English Springer Spaniels

If you are thinking about offering a dog a home and are pondering as to whether this is the breed is for you, if you want a dog that sleeps all day and is no trouble, a dog that strolls along at your side casually when off the lead, a dog that keeps itself clean, a dog that is obedient 99.9% of the time, then this dog is definitely not for you!!

By what authority do I speak? By turn of events, I find that one has attached itself to me! His name is Bruno, a liver and white Springer spaniel, and he is also a Hearing Dog for the Deaf. My previous dog was labrador/collie cross. When she passed away, Bruno entered my life with gusto! What a different kettle of fish! Took a bit of getting used to I must say, a year and a half later things are just about starting to settle down.

If you want a dog that will give you lots of cuddles, has a great sense of humour, is loyal (to a point unless food is being offered!), is fantastic fun, loves walking for miles, loves playing in leaves and the sand on the beach, this is the dog for you.

Spaniels were originally bred for gaming purposes. Spaniels officially appeared under such a name in AD 450. 'Springer' does not appear until the end of the 16th century to distinguish the type of dog used to flush game for the hawk and hound and net. 'Springer Spaniel' was used to describe those dogs that 'sprang' their game and all land Spaniels could be called such.

With the discovery of gunpowder and the use of the gun for sporting purposes, 'springing' spaniels could now be used to flush the game from the undergrowth in front of the hunter in order to shoot it. Now the Springer spaniel would also be needed as a retriever for game the hunter had shot. Thus our Springer Spaniel has a two fold purpose.

Bruno thinks his purpose is to dash through the undergrowth and emerge with the contents of the forest attached to him! There is nothing calm about Bruno's emergence when out on our walks - but - he does look funny! Despite this, he doesn't need very much grooming. Mostly his ears and tail need a comb every so often, where the fur is a little longer, and once a day in the summer months, when the grass is in seed as the seeds will attach themselves to him in his exploration of the undergrowth. Obviously, if you would like a Springer Spaniel but you would like to participate in shows, more time would be needed to make him or her look beautiful!

When Bruno is not exploring the undergrowth, he is 'springing'  through the woods after anything on legs or wing! He simply loves to run. It has been said that Springer Spaniels need at least two hours a day exercise and this I can believe! He never seems to tire out no matter how far we go. For my one mile Bruno will run five miles! I take him for two walks a day during the working week in the winter, as it is too dark to let him off the lead safely in the evening. His morning walk is a half hour mad dash (for Bruno - not me!) around the woods and a twenty minute walk at lunch time, again in the woods, or by the river. Although Bruno loves it, I am not very keen on walking by the river. As Bruno likes to go anywhere but along the obvious pathway the actual river bank is a must for him to explore and as the river is tidal he makes me very nervous when he disappears from view...

In the evening, after a hard day in work (hah!) Bruno likes to curl up with me for cuddles. He loves his cuddles!

The Spaniel Club was founded in 1885. In 1902 the English Springer Spaniel was recognised by the Kennel Club and The English Springer Spaniel Club was founded in 1921. Our English Springer Spaniel has gone from strength to strength, growing in popularity, to the beautiful dog we see today.

Contributed by Sonia Bryant

Information on the Springer Spaniel gleaned from ''All About the English Springer Spaniel' by Olga M.C. Hampton