Field Spaniel

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The Field Spaniel is a very handsome, unexaggerated dog; the Breed Standard describes him as "Well balanced, noble, upstanding sporting Spaniel, built for activity and endurance".  He is taller than the Cocker at 45.7cm and substantially heavier at up to 55lbs.  He was developed during the late 19thC by crossing the Sussex Spaniel with the Cocker with the intention of creating a more powerful dog than the Cocker and a lighter one than the Sussex.  It took some time before a good balanced dog was arrived at, and he has had some reverses over the years when the breed has only been kept going by a small number of dedicated breeders.  In the 1950s numbers were so low that the Kennel Club withdrew Championship status, which was not restored until 1969.

The Field Spaniel is one of the few gundog breeds where the attributes of the show and working lines are common, and this is something which the Breed Society is keen to protect.  Their website is a very useful one and, like the Clumber Spaniel's site, gives a very frank assessment of the breed.  It should be remembered that where breeders have the best interests of their dogs at heart they will not try and sell you a puppy; rather they will alert you to the drawbacks of the breed and assess your suitability as an owner. 

He is a country dog, and he needs plenty of exercise and company.  The Field Spaniel is not eager to please in the manner of most spaniels, and his fans claim that he has a sense of humour and will be deliberately naughty just for the fun of it - so if you are planning to acquire one that you should make sure that you have a sense of humour to match!

The coat is a relatively easy one to keep; the body coat, which can be either black, liver or roan, is long, flat and silky and there is plenty of feathering.  A regular grooming with a slicker brush is the best way to keep him looking tidy.

The Field Spaniel is a handsome, classy looking dog; if you are attracted to him then a visit to the Society website should help point you in the right direction.

To read the Kennel Club Breed Standard for the Field Spaniel click here.

Field Spaniel Breed Clubs

 FIELD SPANIEL SOCIETY    Mr John Robertshaw    01282.859535