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About Field Spaniel Dogs
The field spaniel is a spaniel breed
that originated in England in the 19th century.
It was initially bred in an effort to create an
all-black show spaniel, which resulted in a dog
that was too dark in color with too long of a
body and legs too short to be used to hunt.In
the early 20th century, the breed was further
modified through crossbreeding, causing the breed
to develop longer legs and therefore to become
better suited to sporting and hunting.
A medium-sized dog, the field spaniel
on average measures 17 to 18 inches in height
at the shoulders and weighs between 40 and 55
pounds. Though it has grown taller throughout
its development, the field spaniel still has a
long body relative to its height, with a strong,
well-muscled neck. It has wide-set, almond-shaped
eyes and wide, fairly long ears that are set near
the eyes and lie close to the face.
The field spaniel has a coat of
only one layer. It is of medium length, is silky
in texture, and can be either straight or wavy.
The field spaniel's coat is feathered on the dog's
ears, chest, underside, buttocks, tail, and the
backs of its legs. In color, it can be black or
any shade of liver, and may have some tan markings
throughout the coat or a white marking on the
chest.
The field spaniel is both affectionate
and playful as well as smart, relaxed, and independent.
It is happiest when given work to do, and must
always have some kind of purpose in order to remain
content and to avoid becoming bored and therefore
destructive. The field spaniel enjoys spending
time with its family, and is typically great with
children and, with proper socialization, other
dogs and pets. Because it needs to be stimulated
so often both mentally and physically, the field
spaniel should have an owner who can dedicate
a fair amount of time to it.
Because it is a working breed, the
field spaniel requires a significant amount of
exercise to keep it happy and entertained. A field
spaniel should be taken for a long walk each day,
and should also be given space and time in which
to run around and play. Although it is somewhat
active indoors, its great need for exercise and
space makes it a poor choice for apartment dwellers.
The field spaniel is best suited to very athletic
owners and families.
The field spaniel's relatively long
coat requires brushing one or two times per week.
The field spaniel's ears should also be checked
and cleaned routinely to avoid infection. Long,
straggling hairs can be trimmed every few months.
Field spaniels being used as show dogs require
professional grooming about every three months.
There are not a particularly large
number of health afflictions associated with the
field spaniel, though they are prone to eye conditions
such as cataracts, retinal dysplasia, and retinal
atrophy. Like many breeds, they are also susceptible
to hip dysplasia and ear infections. The average
field spaniel lives for between ten and 12 years.
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