English Springer Spaniel

Breed Profile

For centuries, the English Springer Spaniel breed was among favourites with sportsmen in Britain. He is so named because he was used to “spring” at game to make it get up and run or fly away.

The English Springer is quick to learn, eager to please, attentive and very friendly. He enjoys life as a family companion but is a very able dog in the field as well. With a presence that suggests pride, power, endurance, agility, style, balance and enthusiasm, the English Springer has the distinct spaniel character. He is a cheerful dog with a sense of humour, affectionate, good with children, and a good watch dog who does not bark without reason. English Springer Spaniels are active in conformation, hunting, obedience, agility, flyball, tracking and as therapy dogs.

A medium-sized sporting dog with a compact body, the ESS is well-proportioned. His coat is of medium-length with a glossy appearance and sufficiently dense to be waterproof and weatherproof. He has some feathering on the ears, chest, legs and belly. His coat may be liver or black with white markings, liver and white with tan markings, black and white with tan markings, blue or liver roan, or predominantly white with tan, black or liver markings. His pendulous ears, soft gentle expression, sturdy build and friendliness make him an unmistakable member of the family of spaniels.
 

Health Issues

If you are considering the adoption of a English Springer Spaniel puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy’s parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the General Information page.)

Recommended Health Screening:

For the English Springer Spaniel, the CHIC^{NOTE 1} database includes health screenings for:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Eye Examination by a board Ophthalmologist
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
• DNA Bank
• AKC DNA Profile
• Also listed as “Optional”: Fucosidosis; Phosphofructokinase Deficiency (PFK) DNA Test; Degenerative Myelopathy; Autoimmune Thyroiditis; Congenital Cardiac Database; and Canine Good Citizen Certification

Additional Health Resources:

• ESS Health, Genetics and Research FAQ
• Canine Inherited Disorders Database – English Springer Spaniel
• Health and Nutrition — Growing section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website which includes information on several health and nutrition related issues.
• Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) — Providing a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
• AKC Canine Health Foundation — Working towards developing scientific advances in canine health.
• OFA – Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER)
• Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
• Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
• University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip)
• HealthGene — HealthGene Corporation is the leading provider of veterinary DNA diagnostic services in Canada.
• Labgenvet — Laboratory of Veterinary Genetics is a Canadian diagnostic laboratory that offers a comprehensive service of DNA tests for veterinary genetic diseases.

Breed Standards

• CKC Breed Standard (As shown on the ESSCC)
• AKC Breed Standard
• UKC Breed Standard
• The Kennel Club (U.K.) Breed Standard
• FCI Breed Standard No. 125

Grooming Information

• Grooming — This section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.

Training Resources

• Training — For training information, see this growing section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.

Additional Information

• Breeding World Class Gundogs by Geoffrey A. English, as published at GundogsOnline.com
• Clubs, Sports & Activities — For information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your dog.
• Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website provides information and listings of organizations that are involved in various dog jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Protection Dogs, and much more.

*NOTE 1: CHIC – The Canine Health Information Center “is a database of consolidated health screening results from multiple sources. Co-sponsored by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Health Foundation, CHIC works with parent clubs to identify health screening protocols appropriate for individual breeds. Dogs tested in accordance with the parent club established requirements, that have their results registered and made available in the public domain are issued CHIC numbers.” To learn more, visit: www.caninehealthinfo.org

*NOTE 2: The Fédération Cynologique International (FCI) is the World Canine Organization, which includes 91 members and contract partners (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 344 breeds, with each being the “property” of a specific country. The “owner” countries write the standards of these breeds in co-operation with the Standards and Scientific Commissions of the FCI, and the translation and updating are carried out by the FCI. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees.