Field Spaniels

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Breed: Field Spaniel
Temperament: Docile, independent
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Maintenance: Medium
Recommended for: Active people

Appearance: Field Spaniels are medium-sized dogs, reaching about 45cm (18″) at the shoulder and weighing 18-25kg (40-55lb). Often mistaken for other breeds, the Field Spaniel is sized between a Cocker Spaniel and a Springer Spaniel. Colours include black, liver, or roan or any of these with tan markings. Black dogs are rare. They have a silky coat and drop ears.

Temperament: Owners describe their dogs as being happy-go-lucky and loving their family to death. The Field Spaniel is said to be docile and have an independent nature, without needing constant attention. They can be reserved with strangers, and are not as excitable as Cocker Spaniels.

Health:

A hardy breed due to a variety of ancestors including Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, Irish Water Spaniels and even Bassetts and Setters; Progressive Retinal Atrophy, a disease of the eye, is known in the breed overseas but all Australian registered breeding dogs should have been tested. Buyers should ask to check appropriate certification; Hip Dysplasia, a degenerative disease of the hip, has shown up in a UK line but is unknown in Australia’s Field Spaniels.

Grooming: Field Spaniels should be brushed thoroughly twice a week for about 10 minutes. Feet need to be checked and kept clean of dirt and hair between the toes and in the ears may need removing.

Training: Stanley Coren’s The Intelligence of Dogs ranks Field Spaniels as being above average in working intelligence. They interact closely with humans and basic obedience training is recommended and should be achieved without too much difficulty.

Ideal owner: Some texts suggest Field Spaniels are not suitable as city pets but most owners we spoke with find they are very adaptable. They do need regular exercise and grooming so suit active, responsible people.

Uses: Field Spaniels are still used in the US and UK as gundogs but in Australia their rarity is such that they are primarily a companion animal.

Popularity & Breeding: There are only about 150 Field Spaniels in this country and there is usually a waiting list for puppies. Most litters average seven puppies with few problems. Some owners have reported difficulty in getting bitches pregnant.

Exercise: If you’ve only got a small yard then you should be prepared to walk your dog for a kilometre (about 20-30 minutes) at least once a day. In a larger yard or if they have children to play with they can be self-exercising as they love to chase a ball or a frisbee.

History: Despite having many old gundog breeds involved in their development, Field Spaniels were recognised as a distinct breed in the UK in the 1890s. Like many working breeds, they were almost wiped out by World War II and Springer Spaniels were used in the 1960s to further develop the breed to its current conformation.

 

National contacts

To find up-to-date contacts for breeders, contact the following organisations.

The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC)
www.ankc.org.au

Dogs NSW
http://www.dogsnsw.org.au/breeders-directory
Email: info@dogsnsw.org.au
Phone: 1300 728 022 (NSW only) or (02) 9834 3022
Fax: (02) 9834 3872

Dogs Victoria
http://www.vca.org.au
Email: office@dogsvictoria.org.au
Phone: (03) 9788 2500
Fax: (03) 9788 2599

Dogs ACT
http://www.actca.asn.au
Email: info@dogsact.org.au
Phone: (02) 6241 4404 – Fax: (02) 6241 1129.

Dogs West
http://www.cawa.asn.au
Email: k9@dogswest.com
Phone: (08) 9455 1188
Fax: (08) 9455 1190

Dogs SA
http://dogssa.com.au
Phone: (08) 8349 4797

Canine Control Council of Queensland
http://www.cccq.org.au
Email: dogsqld@powerup.com.au
Phone: (07) 3252 2661
Fax: (07) 3252 3864

Tasmanian Canine Association
http://www.tasdogs.com
Email: tca@iprimus.com.au
Phone: (03) 6272 9443
Fax: (03) 6273 0844

Dogs NT
http://www.territorydogworld.com
Email: naca3@bigpond.com
Phone: (08) 8984 3570
Fax: (08) 8984 3409
The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC)
www.ankc.org.au

Dogs NSW
http://www.dogsnsw.org.au/breeders-directory
Email: info@dogsnsw.org.au
Phone: 1300 728 022 (NSW only) or (02) 9834 3022
Fax: (02) 9834 3872

Dogs Victoria
http://www.vca.org.au
Email: office@dogsvictoria.org.au
Phone: (03) 9788 2500
Fax: (03) 9788 2599

Dogs ACT
http://www.actca.asn.au
Email: info@dogsact.org.au
Phone: (02) 6241 4404 – Fax: (02) 6241 1129.

Dogs West
http://www.cawa.asn.au
Email: k9@dogswest.com
Phone: (08) 9455 1188
Fax: (08) 9455 1190

Dogs SA
http://dogssa.com.au
Phone: (08) 8349 4797

Canine Control Council of Queensland
http://www.cccq.org.au
Email: dogsqld@powerup.com.au
Phone: (07) 3252 2661
Fax: (07) 3252 3864

Tasmanian Canine Association
http://www.tasdogs.com
Email: tca@iprimus.com.au
Phone: (03) 6272 9443
Fax: (03) 6273 0844

Dogs NT
http://www.territorydogworld.com
Email: naca3@bigpond.com
Phone: (08) 8984 3570
Fax: (08) 8984 3409