COUNTRY: Great Britain
WEIGHT: 49-55 pounds
HEIGHT: 19-20 inches
COAT: Close and straight, with good feathering
COLOR: Black/white, liver/white, black tri, liver tri
GROUP: Gun Dog
British flushing spaniels were often called "springing" spaniels, since they were used to spring the game from the cover. In the variety of spaniel sizes, sometimes in the same litter, the smallest were the Cockers, the medium-sized were the Fields and the larger ones became the Springers. Bede Maxwell illustrates the perfectly legal flexibility in those early days: the red/white dog, Corrin of Gerwin, was first registered as a Welsh Cocker, then re-registered as a Welsh Springer and his son became a registered English Springer! The first champion English Springer sired a daughter who was registered as a Field Spaniel. Cockers and Springers from the same litter were classified by size. The confusion as to "when is a Cocker not a Cocker . . . when it's a Springer" finally led to complete separation of the breeds and a ban on interbreeding. The English gave the Springer official breed status in 1902, and under the direction of the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, the breed became established in the USA.
Known under the pseudonym of Norfolk Spaniel for a time, English Springer Spaniel became the official name by 1900. Sir Thomas Boughey is credited with establishing the modern credentials; his family's stud books on the breed dated from 1812. The Springer is still a fine gunning dog, ideally suited for flushing birds, such as pheasants. The flashy dog show winner and the competitor at the AKC spaniel trials are at extremes of type for the breed. Many Springers show their skill in competition obedience.
The English Springer is not an exaggerated dog and is the leggiest of the flushing spaniels. His pleasant personality and good looks make him a fine house dog as well. The Springer tends to live a long life, staying active into his golden years.