English Springer Spaniel
A sweet-faced, lovable companion of great energy, stamina, and brains, the English Springer Spaniel is cherished as both a mannerly household pet and a trusty hunting partner. Eager to please, quick to learn, and outgoing toward strangers, this breed gets along well with children and other pets.
18–21 inches tall; 40–50 pounds
10–14 years
Daily long walk, jog, or energetic games; obedience training for mental exercise; coat brushing 1–2 times per week; weekly ear checks
Some bark a lot; barking rated 2 out of 5
Makes a fairly calm housedog if given adequate exercise; tolerates both warm and cool weather well
Medium length; silky; flat or wavy; brushing and combing 1–2 times per week; professional grooming and clipping every few months; average shedding
Exuberant and energetic; requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games; field-bred dogs tend to be more energetic; makes a fairly calm housedog if given adequate exercise; obedience training essential for mental exercise
Temperament
The English Springer Spaniel is a sweet-faced, lovable dog of great energy, stamina, and brains. The breed is outgoing toward strangers, usually good with children, and gets along well with other pets and dogs. Springers are eager to please and quick to learn, doing best with reward-based training involving food. They are a happy dog, not easily bothered by things, and enjoy retrieving and swimming.
For a working household, the key consideration is daily exercise. A Springer makes a fairly calm house dog if given adequate activity in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games. Obedience training is essential not only for control but for the mental exercise it provides. Field-bred dogs tend to be more energetic and require more exercise. Some Springers bark a lot, and a few have been implicated in sudden aggressive episodes that appear to have little warning. The breed can be excitable and easily distracted, so reward-based training involving food works best.
“The English Springer Spaniel is a sweet-faced, lovable bird dog of great energy, stamina, and brains.”
AKC
Daily needs and attention
The English Springer Spaniel is a sweet-faced, lovable bird dog of great energy, stamina, and brains. Daily exercise is essential: a long walk, jog, or energetic games keeps this breed content and makes for a fairly calm house dog. Obedience training is important both for control and for the mental exercise it provides. The breed does best with reward-based training involving food, and is eager to please and quick to learn.
Grooming requires brushing and combing one to two times a week to prevent mats, plus professional grooming and clipping every few months. Ears should be checked weekly. Shedding is average.
Because Springers have a tendency to become overweight, a balanced diet with attention to caloric intake is important. The breed tolerates both warm and cool weather well.
For a working household, the key commitment is the daily long walk or jog and consistent training time. The breed is outgoing toward strangers, usually good with children, and gets along well with other pets and dogs.
“The English Springer Spaniel is a sweet-faced, lovable bird dog of great energy, stamina, and brains.”
AKC
Health and lifespan
English Springer Spaniels typically live 10 to 14 years, with the AKC listing 12 to 14 years. The breed is a happy dog, not easily bothered by things, and tolerates both warm and cool weather well.
Weight management deserves consistent attention. Springers have a tendency to become overweight, so adult dogs should be fed a balanced diet with restricted calories if the dog starts to gain too much weight. Puppies should be fed a balanced puppy food.
The ears require a weekly check for problems. The medium-length coat, either flat or wavy, needs brushing and combing one to two times a week to prevent mats, and professional grooming and clipping is required every few months.
A small number of Springers have been implicated in sudden aggressive episodes that appear to have little warning, a consideration for households with young children or other pets.
Daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games keeps the dog fairly calm at home.
“Springers have a tendency to become overweight.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Habits and behavior
The English Springer Spaniel is an exuberant, energetic companion that is usually good with children and outgoing toward strangers. The breed is eager to please and quick to learn, doing best with reward-based training involving food. Some dogs can be excitable and easily distracted.
Springers get along well with other pets and dogs, enjoy retrieving, and enjoy swimming. They make a fairly calm house dog if given adequate exercise. Daily activity in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games is important. Field-bred dogs tend to be more energetic and require more exercise. Obedience training is essential not only for control but for the mental exercise it provides.
Some Springers bark a lot. A few have been implicated in sudden aggressive episodes that appear to have little warning. The breed tolerates both warm and cool weather well and is a good candidate for dog parks.
“Obedience training is essential not only for control, but for the mental exercise it provides.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Housing: apartment, house, yard and crate
English Springer Spaniels make a fairly calm housedog when given adequate exercise. At 18 to 21 inches tall and 40 to 50 pounds, they are a medium-large dog well suited to a home environment. Daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games is required to keep them settled indoors. They tolerate both warm and cool weather well, so seasonal changes do not complicate their comfort at home. They are a good candidate for dog parks, where they can use the energy and stamina the breed is known for. Obedience training supports both control and the mental exercise the breed benefits from. They are rated 2 out of 5 as a lap dog, so they fit better into active household routines than a quiet, sedentary one. Field-bred individuals tend to be more energetic and require more exercise.
“Makes a fairly calm housedog if given adequate exercise.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Challenges
English Springer Spaniels are eager to please and quick to learn, which makes them responsive to reward-based training. That same eagerness, however, means they can be excitable and easily distracted, so consistent, structured sessions work better than sporadic ones. The breed requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games, and field-bred dogs tend to need even more. Obedience training is essential not only for control but for the mental exercise it provides. Grooming is a regular commitment: the coat needs brushing and combing one to two times a week to prevent mats, professional clipping every few months, and weekly ear checks. Springers also have a tendency to become overweight, so portion control and a balanced diet matter. Some individuals bark a lot, and a few have been implicated in sudden aggressive episodes that appear to have little warning. A working household should be prepared to build these routines into the week from day one.
“Requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog or energetic games.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
The fun part
The English Springer Spaniel is a sweet-faced, lovable dog of great energy, stamina, and brains. They make an exuberant and energetic companion, usually good with children, and outgoing toward strangers. A happy dog, not easily bothered by things, the Springer is eager to please and quick to learn. They enjoy retrieving and swimming, and make a good candidate for dog parks. They get along well with other pets and dogs, and tolerate both warm and cool weather.
For a working household, the key is daily exercise: a long walk, jog, or energetic games. With that routine in place, the Springer makes a fairly calm housedog. Obedience training provides both control and the mental exercise the breed needs, and they do best with reward-based training involving food. The coat is medium length, silky, and either flat or wavy, needing brushing one to two times a week.
“A happy dog, not easily bothered by things.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Living with kids, cats and other dogs
English Springer Spaniels are usually good with children and get along well with other pets and dogs. They are outgoing toward strangers and make an exuberant, energetic companion. A happy dog that is not easily bothered by things, the Springer tends to fit into family life without drama.
They are eager to please and quick to learn, but can be excitable and easily distracted. Reward-based training involving food works best. Obedience training is essential not only for control but for the mental exercise it provides, which matters in a household with small children or other animals.
Some Springers bark a lot, and a few have been implicated in sudden aggressive episodes that appear to have little warning. These are not the norm, but worth knowing before bringing the dog into a home with young kids or other pets.
The breed is rated 3 out of 5 for good with children. Grooming requirements are 4 out of 5, so plan for brushing and combing one to two times a week.
“Gets along well with other pets and dogs.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
What to ask the rescue
Ask the rescue about the dog's daily exercise routine and whether it has been field-bred, since field-bred dogs tend to be more energetic and require more exercise. A long walk, jog, or energetic games each day is the baseline this breed needs to stay calm at home. Inquire about the dog's response to reward-based training, as this breed does best with food-motivated methods and can be excitable or easily distracted during sessions. Ask whether the dog has shown any barking patterns, since some in the breed bark a lot. Confirm the grooming schedule: the coat needs brushing and combing one to two times a week, and professional clipping every few months. Ask about ear-check frequency, as weekly inspection is recommended. Finally, ask about the dog's history with children and other pets, and whether it has shown interest in retrieving or swimming, both of which this breed typically enjoys.
“Requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog or energetic games.”
VCA Animal Hospitals