KC registered Springer Spaniel puppies for sale

English Springer Spaniels are undeniably beautiful dogs.

Their distinctive markings and long ears make them very appealing. It is no surprise that several thousand of these pups are registered each year with the English Kennel Club alone.

However, the Springer is not just a pretty face. This lively and outgoing dog requires a lot of time, attention and commitment to turn into the perfect family pet.

In this article we will take a look at the English Springer Spaniel. Helping prospective puppy buyers to find out what they are committing to when they decide to bring home a Springer Spaniel puppy.

From temperament to exercise needs, daily care to training and health, we will give you a complete guide to the English Springer Spaniel. To help you decide whether this really is the best dog for you and your family.

The History of the English Springer Spaniel

The English Springer Spaniel has been bred over generations to be an efficient hunting machine. Boldly crashing through thick undergrowth to flush out and retrieve game for his owner.

To do this he needs to be intelligent and able to follow commands, but he also needed to be brave, strong, tough and have a high prey drive.

As working gundogs the Springer can work for hours at a time in rough conditions, happily beating the thorns, bristles, hills and heavy rain to find what he is looking for.

This lively breed was officially recognised by the Kennel Club in 1902 as the English Springer Spaniel, having been previously known as the Norfolk Spaniel.

The iconic Springer dominated the spaniel presence in the shooting field until the recent resurrection of the working cocker, but are still probably the most popular all purpose working spaniel in the UK today.

However, in the last few decades there has developed a deep division between English Springers bred for the shooting field, and Springer bred for the show ring.

English Springer Spaniel Appearance

The English Springer Spaniel have divided in recent years, between working and show bred lines. Although their basic appearances are very similar, with just a few key differences.

All English Springer Spaniels are traditionally either liver and white or black and white in colour. Their fur is of medium length, close and normally straight.

They are symmetrical in their build, compact and strong dogs of medium size at approximately 51cm (20 inches) tall.

What do show bred Springer Spaniels look like?

Show bred springers have a more domed head and heavier, longer ears than their working cousins.

They also have more extensively feathered coats and are more likely to have loose drooping eyelids.

They are also more likely to be similar to each other, as they are bred more for looks than function.

What do working bred Springer Spaniels look like?

The working bred Springer Spaniel may differ quite extensively between field bred lines, as they are chosen more for their ability to hunt well than for how they look.

Field bred springers have become faster and in some cases smaller than their show cousins, with quite a variation in weight and size between different lines. Clean patches of colour have in some cases also given way to a speckled or ‘roan’ appearance, in others they have become almost entirely white.

They also tend to have shorter ears than their show cousins, and tighter eyelids as working in undergrowth would be hampered by this.

In Britain Springers bred for the shooting field may also be docked, and it is unusual to see a working springer with a full tail. It is not legal in the UK to dock a dog that is not intended for work, therefore show bred English Springer Spaniels will always have full tails.

Grooming your Springer Spaniel

Both working and show bred English Springer Spaniels require attention to grooming. Brushing at least twice a week will help to keep him fairly tangle free, and it’s a good idea to practice this from the day your puppy arrives home. Make grooming fun with lots of treats and praise, and you will find the sessions fairly quick and a great bonding experience.

You may also find that your Springer needs clipping every few months to prevent his furry legs and ears from becoming matted and tangled when he gets mucky.

Although working and show bred Springers look different, they are actually not that far apart in terms of their looks. The separation between the two types is not as great as it is for example with English Cocker Spaniels. However, in temperament the two strains of springer have diverged quite a lot.