English Springer Spaniel
The English springer spaniel looks much the same today as he did long ago when he was first raised as a hunting dog by the Dukes of Norfolk in England. He was called the "springing spaniel" then because his particular method of hunting birds was to make them "spring." This means he startled the birds from their hiding place in low bushes or grass so they flew up into the air where the hunter could aim his gun at them.
Like all bird dogs, the springer is trained not to harm or eat the game his master has shot down. A famous story illustrates this training in a wonderful, but sad, way: Long, long ago, in Europe, a prince and his springer came back from hunting with a bag of eleven partridges. The dog's keeper had just laid out the birds on a table in a small room when the prince called him to do an errand. The keeper ran out of the room, closing the door behind him and leaving the springer there. The errand must have been an urgent one, for it kept the prince and his servant away from the castle for several days. When the keeper returned to the room where he had forgotten the dog, he found all the partridges still on the table, untouched. But the good, obedient springer had died of starvation!
The English springer is larger than the cocker, with long legs that make him a fast runner. His coat is either flat or wavy, and usually a dark liver color and white, or black and white. He has long ears and a short tail and big, alert eyes that are hazel color when his coat is reddish, or black if his coat is black and white.
American hunters who first used springers while visiting England liked them so much that they brought some of them to this country. They are now one of the favorite American hunting dogs, as well as dearly loved companions for either country or city.
English Springer Spaniels although the same breed can be either all field bred and born with the ability of being a great gun dog or be bred for the show ring, or a combination of both. I LOVE the looks of the bench (show) bred Springer Spaniel but I also love the enthusiasm of a true field bred Springer. The look between both types is quite different. The field having much less fur straighter, finer and generally a lot shorter. Their ear set is much higher and generally have a longer aerodynamic narrower muzzle. Longer leaner legs appearing more athletic. Tighter haws in the eye, and seem to be slightly more active than a 100% show bred. Were as the bench bred Springer's have a full thick longer coat {requiring much more grooming) are bigger boned but smaller around the 40 pound range lower ear set, and a dome type head. With the field/show mixture of Springer you can breed for just about any look or size you like. We currently have several looks the very regal and elegant fieldy look with less hair for easy grooming while still maintaining the breed standard with good ear length true of a spaniel as well as the massive big boned beauties with out ticking or loaded with ticking and freckles and of course those LONG spaniel ears ~which we love~ ...
A Dog Fancy magazine: article on ESS
"Of the 12,000 to 14,000 ESS dogs that are registered with AKC each year, only maybe 1,000 of those are sold as trial prospects. Another 2,000 to 3,000 are sold as show prospects with the majority of English Springer's bred for hunting or companions. The English Springer's bred for hunting are known as "field-bred" dogs and are different in conformation, appearance and natural hunting drives than pet and show bred dogs.
In general show dogs can't hunt and field dogs can't be shown (and win). "Fundamentally, [show and field dogs] have the same intense love, dedication and desire to please their owners; however, the physical attributes are so different, you would think you are looking at two different breeds~
