The English Springer Spaniel is probably the oldest representative of the family Spaniels, that is to say, Spaniels reviewed and corrected by the British.
The name Spaniel obviously raises the problem of the Spanish origins of the breed, an issue that has been the subject of much controversy on which there is no question of returning here. What is certain, however, is that the Spaniels were very present in Britain from the end of the Middle Ages. At the end of the 14th century, the poet Chaucer quoted the Spaniel, whom he appreciated for his affectionate behavior. Some two centuries later, in 1570, Dr. Johannes Caius included the Spaniel in his panorama of British dogs by ranking him among gentlemen's dogs. The scientist already expressed his doubts about the Iberian origin of the dog: "The common people generally call them spaniels," he said, as if these dogs were originally from Spain. "
The Spaniels were used very early by the lords in the hunting of game birds, which required abilities that the bloodhounds and other common dogs of Great Britain were far from possessing. And they excelled in various practices, in net hunting as in falconry or hunting with greyhounds, widespread in the country. Gentlemen appreciated the Spaniel's many abilities all the more because they did not always have the means to maintain large and expensive packs of common dogs.
For a long time, Spaniels remained medium-sized dogs, despite, no doubt, some local variations. And of all the current types of Spaniels, it is certainly the Springer that is most faithful to this original stature. He has also preserved the color of the dress, white spotted with brown or red, that already described Dr. Caius. We meet for the first time the mention of the Springer or rather Springing Spaniel in the book Markham, Hunter's Prevention, published in 1621. Since then, the permanence of this canine type has always been attested, especially through the illustrations of Philipp Reinagle , published in 1803 in The Sportsman Cabinet, which show us a dog resembling in every respect the modern Springer Spaniel.
The situation of Spaniels was disrupted in the course of the nineteenth century with the appearance of cynology. Indeed, the specialists began to modify the conformation of these "jack-of-all-trades" dogs, which had hitherto been used in all phases of the hunt, for any type of game and whatever the terrain, because The aim was to adapt them for more specialized use.
However, in the early days, the British lacked much vigilance, or rigor. As Gérard Desjeux, former president of the French Spaniel Club, notes, they did not hesitate to cross the different varieties of Spaniels, which could only be distinguished by their weight or their colors; distinctions that were not necessarily unequivocal, as was the case with the first specimens called Cockers, which were defined as Field Spaniels less than 28 pounds: thus, the puppy classified as Cocker became thereafter a Field Spaniel because his weight and stature no longer matched the characteristics of the Cocker. Subsequently, the size of these dogs was fixed, by crossing with the Toy Spaniels, which made excellent subjects for stalking the woodcock, even the rabbit, and it was thus that we would finally know the authentic Cocker. To satisfy the sporadic hunters, heavy Spaniels were also created, which were very popular with crowned heads.
The English also thought of making Spaniel a pet dog. Her good and affectionate character, her silky dress and her size predestined her for this kind of work, and as for her aesthetic, she was well refined for the exhibitions. However, this selection proved sometimes harmful, as was the case with the Field Spaniel, whose breeding was oriented towards the development of a Spaniel Basset, the heavy body and very long: presented in extension, the belly of the animal touched almost ground. There was, of course, no question of using this dog for hunting; this new type interested only a small circle of enthusiasts, to the point that Field almost disappeared.
The Springer, on the other hand, was going to stop affirming his personality among the Spaniels. His height and weight were hardly changed, and he remained exclusively a practical hunting dog, before becoming, with the advent of field trials, a sport dog. This very original specificity, the source of its immense success, is due to the fact that, curiously, the race was long kept away from the benches of exhibition, which it finally benefited, because it presents itself to us having preserved intact all its hunting qualities. In 1902, the Kennel Club officially recognized the existence of the English Springer, distinguishing it from the Welsh Springer (even the history of the Springers is not so simple.). From then on, the lovers of beautiful dogs finally did him honor, and, today, the English Springer is very present in the exhibitions dog, as he heels the Cocker in the statistics of births across the Channel, which says a lot about his popularity as a pet dog.
In the United States, the Springer made its first appearance in the middle of the 19th century, but its official establishment dates back to 1932. Since then, the breed has made an honorable career in the country, both as a practical hunting dog and as a competitor in field trials or as a pleasure dog.
In France, the English Springer has been better known for thirty years, thanks to the activity of passionate breeders who imported and raised subjects of excellent quality which they neglected neither aesthetics nor education at work.
Whether hunter or not, the proud owner of an English Springer Spaniel can only congratulate himself for choosing a dog with such a pleasant character. Cheerful, active, docile, sociable and cooperative, the Springer is one of the most malleable and easygoing dogs among dogs. He understands quickly and well, just as he immediately approves the wishes of his master. If he seems less coaxing than a Cocker, he is also less teasing and stubborn than he is. Good sportsman, it is not an exuberant animal or subject to a great nervousness, provided that it can profit from a minimum of physical exercise. Excellent companion, calm at home, loving children, his gentle and serene look perfectly expresses the balance of his temperament.
It is obviously as a hunting dog that the Springer is mainly appreciated. Its exceptional endurance is the result of its robust and compact constitution, which however remains free of heaviness, which reflects the fair proportion between its size and weight. Although the Springer is not strictly speaking a specialist, its qualities are nevertheless above average for all phases of the hunt. He is the very good student, who can compete with the best in each subject without ever getting a mediocre or average grade. Only one discipline is foreign to him: like all Spaniels, the Springer is not a dog.
But he excels in particular in relation to game, where he is at the forefront as much by the ease of his training as his ardor or his taste for water. And, if it must be awarded a special mention, it is certainly for his ability to work in difficult and varied terrain. No form of vegetation, be it groves, woods, brambles or wastelands, can stop its going, any more than a torrential rain or an exceptional cold, which it do not care when he's at work.
The English Springer-Spaniel is the flagship of the excellent family of Spaniels, and is best able to support the comparison with the best hunting dogs today. This posed, it may also be suitable for the hunter without much experience of training, who would handle with less ease the incomparable thoroughbred whose specialists would have praised the value. Moreover, this dog has acquired a loyal clientele over the years. The wood-scavengers, especially, hold him in high esteem, his prudence and safety on the emanation being much appreciated. |
Aggressive or overly shy.
English (United Kingdom)