Spot Fetcher from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (514x702, 81 KB)Spot Spotty Fetcher, an English Springer Spaniel is photographed on the South Lawn, May 28, 2001 Picture of Spot Fetcher from http://www. ... George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States, serving from 1989 to 1993. ... The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. ... Cap badge of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps The Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and care of animals. ... Official name The Duke of Wellingtons Regiment (West Riding) Colonel-in-Chief Brigadier His Grace Arthur Valerian Wellesley KG LVO OBE MC BA DL, 8th Duke of Wellington Colonel-of-the-Regiment Major-General Sir Evelyn John Webb-Carter KCB Nicknames The Dukes, The Havercake Lads, The Pattern, The... Spot Fetcher. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Barbara Bush and Millie Mildred Kerr Bush (January 12, 1985 - May 19, 1997) better known as Millie, was the pet springer spaniel of Barbara and George H. W. Bush. ... George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States, serving from 1989 to 1993. ... For other persons named William Wallace, see William Wallace (disambiguation). ... Combatants Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of England Commanders Andrew de Moray† William Wallace John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey Hugh de Cressingham† Strength 300 cavalry 10,000 infantry 1000 - 3000 cavalry 15,000 - 50,000 infantry Casualties Comparatively light 6,000 - 25,000 killed The Battle of Stirling Bridge...

Notable English Springer Spaniel champions

Show

• Ch. Felicity's Diamond Jim (James), 2007 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show
• Ch. Salilyn-N-Erin's Shameless (Samantha), 2000 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show
• Ch. Salilyn's Condor (Robert), 1993 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show
• Ch. Chinoe's Adamant James, 1971 & 1972 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show
• Ch. Wakefield's Black Knight, 1963 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show

Ch. ... The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a two-day benched conformation show that takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City every year. ...

Field

• F.T.Ch. Saighton's Stinger, 1965 English National Field Trial Champion, Mr. Talbot Radcliffe
• 1980 NFC 1980 NAFC 1979 & 1980 CNFC Saighton's Scud, only winner ever of all three North American national field trial championships, breeder: Mr. Talbot Radcliffe, owners: Drs. Chris & Janet Christensen
• 1973 & 1975 NFC AFC CFC Dewfield Bricksclose Flint, two time US National Open ESS Field Champion, breeder: Jim Locke, owners: Drs. Chris & Janet Christensen
• 1987 NFC FC Pondview's Left in the Light, US National Open ESS Field Champion, breeder and owner: Ray Cacchio
• 2005 NFC FC AFC BJ's Dan of Danville, US National Open ESS Field Champion, owner Doug Miller, trained by Doug Miller and Dan Langhans

See also

• Welsh Springer Spaniel
• Hunting dog
• Gun dog
• Sporting Group

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a breed of dog and a member of the spaniel family. ... A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting, or whose breed was originally developed to do so. ... Gundogs, also called bird dogs, are a category of dog breeds developed to assist hunters to find and retrieve game, usually birds. ... The Sporting Group is an American Kennel Club designation for 26 purebred dog breeds. ...

References

Notes

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Resources

• Fergus, Charles. Gun Dog Breeds, A Guide to Spaniels, Retrievers, and Pointing Dogs, The Lyons Press, 2002. ISBN 1-58574-
• Riepenhoff, John P. The Gwibernant Gefni Story, Spaniel Journal
• Christensen, Janet. NFC AFC CFC Dewfield Bricksclose Flint, Spaniel Journal
• DeMott, John. Memories of Scud, His Littermates and Associated Stories, Spaniel Journal
• Baughan, Loretta. 1987 NFC FC Pondview Left in the Light, Spaniel Journal

External links

• Health information
• Spaniel Journal Provides comprehensive information and articles on training, hunting, field events and other topics of interest to flushing spaniel owners.
• The English Springer Spaniel Club
• The Official Springer Spaniel Domain
• English Springer Spaniel at the Open Directory Project