Field Spaniel

The Field Spaniel is a breed of dog originating in England, bred for hunting in the 19th century. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the breed is its long, glossy, weather-resistant coat with moderate feathering. Also, their temperament is described as docile and gentle, and they are affectionate with their family.

General details

The breed has a balanced and medium-sized appearance, with a weight ranging between 16 and 23 kilograms and an approximate height of 46 centimeters in males and 43 centimeters in females. Its life expectancy is 12 to 13 years. It belongs to Group 8 of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), which includes retrievers and hunting dogs, as well as water dogs.

Breed history in brief

The Field Spaniel is a British breed developed in the 19th century for searching for live prey and retrieving injured prey. Formerly, this breed was classified as "Ground Spaniels", which today corresponds to the Lifting Spaniels. The Field Spaniel was created by crossing the Cocker Spaniel and Sussex Springer. In the 20th century it was on the verge of extinction due to competition from other breeds, but thanks to dedicated breeders, the breed was saved. Although not very common today, the Field Spaniel is still an excellent hunter.

Breed characteristics

The Field Spaniel is a breed with a balanced and sporty appearance. Its almond-shaped eyes have a sweet expression and are dark brown in color, while its ears are long, low and hang close to the cheeks. The tail, formerly docked, is low set and carried below the level of the back. The breed's coat is long, smooth, shiny and soft in texture. It is also dense and weather-resistant, with moderate feathering on the back of the limbs, chest, belly and ears. According to the FCI standard, acceptable coat colors are black, blue and liver, which can be combined with a roan color pattern or tan markings. Temperamentally, the Field Spaniel is gentle and docile. In addition, it is loyal and affectionate with its family, although it can be reserved with strangers. It is an intelligent and eager to please dog, which makes it easy to train. His energy level is moderate and he enjoys outdoor activities such as hunting and swimming. Overall, the breed is described as responsive, adaptable and good-natured.

Common health problems

The Field Spaniel breed is characterized by good health. However, they are prone to develop certain disorders or pathologies such as cataracts, cerebellar hypoplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia and retinal dysplasia. In addition to the aforementioned conditions, the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) recommends a cardiac and eye screening examination, as well as a test to assess diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis, elbow dysplasia and patellar luxation.