Appearance: The English Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized dog. Their long pendant ears are curly and soft. Tails are typically docked, though occasionally left at full length. Their coats are medium to long in length with colors of black and white, brown and white (often referred to as liver and white), and on rare occasion they can be tri-color (black and white with tan markings, or brown and white with tan markings, such is the case with Timber's mother).

Temperament: Most Springer Spaniels are even-tempered, gentle, and friendly. They literally love everyone. Anyone that gives them attention and affection becomes an instant friend. The more they are with people, the happier they are. In fact, if left alone for too long, they become mischevious. They will get into things they know they shouldn't and consequently be quite destructive. Springers, however, are intelligent and very eager to please. This makes them easy to discipline. They tend to perform well in obedience competitions. Springers have moderate to high levels of energy, show-bred tending to be more calm than field-bred (see below). They adapt well to town or city life and, if exercised sufficiently, can even be manageable in an apartment.

Health Issues: Springers are susceptable to hip dysplasia. They are also prone to ear infections. This is more of an issue of dogs that are in and out of water (like during duck hunting season). We take our dogs up to the Boundary Waters often and they do plenty of swimming up there. We have a solution we put in their ears when they get done swimming and it seems to work great. There is also a very rare disorder known as Springer Rage in which the dog has heightened lapses of aggression. This is caused by epilepsy and can be treated. It is rare though and is often confused with a "teenage" stage that some Springers go through, which is normal behavior. This "teenage" stage exhibits "top dog" behavior where they are trying to find their place in the social pack, so to speak. Gentle, but firm guidance is needed in this stage of his/her life.

Field-bred versus Show-bred: Springers have 2 breeding lines, the field-bred and the show-bred. They have been classified as different dogs since the 1930's.

The classifications are exactly as they suggest. The show-bred were bred to have beautiful coats of fur and classy physique. The field-bred were bred more for training in the field and using as hunting dogs. But, to me, the differences seem vague.

We have show-bred dogs, yet I can tell you that they have a hunting drive in them like a lake has water. Just at the sight of the gun they can hardly contain themselves and as I move forward with it, they scout out in front of me with their noses to the ground in a frenzy that often makes me laugh. All this was done with very little work, it was almost purely instinctual.

The distinction between the two breeding lines is vague, especially at our level of breeding. We do not breed dogs for being "Champions", or for entering into dog shows, or any of that. We breed dogs for the average Joe. They are beautiful family dogs that enjoy hunting. That's what it comes down to. They likely have some field-bred in their pedigrees, but their physical characteristics point to the show-bred line.

Please read up on this more if this concerns you. If you are looking purely for a hunting companion, I recommend going with the field-bred. But, if you are looking for a family dog that you may or may not like to take hunting, then you are in the right place.

Show-bred

Field-bred

Exercise: These dogs require a good deal of exercise and mental stimulation. They have a seemingly endless stamina. They get their name from the delightful way they spring through brush and tall grass. It is fun to see their heads bob up and down and their ears flopping as they cut through grassy fields. They enjoy retrieving games, open areas to run and seek out wildlife, and swimming. They should have active owners to fulfill these needs.