English Springer Spaniel Dog Breed: Info, Pictures & Care

The English Springer Spaniel breed loves to be outdoors almost as much as they love the family who adopts them. This is a dog of medium size, so these pets don’t do as well in an apartment setting as in a house with a yard where they can run and play.

Breed Overview

This breed is active, easy to train, and extremely loyal, intelligent, and friendly. They reach a weight of between 40 and 50 pounds making them perfect for living with a family who is active and on the go. Their undercoat is soft, and their overcoat is long, so make sure you’re ready to vacuum and sweep quite often.

At one time, these breed’s tails were docked, but that isn’t the case anymore. So, make sure you purchase your English Springer Spaniel puppy from a breeder that doesn’t dock their tails, please. In this guide, we’ll go into everything you need to know about the English Springer Spaniel breed, from their temperament to their traits and beyond, so you can make an informed decision as to whether you’re ready to give one of these puppies a forever home.

English Springer Spaniel Characteristics

English Springer Spaniel Puppies

Athletic and energetic, English Springer Spaniels live a long time and are friendly to a fault. A family who adopts one of these puppies needs to be able to keep up with them. While they do the best living indoors, this breed can acclimate to most climates. It’s best to keep them away from frigidly cold climates if you can, however.

While the puppy will do okay sleeping outdoors, it’s not recommended as these dogs are quite social and enjoy being with their families.

Temperament & Intelligence of the English Springer Spaniel

This breed is happiest when around people, but it can become destructive if it’s feeling neglected and lonely. However, if you give your English Springer Spaniel plenty of attention and love, its temperament is excellent.

These puppies are going to be very energetic and active, but they have the intelligence level to go with it. They have enthusiasm in spades and are just as happy going on a walk with their pet parent as they are cuddled up on the couch while you watch TV.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

English Springer Spaniels make the perfect family pet. They love to play and are happy most of the time. However, you do need to teach your children how to care for and play with the dog from the beginning.

While their barking will alert you to anyone outside or inside your home, these adorable pets don’t make excellent guard dogs because they have a friendly nature and love everyone.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

This breed is bred to hunt birds, so it might not be the best idea to have them around pets who are birds. However, they get along fine with other types of pets. As with any dog, they need to be trained and socialized when they’re puppies in order for them to get along with other pets you might have in your house.

There have been bloodlines that have bred aggressive English Springer Spaniels, though it is rare. Just make sure you get a reputable breeder and you should be fine.

Things to Know When Owning an English Springer Spaniel:

Above, we went into a few of the things you need to know before purchasing or adopting an English Springer Spaniel. Now, we’ll talk about their food and diet requirements, grooming, health conditions, and training in this next section.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The exact amount of food you need to feed this breed will depend on how active your dog is. The age and metabolism of the dog need to be factored in as well. High-quality kibble is a must, but don’t feed your pup over 2.5 cups a day, and divide that into two different meals.

It’s important to watch how much you feed your dog and how many treats you give him, as it could lead to obesity issues and other health problems as well.

Exercise 🐕

Your dog requires at least one long walk daily, on top of quite a bit of playtime. A bored dog is a destructive dog, so make sure to keep your pet busy. A house with a good-sized fenced-in yard is an excellent option for this breed. If he’s able to run and play, he’ll be sure to get the exercise he needs to stay healthy. Don’t forget, however, that this breed needs the affection and time of his pet parents or he will get lonely.

Training 🎾

Since this breed is friendly and eager to please, the breed is super easy to train on top of having a high intelligence level. However, just as with any other dog, training needs to start when he’s a puppy and continue into adulthood, especially when it comes to socialization.

Always use a reward system to train your pet, and make sure to do so with a firm, yet gentle hand, as their hunting instincts make them hyper and on alert.

Grooming ✂️

This breed has a double coat of long hair, so they require quite a bit of grooming. Try brushing your pet once a week or even twice, though sometimes three to four times is better. Also, use a high-quality pet shampoo for baths, and only give those when it’s needed so as not to dry out your pet’s skin.

Since this breed has longish ears, it’s best to clean them once a month and trim their nails at least every four weeks. It’s also a good idea to brush your pet’s teeth every couple of weeks as well.

Health and Conditions 🏥

There are a few health conditions, but serious and minor, that you’ll want to watch out for with your English Springer Spaniel puppy as he grows into adulthood. Below, we’ll talk about some of them.

Minor Conditions:

Minor conditions to watch for in your dog include abnormal eyelids and retinal degeneration.

If you’ve noticed symptoms of severe or mild conditions in your English Springer Spaniel, it’s best to contact your vet right away for an appointment and treatment.

Serious Conditions:

Serious conditions to watch for in this breed include hip dysplasia, Tarui disease, seizures, gastric torsion (bloat), and elbow dysplasia. Other conditions that could affect this breed include frequent dislocation of their kneecaps and the tendency for their outer ear canal to become inflamed.

Male vs. Female

As with most dog breeds, the female of this breed is usually a little bit smaller than the male. She will possibly gain up to the 40-pound mark, whereas he will top 50 pounds at most.

It is possible that the female and male will have different personalities and temperaments, but that is debatable. Just socialize and train both as puppies, and consider spaying or neutering them to reduce overly sexual or aggressive behaviors.

3 Little-Known Facts About the English Springer Spaniel

1. Their Name Comes From Their Nature

This breed got its name from its nature, which is to jump around actively and spring at everything. Since this breed was originally born to hunt, they would spring out at their prey, then point and retrieve it for the hunters.

2. They Do Best When Living with a Family

The English Springer Spaniel does best when they live with an active family who will get out and play with them. Since these dogs are affectionate and loving, they do best when they live somewhere where there’s a lot of activity and many people to be affectionate with.

3. They Are Known for Their Love of the Water

Be prepared to give your English Springer Spaniel a bath often, as this breed loves the water. They enjoy the ocean, lakes, and even the occasional mud puddle.

Final Thoughts

This sums up our guide on the English Springer Spaniel. We hope you’ve learned what you wanted to know about adopting or purchasing a puppy from a rescue shelter or a breeder. This breed is loyal, intelligent, friendly, and playful, making them the perfect choice for an active family. Make sure that you have room for your pet to run and play, and ensure you spend plenty of time cuddling and getting to know her, and this dog will make a pet like no other.

Featured Image Credit: Photosounds, Shutterstock