Additonal Breeds Starting
With Letter:
Sponsor
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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
REGISTRY:
FCI, AKC, UKC, TKC, CKC
GROUP:
Gun Dog
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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.
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