English Springer Spaniel Dog Breed Profile
The English Springer Spaniel is a good choice for an
apartment if you are willing to jog with her or exercise
her several times a day. She will do better with access
to a properly fenced in area that affords her room to
run. She is very good with most other dogs and pets
but possibly not so good with birds. She loves older
children. As a reminder, never leave children unsupervised
with a puppy or dog.
Approximate Adult Size
The approximate adult size (two years old or older)
of the male English Springer Spaniel is 19 to 21 inches
to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 45
to 55 pounds. The female ranges from 18 to 20 inches
to the withers and 40 to 50 pounds.
Special Health Considerations
Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems
associated with that specific breed and the English
Springer Spaniel is no exception. Be on the look out
for canine hip dysplasia (genetic based looseness in
the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness),
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (inherited disease of the
retina that can cause vision loss and blindness), hypothyroidism
(sluggish thyroid gland which can result in weight gain),
and Rage Syndrome (an odd situation where the dog goes
crazy for a time and may even bite), thought to be associated
with epilepsy. This disease list is an informative guideline
only. Other diseases may also be significant threats,
please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the
first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as
an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for
shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and
on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for
check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog
sweets.
Grooming
The English Springer Spaniel has a moderately long coat
which is composed of an inner and outer coat. The outer
coat is wavy or flat while the inner coat is short and
soft. She should be brushed regularly. Brushing will
help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats
and help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen
your emotional bond with her.
Her ears should be checked once a week and be kept clean.
If you have her professionally groomed, make sure ear
cleaning and inspection is part of the package. No water
or excess fluid should get in the dogs ears, and do
not try to irrigate the ears. Ear cleaning is too complicated
and critical to instruct here. Look for hair growing
in the ear canal, excess wax, or moisture. If her ears
have a discharge, foul odor or she seems to be in distress
and you suspect an infection, or tumor, consult your
veterinarian.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with
toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing
removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which
can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease.
Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth,
bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and
clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow
slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally
a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore
and competent instructions to accomplish this can be
found on the net.
Life Span
The English Springer Spaniel can live between 10 and
15 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent
living conditions.
History
They were first registered by the American Kennel Association
in 1910.
About the Author
Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website
developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.
www.petpages.com
is a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds,
and puppy for sale info
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