Probably the most adaptable of all Spaniels! The Springers talents range from flushing game, to retrieving, to sniffing out drugs and explosives. Their friendly, cheerful and eager to please nature also makes them a great family dog for active, outdoorsy families. They excel at canine sports such as flyball and agility too.
The English Springer Spaniel was first recognised as a distinct breed of gundog by The Kennel Club in 1902. The English Springer Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel both originated from the same Field Spaniels and the larger pups were used to flush game from cover and “spring” it into the air. Over time these larger Spaniels became what are now known as Springers. The breed has separated out further into “working” and “show” variants.
Working or field dogs are smaller, faster and more agile. They tend to have smaller ears than the show variety and more pointed nose. Their coat tends to be coarser and may have had their tails docked to reduce the chance of injury whilst working. They appear to have limitless stamina and will happily work all day long, and still be full of enthusiasm at home time. The working strain are bred to be biddable, with a great sense of smell and hunting ability. They are now considered one of, if not the preferred breed for police sniffers, due to their excellent sense of smell, their compact size and their fearless approach to climbing into and over obstacles whilst seeking.
Show dogs are generally larger more heavily set dogs with longer fur and much larger ears. They are not usually as hyperactive as the working strain, requiring slightly less exercise. They require more grooming than the working variety, as with any spaniel particular attention needs to be paid to their ears.