English Springer Spaniel

Size: Males: 20 inches, 40-60 pounds. Females 19 inches, 35-45 pounds

Color: Liver/White or Black/White ; Any white portion of the coat may be flecked with ticking

Energy Level: Moderate to High - Will need lots of exercise.

Life expectancy: 12-14 years

Children: Good with children when trained and socialized well. Due to their size we generally will not place adult dogs in a home with children under 10 years of age unless the dog was raised and well introduced to children in their previous home.

Other animals: Good with other animals when trained and socialized well. May not do well with smaller animals if not trained or socialized due to their strong prey drive.

Abilities: Spaniels are dogs that have been used for hunting, flushing and retrieving game. Most are very good swimmers and love the water.

Shedding/Grooming: The coat of the Springer is fairly easy to maintain and regular brushing with a stiff bristle brush will keep it looking good. They need baths and dry shampoo only when necessary, but check the ears regularly for signs of infection. Springers with longer coats will mat if not brushed often and particular attention needs to be given to the ears, feathering and the feet. If the hair is not kept shaved on the under side of the ears, it can lead to chronic ear infections. The hair on the feet needs to be trimmed to prevent burrs and foxtails from being imbedded. The longer coats will pick up burrs and branches and need to be combed out after outside exercise or it will mat badly. This breed is a constant, year-round average shedder.

Health: Hip and elbow Dysplasia, cancer, immune-related illnesses common, PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy ). This breed tends to gain weight easily, so do not over feed

Best with: Devoted owners who will not be deceived by their easygoing nature. Training for a dog with this much energy is a must and must be started with clear guidelines about acceptable behavior, although they are easily trained at any age. Due to a sensitive nature and soft temperament, positive training methods are a must, as is a fenced yard. This breed is dependent on their people and do best with someone wanting a close and constant relationship with their dog.

Not for: People who have a problem with dog hair in EVERYTHING; Fragile people or children that may be harmed by an affectionate, but high energy dog; Homes with decorative accessories located lower to the ground; People wanting an outside only lifestyle for their dog, as Springers strive on being part of their family unit; People who don't want to go to training classes or who are not committed to providing the dog with regular exercise.

Pros: Very affectionate, protective and loyal with their families. Want to be with them wherever they are. Not generally vocal, but are considered good watch dogs. Like to play and run in reasonable amounts, but also enjoy down time, especially snuggling.

Cons: Lots of hair and grooming; energetic and in need of regular exercise; dependent on their people. Springers do best when they are with people as much as possible. They can get into trouble if left alone too long. They love water and may constantly get themselves wet and muddy if given the opportunity. They may sometimes be argumentative with same sex dogs and their preying instinct may be strong with cats or birds.

General info: Most English Springers are even-tempered, gentle, friendly, and sociable dogs that are great for kids. Though easy to get along with, Springers do require training in order to be a well-mannered adult. Most Springers in rescue are turned over because they lack training and are out of control or because their previous owners underestimated their need for exercise. We almost never have dogs to place that are under 2 years old. They will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. English Springer Spaniels adapt well to town or city life. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. The Springer enjoys as much exercise as you can give it. They need lots of it to be happy. They should have chances to take long walks and run and play off the leash. They love to retrieve and swim. These dogs perform very well in both agility skills trials and obedience competitions.