As the name implies, the English Springer Spaniel originated in England where it was bred as a hunting dog for birds. Their job was not to retrieve the bird but to flush it out for the hunter.
This is a quick-to-learn, sociable, loving, and loyal dog. While they make great working and hunting dogs, in today’s world they are now mostly known as companion and show dogs.
| Weight (pounds) Male: 50-60 Female: 40-50 | Height (inches) Male: 20-22 Female: 19-20 | Lifespan (years) 12-14 | Dog Breed Group Sporting breed |
Characteristics Ratings
We rate 19 characteristics for each breed, divided into three categories:
Highest Rated – Characteristics for which this breed is rated 4 or 5 stars (on a 5 star scale).
Neutral Rated – Characteristics that rated 3 stars.
Lowest Rated – Characteristics that rated only 1 or 2 stars.
Highest Rated
- Good Family Dog
- Kid Friendly
- Good With Other Dogs
- Friendly to Strangers
- Likes to Play
- Handles Change Easily
- Easy to Train
- High Energy Level
- Tolerates Hot Climate
- High Intelligence
Neutral Rated
- Low Shedding
- Low Drooling
- Protective Nature
- Low Amount of Barking
- Good for Novice Owners
- Tolerates Cold Climate
- Good General Health
Lowest Rated
- Suitable for Small Yards/Apartments
- Tolerates Being Left Alone
General Overview
Springer Spaniels are happy-go-lucky dogs with fun personalities. They make affectionate and loyal family dogs that, with proper socialization, are good with children.
That said, they are a better choice for older children, who know how to react to their high energy and playfulness. Smaller children should be closely supervised around your Springer Spaniel to prevent accidents.
They get along well with other dogs and pets in the household, except for birds. They were bred to hunt birds and as a result will tend to see birds, including chickens, as prey.
Spingers are generally friendly to strangers, perhaps too much so! While they make good watchdogs and will alert you to intruders with their loud bark, they are not particularly good guard dogs. They are more likely to wag a tail at intruders, rather than protect you from them.
With their long coats, Springers need to be brushed at least twice a week. They are medium shedders and droolers, so overall maintenance is pretty easy.
They do experience separation anxiety when left alone and are not a good choice for owners who are away a lot. And their high energy means they do best in homes with large yards where they can run and explore.
Speaking of energy, they have a lot of it! They require a large amount of both physical and mental stimulation. They love the water and are great swimmers, and they also make excellent running companions.
If not given enough exercise, they will become bored and may substitute destructive behavior for the missing exercise.
Springers are a highly intelligent, eager-to-please breed with very little stubbornness. This means they are very easy to train and learn fast.
They excel in canine competitions, doing particularly well with obedience and tracking. Games are an excellent way to burn off their excess energy and they generally score high in most categories.
From a health standpoint, this is a generally healthy breed, although not at the top of the chart. They are commonly susceptible to hip dysplasia and obesity, so regular checkups should be part of their care.