How the English Springer Spaniel was born, description of the standard, behavior and health, advice on care: procedures, nutrition, walks, training. Buying a puppy. These dogs are the largest and hardiest of all spaniels. They are excellent companions and virtuoso hunters. How much they can do, and how fascinatingly they perform their functions. In addition, dogs are lovely, affectionate and kind pets who love literally everyone. Having got such a dog, you will get a wonderful friend for home and hunting.
How did the English Springer Spaniel breed come about?
There are several varieties of spaniels: English and American Cocker, Field Spaniel, Clumber Spaniel, Sasex and Irish Spaniels and two Springer, Welsh and English. The fact is that earlier in every region of England, they raised their own spaniels. From the Norfolk spaniels are descended English. Welsh springers are known today as Welsh Springer Spaniels. From the point of view of cynology, Springer Spaniels belong to the eighth group, together with retrievers - dogs that lift and feed game.
These canines have been known since the 13th-15th centuries, when they raised birds for a falcon or nets. No doubt these dogs came to England with the Romans or the Spaniards. The book by Gaston Phoebus speaks of dogs with a similar name. Were they used in the same way as spaniels? Quite possible. As for the springers, they are undeniably closely related to the English setter. The Welsh Springer and the British Epaniel are most likely their ancestors.
Springer was first talked about in the 19th century. Their breeding was carried out by the Bugge family, which is often mentioned in herd books. The breed was recognized by the kenel club in 1902. Their appearance was preceded by a number of experiments. In one litter there could be cockers, fields, welsh and from time to time springers were born. They began to be used especially often since the 19th century. Then gunpowder began to be used for hunting weapons and the springer was selected for hunters. The name comes from the English "to spin again", which means - to make the game appear.
In England there were breeders who specialized in shows, but also those who were involved in the development of certain qualities in dogs. To some regret, the dogs turned out to be limited from the point of view of the standard. The two main varieties of the spaniel are the English cocker and the springer, which is physically much stronger. It can be used in forest and water. Cocker can also work in water, but it cannot be used in this capacity for a long time.
Some hunters let a springer follow the trail of the beast. They are not as strong as Labradors, which are capable of feeding game dozens of times in extremely cold weather, but they follow the bloodstream or simply follow the trail well. Dogs raise ducks, very often they are mandarin ducks, which are diligently hiding in the reeds. An ideal biotope for Springer Spaniels is, of course, dense thickets, thorns, and ferns. The flat terrain does not suit them at all. But besides the plain, they can work anywhere.
Dogs have a bit of a feline gait to walk under low dense thickets. They jump through the gorse, and if they smell any smell, they turn to check it. For them, the ideal grounds are an area rich in game, leaving many traces and smells that the dog uses to find the animal walking in front of it. They are perfectly adapted for hunting rabbits in dense thickets or for adult pheasants, which cannot be caught by cops. The bird walks away, confuses the trail, and the Springer Spaniel must have a lot of persistence to follow the trail and pick it up.
The dog is in constant contact with the owner, the tail is cheerfully raised in anticipation of the command. It seems to absorb the decisions of its master. The pet is always ready to follow him, looks around in anticipation of the start of the hunt. During the event, the sprinker must keep a distance of twenty-five to thirty meters for the owner to fire. A sports shot is usually not fired from too far away. The dog lifts the bird from a distance of thirty to forty meters, during takeoff, another five meters is added and then you can shoot. Dogs easily learn something new, so you need to train them carefully.
Description of external data of the dog English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer is the largest canine in the aerial hunting spaniel family. This is a compact, robust and at the same time elegant dog. According to the accepted standard, the height at the withers in males is from 48 cm to 50 cm, in bitches from 46 cm to 48 cm. With an error of plus or minus one centimeter. Weight from 21 kg to 24 kg. Movements are driven by strongly sloping shoulders. The dog moves like a horse that walks in a Spanish pace - an energetic compact gallop. This means that the forelimbs are thrown out in a forward motion away from the shoulder.
- Head medium in size, with smooth outlines, harmonious with the body. Their feature is a white stripe that divides the skull in two. It runs between the eyes and ends at the base of the head, highlighting the two springer-specific bumps. The part of the skull between the ears is slightly rounded. The frontal furrow and superciliary arches are not pronounced. Cheekbones dry, flat, well defined. The occipital part and brow ridges are visible, but not prominent.
- Muzzle rectangular. The stop is clearly pronounced. The bridge of the nose is straight, maybe with a slight hump. The flews cover the lower jaw. The lips are well filled. A scissor bite forms strong, white teeth.
- Nose voluminous, large with well-open nostrils. It is painted brown or black depending on the main color of the springer.
- Eyes springer spaniel is almond-shaped, well-planted. There are no signs of conjunctivitis on the eyelids. Corneal color varies depending on the color of the dog.
- Ears set wide and low, almost at eye level. They are long (no longer than the nose), hanging like flaps, thin cartilage. They have beautiful long feathers.
- Neck oval, moderate in length, with mesomorphic muscles. Situated flat on the slanting shoulders, widened from the skull to the upper arm. The withers are not pronounced. There is no suspension.
- Frame unusually strong and sturdy for a dog of medium size and weight. The ribs are rounded, slightly convex. The front part of the body is higher, slightly inclined towards the rump. The rib cage is voluminous. The bottom line is tucked up, but not too much. The back is powerful, straight, firm. Loin, short, broad and muscular. The croup is rounded, slightly sloping.
- Tail located slightly below the back line. When moving, the dog carries it above the spine. When working, he is very mobile. It is docked, but not too short to recognize the mood of the Springer Spaniel on the hunt.
- Front limbs - parallel to each other, dry muscles. They are strong and not long - supporting. Their bones are powerful. The shoulder blades are oblique and fit snugly against the body. The hind ones are powerful and strong in structure. Stand upright when judging. The thighs are very muscular. Hock joints with significant flexion. Metatarsus are short.
- Paws not large, in a good arched lump, with fingers tightly pressed against one another, there are membranes between them. The nails are strong, the pads are firm, which allows you to work without getting too serious injuries.
- Coat of medium length, glossy, dense and smooth. This texture protects the dog from all possible hunting injuries. The ears are covered with elongated hair. We find the same long hair on the back of the fore and hind legs, a little on the chest and frill. There should not be too much of it, because the breed is working.
- Skin snugly fits the entire body of the dog.
- Color may include brown and white, black and white, or any of these tan markings. White spots are not acceptable, only a large one on the chest.
English Springer Spaniel behavior
This is a small dog that always strives for human contact. She is not prone to independence - that is the nature of a springer. Pets have a soft character and can be wonderful decorative dogs. Absolutely non-aggressive. They are great friends with children. The springers are very gentle and affectionate. You will notice that these dogs are constantly glancing at their owners. They have not indifferent, but a radiant, expressive look. These spaniels are capable of adapting to any environment. They spend a great week in the apartment and hunt on weekends. And after the hunt, their behavior in the house does not change. Dogs feel great in the kennel. There are no problems with them in transport. They accompany the host effortlessly. The pets are very practical.
Dog health
English Springer Spaniels are hardy. They rarely have systemic diseases. You need to pay a lot of attention with regard to the ears. This is a problem in all long-eared dogs whose ear canal is obstructed by the position of the ears and coat. Hair inside the ear should be removed so that the ear canal can be ventilated. This will help prevent ear infections and earwax build-up.
English Springer Spaniels have few hereditary diseases, but they do. Eye conditions can also affect these dogs. In particular, these are ectropion (the eyelid turns outward) and entropion (the eyelid turns inward), which can lead to conjunctivitis. Also, some individuals have retinal atrophy, which leads to loss of vision. It is necessary to systematically examine the eyes at the age of five, eight months. But not once, but every six months, since the disease is sluggish.
They have a rare specific disease - interventricular communication. This is the perforation that leads to the communication of the ventricles of the heart. It must also be said about ticks - parasites that sometimes carry fatal ailments. One of the precautions is to examine the dog after returning from a hunt. If you find a "bloodsucker" in any case, do not pull it out yourself. The nose of the parasite can remain in the skin and lead to complications. If you hunt in an area teeming with ticks, then spray your pet with a special aerosol as a preventive measure.
It is important to return to the hunt to dry the dog if it gets wet. If she stays wet for a long time, she may catch a cold or get an inflammation of the bladder, which is especially dangerous for bitches. Examine your eyes, as the Sprinter Spaniel spends a lot of time hunting in the thorns and can damage the cornea. As a rule, this is not very dangerous and heals rather quickly, provided that the wound was identified in time. Springer spaniels can easily live to twelve or fourteen years old, provided they get enough exercise and adequate nutrition.
English Springer Spaniel Care Tips
- Wool young dogs are soft and fluffy, it needs to be combed out more often than the coat of adults. They are combed with a furminator or slicker. Dogs are bathed once every two weeks. The shampoo should be mild, like the hairline of the animal. After that, you can apply a special conditioner that will make your pet's coat shiny and silky.
- Claws pruning regularly, with claws, otherwise it will be difficult for the springer spaniel to walk and the fingers will be deformed. Inspect paw pads after hunting. If the dog hurt them, then the wound needs to be disinfected and spread with a healing ointment.
- Ears require a lot of attention, because they are hanging. Such a structure does not allow the auricle to be fully ventilated, and excessive moisture and sulfur can cause inflammation in it. Therefore, the hairs inside the auricle need to be trimmed and cut. They also require regular, weekly cleaning.
- Eyes hunting dogs should be checked after the hunt. These dogs work in thorny bushes and this does not exclude the risk of injury. An injury detected in time will allow the pet to avoid complications with vision. If foreign particles get there, then they need to be wiped towards the inner corner.
- Teeth English Springer Spaniels are best cleaned once to twice a week. The procedure is performed using a special brush and an edible paste. There is another way to clean them, using ordinary coal. It has sorbing properties and removes everything unnecessary well. Activated charcoal, you need to moisten and rub your pet's teeth with it, and then, everything needs to be wiped off with a cotton disc.
- Feeding dogs after one year of age from one to two times a day. The main composition of natural nutrition is lean meat (veal, lamb, chicken, turkey). Porridge, eggs, cottage cheese, some vegetables - the rest of it. For the vigorous state of the pet's body and its good growth during the period of active development, give vitamins and minerals every day. Try not to overfeed the springer, so as not to create an additional and completely unnecessary load on its bone apparatus, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. There are premium and super premium dry food for hunting dogs. Their composition makes it possible to bring the body of a four-legged hunter as close as possible to the desired vigorous and active state.
- Walking vigorous dogs are extensive. The pet must be able to throw out the accumulated energy. They walk with springers from two to three times a day. The duration of the walk is at least an hour.
English Springer Spaniel training
The first preparation of English Springer Spaniel puppies for hunting begins early enough. They show interest in searching and catching. Springer picks up game, but also appraises great. So, you just need to teach him to take the game by the throat. You need to instill in them a taste for the pursuit of prey. It is necessary to develop their search very quickly. Then the dogs are weaned from grabbing the game so that they only pick it up and be obedient. The most difficult stage is the development of instinct - establishing the connection between the smell and the bird. The game hides at the edge of the bush and leaves a trail for the dogs to smell. For puppies, game is what moves. At first, they even react to butterflies.
Interesting facts about the English Springer Spaniel
These dogs always move with an energetic, compact gallop. They should always do cross-searches. This means exploring the area from left to right at a good shot distance. Since this is not a cop dog, while working in the thickets, by changing its behavior, it indicates how close or far it has gotten to the game. They are very funny, the tail is raised high. If your pet loves hunting, then you will not have any problems in catching any game. But for this, your dog should always be at hand. She hunts within a radius of twenty to thirty meters. Springer is always obliged to apportion in all conditions.
Buying an English Springer Spaniel puppy
From the litter of English springers, you need to choose puppies that keep at the feet of the owner - the person who takes care of them. The most contactable and capable pets will grow from them. If you need a four-legged friend for some other purpose, then explain your criteria to the breeder, and he will help you in choosing the boy that is more suitable for you.
Never buy a dog in a spontaneous market, you can get into dishonest people who do not care about the breed, just to get their benefit. Puppies from randomly mated dogs can turn out to be mestizo and with gaps in health. The price of an English Springer Spaniel puppy is $ 300-800.
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