Dog breed

English Springer Spaniel

The English Springer Spaniel is the tallest of the English land spaniels: a hunting dog that flushes birds from thick cover and retrieves them after the shot. It stands about 51 cm at the shoulder. It is a cheerful, hardworking and very cooperative dog, great for an active family, but it needs lots of exercise and nose work every day.

FCI Group VIII · Retrievers and spaniels · standard no. 125

Weight: 18.1–22.7 kg
Height: 48–51 cm
Lifespan: 12–14 years
Origin: United Kingdom

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Photo: nieznany autor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Springer is a dog with boundless energy and a tail that never stops wagging. The AKC gives it top marks for affection with family and trainability, and 4 for openness to strangers and other dogs. In practice, it's an enthusiast that wants to join in everything its owner does and loves learning new tasks. Most Springers are friendly to people and rarely make good watchdogs. They usually get along with children, though a young dog can be overly exuberant and knock a toddler over. The hunting instinct is obvious: a Springer reacts to bird scent and can vanish into the bushes, so recall needs training from puppyhood. Without something to do, a Springer gets bored quickly, and boredom ends in barking, digging or chewing.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the English Springer Spaniel for?

The Springer Spaniel is a good choice for an active family, a hunter, someone who does dog sports, or anyone who takes long daily walks through woods and fields. It can live in an apartment if it gets enough exercise. We don't recommend it for people who are away most of the day or who want a calm dog for short walks around the block.

Pros

cheerful and friendly
very eager to learn
excellent at sports and scent work
long-lived

Challenges

very high exercise needs
strong hunting instinct
ears need constant checking
doesn't handle boredom or being alone well

Size and looks

Size and looks: English Springer Spaniel
Height at the withers	males 51 cm, females 48 cm
Weight	males 22.7 kg, females 18.1 kg
Lifespan	12–14 years
Coat	medium
Colors	liver and white, black and white, liver and white with tan, black and white with tan
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Classification	Group VIII: Retrievers, Flushing dogs, Water dogs
Also known as	Springer Spaniel, Springer, ESS

Care and exercise

90–150minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

A Springer needs lots of exercise. The Kennel Club recommends more than two hours a day, ideally with nose work: retrieving, finding objects, tracking or fieldwork. The AKC also suggests obedience, agility and rally. The medium-length coat, with feathering on the ears, chest and legs, needs brushing once a week, more often during shedding, and combing out mats behind the ears. The feet, ears and neck should be trimmed now and then, by a groomer or at home. After every swim and walk through tall grass, check the ears and between the toes, where moisture and grass awns collect. Springers love to eat, so measure portions and count training treats toward the daily ration.

How much should the English Springer Spaniel eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

Springers live relatively long lives. The AKC gives 12–14 years, and in the British McMillan et al. (2024) study, which covered nearly 18,000 dogs of the breed, the median was 13.5 years. The AKC lists hip and elbow dysplasia and eye diseases as concerns, and responsible breeders also test the parents with the DNA tests recommended by the breed club. Long, drop ears are prone to inflammation, so regular cleaning is the foundation of prevention. Before buying a puppy, ask about the parents' X-ray and eye exam results.

hip and elbow dysplasiaThe AKC lists it among the conditions breeding dogs are screened for.
inherited eye diseasesThe AKC lists eye diseases among the conditions breeding dogs are screened for.
otitis externa (outer ear infection)Long, hairy, drop ears are prone to infections, especially after swimming.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
eye exam (ECVO)
DNA tests recommended by the breed club

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

Land spaniels have worked birds in England for centuries. The AKC notes that dogs called “cockers” and “springers” were once born in the same litter, and only selective breeding separated them into distinct breeds. The Kennel Club explains that the name comes from the dog's habit of “springing” forward to flush game into nets, and after firearms were invented, spaniels flushed birds for the gun. For a time the breed was called the Norfolk Spaniel, because its development was credited to the Duke of Norfolk. The English Kennel Club recognized the Springer as a separate breed in 1902, the AKC in 1910 and the FCI in 1954.

Fun facts

The Kennel Club describes the Springer as the tallest of all the English land spaniels.
Liver and white is the most popular color, while black and white and tricolor Springers are less common.
According to the AKC, lemon, red and orange are not allowed in the breed, which sets it apart from other spaniels.
The Springer is one of the FCI breeds with a working trial requirement, so an International Champion title requires passing a field trial.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Springer Spaniel live in an apartment?

Yes. The AKC considers that, with enough exercise, a Springer can manage in an apartment. It still needs more than two hours of activity every day, including nose work. An under-exercised Springer quickly starts barking and destroying things.

Do Springer Spaniels shed?

Yes, moderately, year-round and more heavily during coat changes. The AKC rates shedding 3 on a 1–5 scale. Brushing once or twice a week reduces the amount of hair in the house and prevents mats on the ears.

How long do English Springer Spaniels live?

Usually 12–14 years according to the AKC. In a large 2024 British study, the median lifespan was 13.5 years, meaning the Springer lives longer than the average dog.

What's the difference between a Springer and a Cocker Spaniel?

The Springer is taller and heavier, with longer legs and more energy. Both breeds descend from the same land spaniels, and they were once even born in the same litter. A Cocker suits a less active person better, while a Springer needs more work.

How much does a English Springer Spaniel weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 22.7 kg, females 18.1 kg. Height at the withers: 48–51 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.