The Field Spaniel dog differs from its better known cousin the Cocker spaniel in being longer in body and somewhat larger in size. The history of this dog breed can perhaps be described as a see-saw adventure constantly skirting the edge of disaster. The Field Spaniel breed was originally developed in 1800s as a bird-flushing and retrieving hunting dog that, with its added height and bone structure, was supposed to supersede the other existing spaniels and be an all-rounder field dog; hence the nondescript name.

This dog breed was developed from crossings between the English Cocker Spaniel, the Sussex Spaniel and the English Water Spaniel. Since the objective was to breed a dog with greater height and mass only those dogs that attained 25 pounds in weight and exceeded 15.5 inches in height were utilized in the development program.

Soon the Field Spaniel development program was declared a success and the new dog breed lived up to expectations. The Filed Spaniel was a capable and worthy gundog, beautifully adept at bird flushing and retrieving. But the success was short-lived before disaster struck and came to roost in the form of a pedigree award enabling the Field Spaniel to perform in dog shows and exhibits.

With a zeal and passion that is little seen outside a shark feeding frenzy, dog show fanciers took it upon themselves to “improve” the Field Spaniel dog breed. In what can best be described as an excess of extremism (thankfully little seen today) those show-bench fanciers genetically stretched and shrunk the Field Spaniel as if for all the world they were designing some hybrid low-slung sports car! The results unsurprisingly were a disaster.

The Field Spaniel Dog Transforms From Beauty Into Beast

The Field Spaniel almost within the blink of an eye had transformed into an elegant and beautifully proportioned dog into a sagging, ungainly, stubby and cumbersome creature. So bad did the Field Spaniel dog breed appear after the show fanciers had their day that one critic was moved to opine that the only hope of survival that the breed had was to sprout a third pair of legs to support its sagging hammock-like mid-belly!

By the early 1900s the fate of the Field Spaniel was sealed. It was quite evident that the “new improved” Field Spaniel dog breed was anything but and what was equally obvious was that its days as a sporting gundog were over. But that wasn’t all that was over for this once fine dog breed; now even its days as a show dog were numbered. And as if the news wasn’t already bad enough, what was readily becoming apparent was the fact that the Field Spaniel was in very real danger of becoming just another vanished dog breed.

Everybody but the most recalcitrant and obtuse of show-bench fanciers had to concede the so-called improved strain of the Field Spaniel looked ridiculous. Any elegance and grace the dog once had was long lost and superseded by an ungainly cumbersome dog. The disaffection of the Field Spaniel quickly spread to the public and what little traction in popularity up to that point that the breed had developed quickly dissipated.

In the aftermath of two world wars, by 1945 the Field Spaniel dog breed was quite literally on the precipice of extinction. Luckily however the breed was still beloved enough by many such that by the late 1950s a concerted effort was underway to restore and resurrect the Field Spaniel to its former glory. In order to achieve that end the Field Spaniel was crossed back to the English Cocker Spaniel and English Springer Spaniel dog breeds. Soon enough the breeders were met with success and today the modern Field Spaniel is once again a thoroughly capable field dog that also exudes the regal elegance and grace it originally did.

Field Spaniel Dog

Four individual Field Spaniels, tracing back to the 1950s have been most credited with restoring this dog breed to its former glory. Those four dogs were called: Ronayne Regal, Gormac Teal, Colombina Teffont and Elmbury Morwena. Despite the resurrection of the Field Spaniel from almost certain extinction to this very day the dog breed is a rarity in America.

Field Spaniel Dog Temperament

The Field Spaniel dog is often described as the sweetest and most docile of the spaniels and in spite of its independent nature makes for an extremely affectionate and warm animal. This dog breed is great with kids and more than adequately satisfies any child’s appetite for play. The Field Spaniel gets along well with other pets and co-exists equally well with other dogs. This dog is quiet welcoming of strangers and hence does not make for a good protection dog.

Field Spaniel Dog Upkeep

This is a lively and energetic dog breed so it needs moderate amounts of exercise on a daily basis. Although ideally it should have the chance to stretch its legs and run flat out, seeing as that is not always possible, its exercise requirements can be met with along walk on the leash. Although the Field Spaniel does best as an indoors pet and should not be deprived of human contact, the optimal situation would be one where the dog can divide its time between house and yard.

Grooming: The coat of the Field Spaniel dog needs to be brushed or combed at least twice a week and it may be necessary to clip the hair inside its ears and between its footpads. It is probably good practice to check and clean the dogs ears on a regular basis.

Field Spaniel Dog Characteristics

Height: 16 – 19 inches (41 – 48 cm)

Weight: 35 – 50 lbs ( 16 – 23 kg)

Coat Colors: Golden liver, black, liver. The dog may exhibit solid colors or can be bicolored. White is okay across the chest, throat or brisket.

Health and Lifespan

Lifespan: 12 – 14 years

Major Health Issues: CHD

Minor health Issues: Otitis Externa; hypothyroidism; Rarely the breed may also suffer from: Heart Murmurs; Patella Luxation and Seizures.

Recommended Tests: Eye; Hip; Elbow; Heart; Thyroid and Patella.

Article on field spaniel written by Kayye Nynne