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-sized gundog from England, bred to flush and retrieve game. It is friendly, energetic and easy to train, and settles well into active family homes.
The English Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized sporting dog developed in England to find and flush game birds for hunters. The name comes from the way the dog springs game into the open. It works closely with people and keeps a steady, willing attitude during long days in the field.
The breed is known for an affectionate nature and a strong wish to please its handler. Most dogs greet people warmly and get along with children and other dogs when raised with them. The same drive that makes the dog useful in the field also makes it a busy companion that needs daily activity.
Two broad types exist: field-bred dogs selected for hunting ability and show-bred dogs selected for conformation. They share temperament but differ somewhat in coat length and build.
| 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 give it real daily exercise and company. It does well with active families, hunters and people who enjoy dog sports or long walks. It is less suited to a household that is away for long hours or wants a low-energy dog, because boredom and lack of exercise can lead to restlessness.
Spaniels of the springing type were used in England for centuries to flush game for nets, falcons and later guns. The English Springer Spaniel was set apart from the Cocker Spaniel by size and given separate breed recognition in the early twentieth century.
Spaniels have a long record in England as bird dogs. Land spaniels of the springing kind were described in English writing as far back as the sixteenth century, used to drive birds towards nets or towards falcons before firearms were common. These early dogs were not standardised breeds but working types kept for their hunting use.
For much of their history, spaniels from a single litter were sorted by size and job rather than by pedigree. Larger pups were used to spring game and became known as springing spaniels, while smaller littermates that worked woodcock were called cocking, or cocker, spaniels. The two could come from the same parents.
In 1902 the Kennel Club in England recognised the English Springer Spaniel as a distinct breed, separating it formally from the Cocker Spaniel by size. The breed standard set a larger, longer-legged dog suited to covering ground and flushing game to the gun.
The breed spread to North America and elsewhere in the early twentieth century. Over time, breeders split into two lines: field-bred dogs kept for hunting performance and show-bred dogs selected for appearance. Both lines remain in use today.
The English Springer Spaniel is a medium, well-balanced dog with a moderately long, feathered coat and long, low-set ears. Common colours are liver and white or black and white, often with tan markings.
The English Springer Spaniel is a compact, balanced dog built for endurance rather than speed. It stands square to slightly longer than tall, with a level topline and a docked or natural tail that often carries a happy wag. The head is clean with a fairly long muzzle and a soft expression. The long, low-set ears hang close to 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 close and resists weather and brush in the field. Feathering on the ears, legs and underside is longer and needs regular attention. Liver and white and black and white are the usual patterns, and either can carry tan points above the eyes and on the cheeks. Field-bred dogs tend to have shorter coats with less feathering than show-bred dogs.
The English Springer Spaniel is friendly, sociable and eager to please, usually good with children and other dogs. It is high in energy and forms close bonds, so it does best with company and regular activity.
The English Springer Spaniel is a people-oriented dog that wants to be near its family. It is affectionate at home and usually greets strangers in a friendly way rather than with suspicion, which makes it a poor guard dog but a pleasant companion. Most dogs of this breed do well with children when handled gently and supervised with young kids.
The breed generally gets on with other dogs and can live with cats and other pets if introduced early. Its bird-hunting background means it may chase small animals and is drawn to scents and movement. Springers form strong attachments and can become unsettled if left alone for long stretches, which may show as barking, chewing or pacing. Daily exercise and mental work keep behaviour steady.
| Trait | Rating |
|---|---|
| Affection | 5 |
| Energy | 5 |
| Trainability | 5 |
| Vocalness | 3 |
| Shedding | 3 |
The English Springer Spaniel needs regular brushing, ear care and one to two hours of daily exercise. It suits active homes with secure outdoor space and human 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, but it can live in a smaller space if walked and worked daily. It does not do well left alone for long hours and prefers to be part of household activity.
Feed a complete, balanced dog food suited to the dog's age and activity, split across two meals a day. Active working dogs need more food than pets, and portions should be adjusted to keep a lean body condition.
The English Springer Spaniel does well on a complete and balanced dog food formulated for its life stage. Working and highly active dogs burn more kilojoules and may need larger portions or a performance formula, while less active pets need less to avoid weight gain. Measure meals rather than free-feeding, and watch the waistline, since the breed can put on weight if overfed and under-exercised. Fresh water should always be available.
| 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 about 10 percent of daily kilojoules and use them for training. Most dogs on a complete diet do not need supplements, but a vet may suggest joint support for older or heavily worked dogs, or fatty acids for skin and coat. Ask a veterinarian before adding any supplement.
The English Springer Spaniel is generally healthy and lives about 12 to 14 years. Known concerns include hip and elbow dysplasia, certain eye disorders, and ear infections linked to its drop ears.
The English Springer Spaniel is a sturdy breed with a typical lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Responsible breeders screen parent dogs for inherited conditions, which lowers the risk in their puppies. Like all breeds it has some health issues that owners should watch for, and routine veterinary care helps catch 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 |
The English Springer Spaniel is one of the more trainable breeds, quick to learn and eager to please. It responds best to positive, reward-based methods and early socialisation.
The English Springer Spaniel learns quickly and enjoys working with its handler, which makes training easier 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 well to harsh handling. Short, upbeat sessions with clear rewards work best. Early socialisation with people, dogs and new places helps a friendly puppy grow into a steady adult.
Females are usually bred after reaching full maturity, around two years of age. Gestation lasts about 63 days and litters commonly number six to eight puppies.
Dogs reach sexual maturity well before they are physically and mentally mature. Responsible breeders generally wait until a female is around two years old and has passed health screening before breeding. Mating is timed to the female's heat cycle, which occurs roughly twice a year. Pregnancy lasts about 63 days from conception.
Litters of English Springer Spaniels commonly contain six to eight puppies, though the number varies. Newborn puppies are blind and deaf and depend fully on the mother for warmth and milk. They open their eyes at around two weeks and begin weaning at three to four weeks. Puppies stay with the mother and littermates until about eight weeks, a period that shapes social behaviour. Early gentle handling and exposure to 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 |
No national chip law protects an English Springer Spaniel here; a free United Pet Club record does, for life, at no cost.
Load your English Springer Spaniel's details once and be done with it: name, date of birth, photo, your cell number, save. The profile is free for his whole life, and it takes a chip number the day the vet supplies one. Dog registration is the start of the paper trail.
The chip is a number; the registry entry is the story behind it. Capture your English Springer Spaniel's 15-digit number in a free United Pet Club account and the story reads: this dog has a home. Every brand is accepted, updates never cost a cent, and the record stays searchable here and abroad. Microchip registration plus a free account does it.
Create a free United Pet Club account, load your English Springer Spaniel's details and a photo, and save. The lifetime plan keeps the profile active at no cost for as long as you have him, chip or no chip.
Load the 15-digit chip number into your free account together with your address and cell number. Registration and every later update are free, and chips from any brand a South African vet implants are accepted.
No national law says so, though the SPCA chips as standard practice and many breeders and welfare groups insist on it. The registration behind the chip is the part that finds you, and with United Pet Club it costs nothing.
Nothing at all. The free lifetime plan covers the profile, the chip record, and unlimited updates, with no annual renewal in sight.
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). Males are usually a little larger than females.
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 fits active households better than homes that are empty for long hours.
Plan on one to two hours of activity a day, including running, fetch and where possible swimming, 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. Harsh handling 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.
They share the same friendly temperament but differ in build and coat. Field-bred dogs are often lighter with shorter coats and higher drive, while show-bred dogs have more feathering and are bred to the conformation standard.
