The English Springer Spaniel is an affectionate, tireless flushing dog, equally happy in the field or as a friendly family companion.
How the English Springer Spaniel coat is built, and what that means when you groom it.
Critical: A English Springer Spaniel should not be shaved.
The undercoat keeps heat out as well as in, and the outer coat shields the skin from sun and insect bites. Clipping the whole coat off removes both. It often grows back patchy, soft or a different colour, and in some animals the guard hairs never return properly. Brush the undercoat out instead of cutting it off.
Caution: A English Springer Spaniel coat mats easily.
Fine or long hair tangles at the base of the coat, out of sight, where the mats tighten and pull on the skin. Brushing has to reach right down to the roots in sections, not just skim the surface.
The English Springer Spaniel is a medium gundog from England, bred to flush and retrieve game. Affable, energetic and biddable, it suits busy, active households.
The English Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized sporting dog bred in England to find and flush game birds for the gun. Its name comes from the way the dog springs birds into the open. It works hand in glove with its handler and keeps a calm, willing manner across long days in the field.
The breed has a reputation for affection and an obvious desire to please whoever is handling it. Most individuals greet people readily and, when brought up with them, rub along happily with children and other dogs. The very drive that makes the dog handy in the field also makes it a busy companion, one that needs occupying each day.
Two broad types have developed. Field-bred dogs are bred for working ability, whereas show-bred dogs are bred to the conformation standard. Their temperament is broadly alike, though coat length and build differ to a degree.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | England |
| Size | Medium |
| Lifespan | 12 to 14 years |
| Group / role | Sporting (gundog), bred to flush and retrieve |
| Good with | Families, children, and other dogs when socialised |
The English Springer Spaniel suits owners who can provide proper daily exercise and steady companionship. It gets on well with active families, shooting folk, and anyone keen on dog sports or long walks. It is a poorer choice for a home left empty for long spells, or for someone after a placid, low-energy dog, as boredom and too little exercise tend to show themselves as restlessness.
Springing spaniels flushed game for nets, falcons and later guns across England for centuries. Set apart from the Cocker by size, the breed gained recognition in 1902.
Spaniels have a long history in England as bird dogs. Land spaniels of the springing sort are described in English writing as far back as the sixteenth century, employed to drive birds towards nets or towards falcons before firearms came into common use. These early dogs were working types kept for their usefulness, not standardised breeds.
Through much of that history, spaniels from a single litter were divided by size and by job rather than by pedigree. The larger pups sprang game and became known as springing spaniels, while smaller littermates that worked woodcock were called cocking, or cocker, spaniels. Both might come from the very same parents.
In 1902 The Kennel Club recognised the English Springer Spaniel as a distinct breed, formally separating it from the Cocker Spaniel on the basis of size. The standard laid down a larger, longer-legged dog fit to cover ground and flush game to the gun.
The breed travelled abroad during the early twentieth century, reaching North America and beyond. In time breeders diverged into two lines: field-bred dogs kept for working performance and show-bred dogs bred for appearance. Both lines endure today.
A medium, well-balanced dog with a moderately long feathered coat and long, low-set ears. The usual colours are liver and white or black and white, often with tan markings.
The English Springer Spaniel is a compact, well-proportioned dog built for stamina rather than pace. It stands square to a shade longer than tall, with a level topline and a tail, docked or natural, that tends to wag merrily. The head is clean, the muzzle fairly long and the expression gentle. Long, low-set ears fall close against the cheeks and carry feathering.
| Trait | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | Roughly 48 to 56 cm (19 to 22 in) at the shoulder |
| Weight | About 18 to 25 kg (40 to 55 lb) |
| Coat | Medium-length, flat or slightly wavy, with feathering on ears, legs, chest, and belly |
| Colours | Liver and white, black and white, sometimes with tan markings |
| Eyes | Medium, oval, dark hazel to brown, with a kind expression |
The outer coat lies flat and weathers wind, rain and undergrowth in the field. The feathering on the ears, legs and underside grows longer and needs regular attention. Liver and white and black and white are the customary patterns, and either may show tan points above the eyes and on the cheeks. Field-bred dogs usually carry shorter coats with less feathering than show-bred dogs.
Affable, sociable and keen to please, the Springer is usually good with children and other dogs. High-spirited and closely bonded, it does best with company and daily activity.
The English Springer Spaniel is a people-loving dog that likes to be close to its family. It is affectionate indoors and, as a rule, greets strangers amiably rather than with suspicion, which makes it a poor guard dog but a delightful companion. Most dogs of the breed are fine with children where handling is gentle and small children are supervised.
The breed generally rubs along with other dogs and can share a home with cats and other pets given early introductions. Its bird-hunting heritage means it may give chase to small animals and is easily drawn to scent and movement. Springers form strong bonds and can grow unsettled if left on their own for long, which may come out as barking, chewing or pacing. Daily exercise and a little mental work keep behaviour on an even keel.
| Trait | Rating |
|---|---|
| Affection | 5 |
| Energy | 5 |
| Trainability | 5 |
| Vocalness | 3 |
| Shedding | 3 |
The Springer needs regular brushing, weekly ear care and one to two hours of daily exercise. It suits active homes with secure outdoor space and company through the day.
The English Springer Spaniel adapts to most homes that offer enough exercise and company. A house with a fenced garden suits it well, though it can live in a smaller space provided it is walked and worked daily. It fares badly left alone for long hours and would far rather be part of household life.
Feed a complete, balanced food matched to the dog's age and activity, across two meals a day. Working dogs need more than pets, and portions should keep a lean condition.
The English Springer Spaniel thrives on a complete and balanced dog food formulated for its life stage. Working and highly active dogs use up more calories and may want larger portions or a performance formula, while steadier pets need less to keep weight off. Measure meals rather than leaving food down all day, and mind the waistline, as the breed gains weight readily when overfed and under-exercised. Fresh water should be available at all times.
| Life stage | Amount per day | Meals per day |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy (2 to 6 months) | Per puppy-food label, by weight and age | 3 to 4 |
| Adult (active pet) | About 1.5 to 2.5 cups of dry food | 2 |
| Adult (hard-working) | More than the pet amount, per energy needs | 2 |
| Senior | Slightly reduced, watch weight | 2 |
Keep treats to around 10 percent of daily calories and put them to use in training. Most dogs on a complete diet want no supplements, though a vet may suggest joint support for older or hard-worked dogs, or fatty acids for skin and coat. Ask a veterinary surgeon before adding anything.
Generally sound, the Springer lives about 12 to 14 years. Known concerns are hip and elbow dysplasia, certain eye disorders, and ear infections linked to its drop ears.
The English Springer Spaniel is a robust breed with a typical lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Responsible breeders screen the parent dogs for inherited conditions, which lowers the risk passed to their puppies. As with any breed it carries a few health issues owners should watch for, and routine veterinary care helps pick up problems early.
| Condition | Signs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hip and elbow dysplasia | Stiffness, limping, trouble rising | Joint malformation; screening of breeding stock reduces risk |
| Ear infections | Head shaking, odour, scratching at ears | Linked to long drop ears; regular cleaning helps |
| Progressive retinal atrophy | Night blindness, declining vision | Inherited eye disease; DNA and eye testing available |
| Hip and joint arthritis | Slowing down, soreness after exercise | More common with age |
| Ear and skin allergies | Itching, recurrent infections | May need diet or veterinary management |
One of the more trainable breeds, the Springer learns fast and loves to please. It responds best to positive, reward-based methods and early socialisation.
The English Springer Spaniel learns quickly and enjoys working alongside its handler, which makes training more straightforward than with many breeds. It was bred to take direction in the field, so it picks up commands, retrieving and dog sports readily. The breed is sensitive and does not respond to heavy-handed treatment. Short, cheerful sessions with clear rewards work best. Early socialisation with people, dogs and new places helps a friendly puppy grow into a settled adult.
Females are usually bred after full maturity, around two years old. Gestation lasts about 63 days, and litters commonly number six to eight puppies.
Dogs reach sexual maturity well before they are grown in body and mind. Responsible breeders generally wait until a bitch is about two years old and has passed her health screening before breeding. Mating is timed to her season, which comes round roughly twice a year. Pregnancy lasts about 63 days from conception.
Litters of English Springer Spaniels commonly hold six to eight puppies, though the number varies. Newborn pups are blind and deaf and depend wholly on the mother for warmth and milk. They open their eyes at around two weeks and start weaning at three to four weeks. Puppies stay with the mother and littermates until about eight weeks, a period that moulds social behaviour. Early gentle handling and exposure to everyday household sights and sounds help produce well-adjusted adults.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sexual maturity | About 6 to 12 months (breeding advised later) |
| Recommended breeding age (female) | Around 2 years, after health testing |
| Heat cycle | Roughly twice a year |
| Gestation | About 63 days |
| Typical litter size | 6 to 8 puppies |
| Weaning | Around 3 to 4 weeks, complete by about 8 weeks |
Your English Springer Spaniel's details on a record that satisfies UK microchip law: free with United Pet Club, for life, with nothing to renew.
Give your English Springer Spaniel five minutes of paperwork before it needs rescuing. The free profile takes a name, a date of birth, a photo and your contact details, and it lives on a registry that never charges for the privilege. Dog registration works whether the chip is already in or still on the to-do list.
A chip without a registration is a serial number and nothing more. File your English Springer Spaniel's fifteen digit number with United Pet Club and it becomes a route back to you: free for life, open to every chip brand sold in Britain, and searchable whenever a scanner finds it. Microchip registration takes less time than the kettle, and a free account covers the profile too.
Set up a free United Pet Club account, add your English Springer Spaniel's details and a photo, and save. The profile stays live for the whole of the dog's life at no charge, and the chip number can be added the moment you have it.
Key the fifteen digit number into your free United Pet Club account with your current address and phone number. The lifetime plan accepts any brand a British vet implants, and amendments after a house move are free.
Yes. Dogs in England, Scotland and Wales have had to be chipped since 2016, with the keeper's details kept current. The law covers the chip; keeping the record pointing at a live phone number is what United Pet Club handles, free.
Nothing at all. The United Pet Club lifetime plan covers the profile, the microchip record and every amendment without a fee, so there is no renewal to remember.
Common questions about the English Springer Spaniel cover its size, temperament, exercise needs, lifespan, family suitability, and how to find one.
It is a medium-sized dog, standing about 48 to 56 cm (19 to 22 in) at the shoulder and weighing roughly 18 to 25 kg (40 to 55 lb). Dogs are usually a little larger than bitches.
Yes. The breed is friendly and sociable and usually does well with children and other dogs when raised with them. It needs daily exercise and company, so it suits active households better than homes left empty for long hours.
Reckon on one to two hours of activity a day, including running, fetch and swimming where possible, plus some mental work. Without enough exercise the dog can become restless and destructive.
It is one of the more trainable breeds. It learns quickly and wants to please, and it responds best to reward-based methods and early socialisation. Heavy-handed treatment does not suit this sensitive dog.
The typical lifespan is 12 to 14 years. Regular veterinary care, a healthy weight and buying from health-tested parents all support a long life.
They shed a moderate amount and need brushing two or three times a week, regular ear cleaning and occasional trimming of the feathering. Show-bred dogs with longer coats need more grooming than field-bred dogs.
Look for a breeder who health-tests the parent dogs and is registered with The Kennel Club, ideally under its Assured Breeder scheme. Breed rescue is another route to a Springer in need of a home. Field-bred and show-bred lines share the same friendly temperament but differ in build and coat.
