The English springer spaniel is a breed whose origin dates back several centuries and has remained almost unchanged. He is very outgoing and social, with a robust build and a very docile character, making him an excellent companion. By its nature, it is extremely agile, attentive and intelligent. Its long ears with curly hair are one of its most notable features and make it very similar to the English Cocker Spaniel, with which it shares ancestors.
They are dogs that prefer to be outdoors and run in the countryside because they are very energetic, but they adapt perfectly in the city as long as they can enjoy their walks and daily exercises. If you want to know all the characteristics of the English springer spaniel breed and its care, don't miss this file on our site where we will tell you everything.
Origin of the English Springer Spaniel
As its name ("spaniel") indicates, this line of dogs comes from Spain, although its origins date back to the 16th centuryin England, when their ancestors were hunting companions and were used to catch prey, draw them out and jump from their hiding places (hence the name "springer", from the English meaning "to make jump"). Their old name was norfolk spaniel, since they came from Norfolk, England.
In the 19th century, a different line and totally separate from the English line began to be selected. For this reason, there are currently two lines of Springer, the English and the Welsh, with the English being the oldest breed of hunting dog, and which remains pure to this day.
Springer Spaniel Characteristics
The English Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized dog breed, being 50 cm tall at the withers and between 17 and just over 20 kg. It is a slender dog and its legs, like its robust body, are large and quite long, allowing it to cover long distances in a short time. Its appearance remains almost unchanged from its origins, with large, very expressive eyes and a characteristic dark hazelnut hue. The muzzle is wide and proportional in size to the skull, which is rounded. However, among the characteristics of the English springer spaniel, without a doubt, what stands out the most is its long, drooping ears, similar to those of a cocker spaniel.
The coat of the English Springer Spaniel is not very long and should be straight and dense. Thick is not accepted by the FCI.
English Springer Spaniel Colors
The English springer spaniel presents the color the white in the collar and snout sector, as well as its legs and abdomen area. The rest can be liver, black or tricolor with any of these two colors and fiery stains
English Springer Spaniel Character
This is a very friendly and sociable breed, as well as happy and very docileIt is a dog that is always very attentive to what is happening in its environment because originally this breed was used for hunting. The English Springer Spaniel is a very intelligent dog, so training it will be easy as long as the right techniques are used. In addition, he is an excellent companion and likes to stay with the humans in his family, as he is very protective.
They can be very playful and socialize very well with children and other dogs. Although very rare, some may be more inactive, but the vast majority prefer to be almost always active. Like many other dogs, they are drawn to puddles and love to get in the water.
English Spring Spaniel Care
The English Springer Spaniel needs a lot of physical exercise, whether it's running, agility games or through training, which which is very important from his early age. In addition, socialization is very important, since they get along very well with children, so if they grow up together, our furry friend can become an excellent companion and faithful protector.
By having many fringes, routine grooming is very important to keep our English springer spaniel's coat he althy. In this sense, trimming their hair a bit helps maintain it, for example, around the ears and legs, always very carefully or by taking them to a professional. Brushing your coat also helps maintain it by removing knots, dead hair, or anything else that may have gotten stuck to it. This brushing should be done two or three times a week.
Another extremely important point in the care of the English springer spaniel is the cleaning of their ears, as they are prone to infections so cleaning them with moistened gauze is essential.
Feeding the Springer Spaniel
It is very important that the English Springer Spaniel has protein in its diet, since it is the main element that will help it to develop correctly and it is what will boost its energy. In general, although this depends on the size, weight and degree of activity of each individual, what is recommended is around 350 g of food or dry feed daily, which it can be provided in various servings throughout the day. By natural tendency, this breed can gain weight easily, so it is important to pay attention to the amount of food it consumes and the frequency of prizes, since its proper weight is between 19 and 20 kg, on average. In addition, it is extremely important to keep it well hydrated, providing it with fresh water, so it should always be within reach.
Check our list of the best natural feed for dogs.
English Springer Spaniel Education
As we have mentioned, the English Springer Spaniel is a very intelligent and active dog, so his training can be very simple and fun as long as we carry it out correctly. As with all dogs, it is essential to opt for positive reinforcement and never for punishment, yelling or physical violence, as this will only make our dog develop fear, anxiety, stress, frustration, etc., which could trigger an aggressive attitude. Since we are dealing with a very docile and obedient dog, by reinforcing good behavior we will begin to see the results in much less time than in other dog breeds, so it can be a great companion even for people who have never lived with a dog before.
As with all dogs, it is important to be patient and consistent when training an English Springer Spaniel. Although its education is usually simple carrying out short training sessions and spaced during the day, we must emphasize that it is a dog with a greater tendency to bark This It means that we will have to pay special attention to this fact if we want to avoid living with a dog that barks at everything. Likewise, this attitude can be developed by being alone, since it is also usually prone to developing separation anxiety, which is why, in addition, it can show other problems such as the destruction of furniture. Check out our article on separation anxiety in dogs to avoid it.
If you have adopted a puppy English Springer Spaniel, in addition to taking into account the aspects mentioned regarding its education, do not forget to carry out a good socialization. With adopted adults this point is also important. For this reason, we encourage you to consult these articles:
- How to socialize an adult dog
- How to train a puppy
Springer Spaniel He alth
This breed of dog, like many others, can have conditions that are typical or common to them. For example, in many English springer spaniels, and in many breeds of dogs with long, floppy ears, ear infections are very common, so that it is very important to review and check our furry friend's ears and ear canals weekly. Other less common conditions are the presence of allergies and autoimmune diseases. They can also have problems with eyelashes that curl outward or inward (distiasis), which can cause a lot of discomfort and can be corrected with a small surgery. Cataracts can also occur in older individuals.
In good he alth, the life expectancy of the English Springer Spaniel is between 10 and 15 years, which also depends on the type of life and many other factors that can develop during the life of the animal.
Where to adopt an English Springer Spaniel?
To adopt an English Springer Spaniel you must go to the protectors and animal associations closest to your place of residence. If at this time they do not have a dog with these characteristics, they will take your data to notify you when one arrives. Similarly, there are associations that are responsible for rescuing and caring for dogs of specific breeds to find them responsible homes. In any case, we encourage you not to rule out the idea of adopting an English springer spaniel mix, as he will also be willing to give you all his love.
