Dog of the Month May Edition – Springer Spaniel!
Spring is finally here! To celebrate this, our dog of the month for May is our furry friend the Springer Spaniel!
The Springer Spaniel has quite the long history. Spaniel-type dogs are thought to have originated in Spain many centuries ago and were probably taken to other parts of the world by the Romans or via trading ships. Spaniels were mentioned in Welsh law as early as 300 A.D, but there is also evidence of them as far back as 17 A.D! In that same year, the Irish laws’ mention them as been given as a tribute the the king. We can’t know for sure the origin of this breed--they’ve been everywhere! In 1913, an English Springer Spaniel was imported by a Canadian breeder, and about 10 years later, the breed had become one of the most popular breeds registered by the American Kennel Club. (www.englishspringer.org, www.dogtime.com)
They have quite the history as show dogs as well! They were first shown in the Show Ring in 1903 when Beechgrove Will, a black and white Springer Spaniel became the very first English Springer Spaniel to be awarded a Challenge Certificate. He was awarded his Championship in 1906.
Another well-known English Springer Spaniel was “Aristocrat” or “Risto” for short (as seen in the photo to the left). He competed and was a champion in 1967. He was famous for his siring abilities; The American Kennel Club stated that he was the top-producing sire of all time, out of all breeds. He was daddy to 188 champions! And to this day his lineage still going strong. He has grandsons and great-grandsons that are all still well known. (www.akc.com)
Now, a few characteristics about these loveable and talented doggies. Springer spaniels make wonderful family companions, as long as they receive all the training and exercise they need. They are very smart and eager to please, which makes them fast learners. They are happy puppies and seem to have a good sense of humour. They are commonly used for therapy dogs as well, bringing smiles to people in hospitals and nursing homes (www.dogtime.com). They’ll share the love! Also, because of their agility, tracking ability and cunning they have also been trained and used as rescue dogs. They are people orientated and enthusiastic, ready and willing to do anything that is asked of them.
We all know one when we see one! English Springers are medium-size dogs with the sweet eyes, gentle spaniel expression and fuzzy, curly, droopy ears. They have a compact body that is covered by a dense, medium-length coat with feathering that has a gentle whisping-effect. They generally have longer hair on their ears, chest, legs, and belly--plus they have little nubs! Which are little docked tails that wag like crazy when they see anyone that will give them attention. What’s not to love? Today's English Springer is a popular breed, ranking 26th among the breeds registered by the American Kennel Club! (www.dogtime.com)
Springer spaniels are bred two different ways, for field or for the ring. If they are bred for the show ring they are heavier and stockier. If they are bred for field they are lighter and a bit faster to compensate for being working puppies. Field Springer Spaniels are athletes and sure have the look! Their coats are shorter, their noses are pointier, and their ears are not as long. They are bred for their hunting ability, trainability and their sense of smell.
Show Springer Spaniels have longer hair, a squarer snout, and longer ears. They do so well in competitions because they are beautiful and can put on a great show! These guys can be sporting dogs, but they're generally a little too slow and methodical to do well in the field, which is where field-bred Springers shine the brightest. (www.dogtime.com)
Springer Spaniels have a double coat, which means that they have an insulating undercoat that's covered with a topcoat, this keeps them both warm in the cold and cool in the heat. Together, they're waterproof, weatherproof, and thornproof! Perfect for any outdoor activities with their fur-ever families. They can come in multiple color combos, but they are most well known with black or liver (deep reddish-brown), along with the white. There’s also lots that have multiple colorings. A mixture of black, white, liver or tan markings. Colourful little fellas! The field-bred Springers normally have more white in their coats, whereas those bred for the ring usually have more color, as seen in the picture to the right! (www.dogtime.com)
We love all of our furry friends! They are all special and deserve a special kind of love. There are so many different associations out there that all have the same goal: place all animals in homes with families that can love them unconditionally, just like they love us. So keep your peepers open! We’re so excited for Spring and to share with you our next doggy of the month!
