Dog Breeds 101: Field Spaniel

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The sensitive and affectionate Field Spaniel is a close relative of the English Springer and Cocker Spaniels. These lighthearted but sometimes mischievous dogs are always willing to learn new things and make excellent pets if trained and socialized early. Due to its docile, loving and playful nature, the Field Spaniel is a good pet for families with children. According to the breed standard, the Field Spaniel is unusually docile but still needs daily exercise to keep it physically and mentally healthy. [1]

The Field Spaniel was developed by show ring competitors in an attempt to make an all-black Spaniel. The Field Spaniel is a medium-sized breed which has the average height of 17 to 18 inches and weighs between 40 to 55 pounds. The coat is moderately long (with featherings on the chest, belly, ears and the back of the legs) and usually comes in soild colors of black or liver. The dark color of their coat made them an unpopular choice as hunting companions because they were hard to distinguish while hunting and their elongated shape made it difficult for them to move along through dense bushes. They used to be very popular in the show ring but over time, their popularity went down due to their appearance – they had a body that was too long, the legs are short, the head is very large and the coat is extremely dense. Breeders attempted to correct the dogs’ appearance but various health problems arose. The English Springer Spaniel was introduced to the breed’s bloodline to make it healthier. This crossing resulted to the long-legged Field Spaniel we know today. However, the breed’s population still continued to go down over the next decades and nowadays, the Field Spaniel is considered to be one of the world’s rarest breeds. [2][3]