Plate 033 · British Isles
English Springer Spaniel
英国史宾格犬
“Named for its job: springing birds out of cover.”
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- England
- Country of origin
- The point is a reference position in the country of origin.
- Era
- Spaniel type centuries old; separate breed from 1902
- Today
- Gundog · Detection dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
Then → Now
Then · 1903'Shirley', published in 1903 — a year after the Kennel Club recognised the English Springer as a separate breed (1902).
Unknown artist, in W. D. Drury's British Dogs (1903) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
NowThis file was made by Thomas Hindsgaul, and should be credited as such. If you make use of this picture outside of the Wiki community, an email to broadbeer [at] gmail.com would be appreciated. If you would like a better version of the image i.e. a higher resolution, or use it under another license please feel free to contact me. · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons
History
01 · Origin
England
An English hunting spaniel named for its job of 'springing' game from cover.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Flushed game birds out of high grass and bramble for hunters with nets, falcons and later guns, then retrieved the downed birds.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
For a long time springers and cockers could come from the same litter, sorted by size. The Kennel Club recognised the English Springer as a separate breed in 1902. Field and show lines later diverged noticeably in build and coat.
04 · Today
Gundog · Detection dog · Companion
A tireless gundog, a widely used detection dog, and an affectionate family companion.
Personality
- Friendly
- Eager to please
- Energetic
- Affectionate
- Trainable
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: this atlas’s editorial summary on a 1–5 scale, for rough comparison between breeds here — not a measurement or a standardised assessment.
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
- Coat
- Medium-length, flat or wavy coat with feathering
Field note
Springers are widely used as sniffer dogs, including by police and border agencies.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Sporting Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI, The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- United States
Popular in the United States as both a working gundog and a family pet.
Sources2 references
- English Springer Spaniel — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/english-springer-spaniel/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-07 · Registry status and AKC group; AKC recognition 1910 per AKC "Breeds by Year Recognized". Used as a registry reference only.
- English Springer Spaniel (encyclopedia overview) — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Springer_Spaniel
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-07 · Secondary overview; cross-check claims against primary breed-club sources.
Image credits
Unknown artist, in W. D. Drury's British Dogs (1903) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
This file was made by Thomas Hindsgaul, and should be credited as such. If you make use of this picture outside of the Wiki community, an email to broadbeer [at] gmail.com would be appreciated. If you would like a better version of the image i.e. a higher resolution, or use it under another license please feel free to contact me. · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions.
