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Written by Petco Editorial Team

About English Springer Spaniel

Excitement abounds with the rugged, energetic English Springer Spaniel. Springers are a medium-sized breed known for their rambunctious and fun-loving natures. They need plenty of exercise and thrive in the out of doors. They usually make good family pets, and are generally friendly with strangers and other animals. With a degree of persistence, Springers can be trained to perform tricks and follow commands. When paired with a skilled trainer, they are considered an excellent working dog. They have a thick double coat that comes in a few colors and shed moderately. Standard Springers come in two strains, which influences their size and whether an individual is either very or incredibly enthusiastic.

 

Origin: United Kingdom   Other Names: Springers

Sporting Group

Naturally active and alert, Sporting dogs make likeable, well-rounded companions.

Dog breeds in the Sporting group are usually remarkable for their instincts in water and woods, and many of these breeds actively continue to participate in hunting and other field activities. Potential owners of Sporting dogs need to realize that most require regular, invigorating exercise.

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General appearance

Excitement abounds with the rugged, energetic English Springer Spaniel. Springers are a medium-sized breed known for their rambunctious and fun-loving natures. They need plenty of exercise and thrive in the out of doors. They usually make good family pets, and are generally friendly with strangers and other animals. With a degree of persistence, Springers can be trained to perform tricks and follow commands. When paired with a skilled trainer, they are considered an excellent working dog. They have a thick double coat that comes in a few colors and shed moderately. Standard Springers come in two strains, which influences their size and whether an individual is either very or incredibly enthusiastic.

Colors

This breed can be found in a variety of colors. You can check them out below.

Liver and White

Size & Weight

There are two varieties of Springers, Bench and Field. While the Bench is a bit bigger, both are medium-sized. The breed weighs between 45 and 55 pounds and stands 18 to 22 inches tall.

Full Grown
Female 18 in. / 45 lbs.
Male 22 in. / 55 lbs.

Height is measured up to the shoulders.

Female Size Chart
Height Figure
Male Size Chart
6 ft. 4 ft. 2 ft.

Cost of Owning

On average, owning a middle-aged Springer costs around $1100 per year
$300
Vet Care
$250
Grooming & Boarding
$250
Others
$300
Food & Treats

Characteristics

Size

There are two varieties of Springers, Bench and Field. While the Bench is a bit bigger, both are medium-sized and stand 18 to 22 inches tall

Tiny
Jumbo

Weight

Springers generally weigh between 45 and 55 pounds.

Light
Heavy

Living space

Springers love to get outside and run around. It may be possible to keep one in a small space, but not recommended. Access to an immediate outside area is ideal.

City apartment
Ranch

Exercise

Absolutely. All Springers are enthusiastic about time off-lead, and the Field variety has especially high stamina. They will need more than an hour of rigorous exercise every day.

Couch potato
Bring it on!

Personality

Springers are curious, excitable, and eager to be let loose on the next challenge. When relaxing, Springers are friendly but may be a bit reserved.

Antisocial
Outgoing

Protection

Alert and surprisingly loud, Springers can make a decent alarm dog. Their size and disposition, however, isn’t threatening in the least.

None
Bodyguard

Behavior with kids

If raised with children, Springers are usually tolerant and affectionate family dogs. Older dogs tend to be wary of children, and need a slower introduction.

Always monitor
Babysitter

Training

Springers are capable of learning commands. Keep them focused, and don’t let them run away with the session!

Headstrong
Obedient

Shedding

Springers are a double-coated breed that sheds a moderate amount, although the Bench (showing variety) will shed more.

Minimal
Abundant

Climate

The Springer’s weatherproof coat makes them prepared for all elements. In hot summer months, they can be clipped to stay cool.

Warm
Cold

Barking

Springers can be a boisterous breed as they are both easily excited and easily bored. It’s important to burn off their energy every day and keep them busy to avoid having a yappy dog.

Mute
Loud

Temperament & Behavior

Springers have an ‘excitement switch’ that quickly flips between the ‘off’ and ‘on’ position. When ‘on’, a Springer will bounce up and down, running in circles with tail wagging a mile a minute. While adaptable to family life, Springers tend to be one-person dogs. They are loyal but have a one-track mind that generally prioritizes running, chasing, and playing in the mud before anything else. They’re friendly enough with people and other pets, though may have a strong prey drive and be poor companions for birds or cats.

 

Springers can be high-strung. Nervousness, clinginess, or possessiveness is seen in some individuals and will be exacerbated in any dogs that don’t get enough activity. In rare cases, Springers (along with Cockers and other spaniels) can be affected by Sudden Onset Aggression, a neurological disorder that causes sporadic, immediate, and unconscious aggressive behavior. This genetic disorder is most prevalent in purebred Bench dogs.

Barking: Understanding your dog

Springers are easily excited by the minutiae of the world, and can be very vocal. In warning, they have a loud bark that’s bigger than their body. They also yap and yowl when exited. They can become problem barkers if bored and also when fixated on an object.

Training

Training the Springer is doable and very necessary. Without guidance they can fully terrorize an indoor or outdoor area in minutes. You’ll need to train them to see you as a leader with demands, and a plan, before receiving their best performance. The trick to training Springers is regulating their excitement switch. Grab their intense focus with treats or toys, then move on to clicker or whistle training to see what they can accomplish. Springers are considered a quintessential hunting dog, able to point, flush, and retrieve. Practice those three modes (focusing, exerting, and returning) using physical tasks.

 

Springers have keen nose, and have been dispensed for detecting explosives, mobile phones, bumblebee nests, people, drugs, and blood. They’re also make a capable search and rescue dog in rough terrain.

Habits and Exercise

These working dogs need a job, or they’ll go self-employed. Springers are active and high-energy, bred for being out in the field all day. Work and play are one in the same to them and they have a tireless drive. As a pet, they need more than an hour of vigorous activity every day. Luckily, their zeal for the outdoors make them a breeze to workout. They usually run around on their own and circle back to you every few minutes, as they do while working with a hunter.

 

Springer’s love the water, and swimming is great exercise for them. They also love just about anywhere they can get dirty and grab things in their mouths. It may take some extra effort to get these guys jogging evenly on a leash, but there’s no limit to the number of games you can play together. In fact, there’s a lively online community of owners discussing how to constructively channel their pet Springers’ field instincts (or lack thereof). Indoors, try a KONG toy to keep their mouths and noses out of trouble.

Energy Level

Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action

Energy Level

Nutrition

There are no breed-specific requirements for feeding Springers, except that they should receive a high quality food that is formulated specifically for their specific life stage – puppy, adult, or senior.

Daily Consumption

Average daily consumption for an adult Springer is 1.5-2 cups.

Daily Consumption

Preventive care

Follow your veterinarian’s advice regarding routine preventive care, such as vaccinations and deworming. Support good skin health with omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil supplementation, and be aware of any changes to the eyes, as Springers are predisposed to several conditions involving the eyes.

Inherited health issues

Although generally a hearty and healthy breed, Springers do have their share of genetic health problems. Discuss genetic testing with prospective breeders, especially with respect to heart problems, as Springers are especially prone to ventricular septal defects, which require heart surgery early in life to correct. Additional conditions may include, but are not limited to the following: primary seborrhea, cancer, Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), congenital myasthenia gravis, Rage syndrome and multiple ocular conditions.

Life Span

On average, Springers live to be 10-15 years old.

Life Span

Did you know?

  • • Springers are considered the fastest spaniel. • Named the “Springer” Spaniel for their ability to ‘spring’ (flush) birds out of hiding. • A Springer named Rosie uncovered a lost $19,000 diamond while out walking. • Springers are consistently one of the top three most popular breeds in the UK. • It’s said that William Wallace owned a Springer Spaniel named Merlin MacDonald.

Coat and Grooming

Springers tend to need constant cleaning up. They love mud and their feathering often requires extra drying or combing after walks and long sessions outside. The Bench variety requires even more combing and brushing. For the Field variety, seasonal clipping is handy.

Coat length

Medium

Coat length

Grooming

Frequent

Grooming

Shedding

Springers shed an average amount, and you can expect both varieties to blow their coat twice a year. With a thicker coat, the Bench variety sheds a bit more. Shedding shouldn’t be much of a problem if they are already combed and brushed regularly.

History

The Springer’s ancestors were brought to England from Spain in the mid-16th century. In England, spaniels developed into the sporting companions we know today. They are closely related to their smaller cousins, Cocker Spaniels, and only became separate breeds in the 1880s. The standard for the English Springer Spaniel was set in 1902 by combining the physical standard from the Spaniel Club of England with the ability standard from the Sporting Spaniel Society. The breed was recognized by the AKC a few years later in 1910.

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