Everyone knows that a spaniel, the species of which are spread all over the world, is a very beautiful dog. Many lovers prefer to keep dogs of this breed. Long wavy hair and hanging ears make them very attractive and are the main characteristics of the entire breed. But it should be remembered that not only is the spaniel beautiful. His species, all without exception, benefit the person, since this dog has many remarkable qualities. They were formed over the centuries and transmitted genetically. So there are features that are now the basic characteristics of the breed.

Many researchers have tried to find an answer to the question of the origin of the breed. It was possible to establish that even in Ancient Greece during falconry dogs with long wavy hair and hanging ears were used. The name of that breed has sunk into oblivion. Further, these dogs were brought to Spain, where they became known as "espanol". It is known for certain that in 1386 they already took part in hunting in the territory of Great Britain. A little later, namely in 1390, the Spanish king gave such a dog to the French duke. And the breed began to spread throughout the world, interbreeding with other breeds spontaneously or at the will of the breeder.

Types of spaniels

Currently, there are a large number of dogs of the breed "spaniel", the species of which are widely known. English Cocker Spaniel, Irish Water, King Charles, Papillon and many other species tirelessly conquer the hearts of breeders. Naturally, each subspecies of the breed corresponds to the general characteristics and has something special, special. The English Cocker Spaniel was artificially bred in England in the course of experiments to obtain the best hunting dog. This species is distinguished by its excellent nose and excellent eyesight. A cheerful dog, very agile and energetic, is a good sports dog. In contacts with people, he shows natural sociability and friendliness, but often eschews strangers. Irish water spaniels are the most ancient representatives of the breed, which are now the rarest among spaniels and the largest. They are characterized by intelligence, easy learning, high mobility, energy. Their peculiarity is the tendency to foolishness and imitation, due to which they got the fame of circus dogs. And these dogs are very good swimmers. Spaniels King Charles are the most noble, since these are dogs of English lords. They are characterized by boundless devotion to the master and courage. In general, it is a recognized companion dog. Papillons are the smallest spaniels. Their maximum weight can reach four kilograms, and growth - 20-28 centimeters. They are very good at training and occupy the 8th place in intelligence in the general breed rating. Thus, it is obvious that species are distinguished in the Spaniel breed, to which it is safe to put the word "most".

Instead of concluding

All spaniels have excellent qualities of a girlfriend's dog and are hunting. Many people love the dog Spaniel. Their species are different, but they are all valued for their good nature and beauty.

Spaniels, as is known, are considered one of the best hunting breeds. The English Cocker Spaniel is also included in this group. Let's learn more about the character traits and habits of these dogs.

The homeland of English cocker spaniels is Great Britain. Even in ancient times, people used dogs of this type for work and hunting.

The progenitors of modern English cocker spaniels are water dogs. Initially, cocker spaniels were used in hunting for, hence the name (after all, the "cocker" comes from the abbreviated English name of this bird "woodcock"). These dogs were perfectly controlled with the task assigned to them and brought the woodcocks shot to their master.

As a separate English cocker spaniels took place only in 1902, at the same time a special standard and these dogs were developed, describing all the requirements in appearance and skills.

About appearance english Cocker Spaniel... These dogs are small in size, professionals refer them to the smallest variety of spaniels. The height of this breed is about 40 centimeters, the weight of English cocker spaniels varies from 13 to 14.5 kilograms.

  Spaniels - hunting dogs.

The head of this spaniel is large, with an outstretched muzzle. Ears are long, hanging, like all spaniels. The paws are not too long, the back is straight, the tail must be docked (according to the breed standard). The hairline is long pile. The wool of these dogs is soft, shiny, in some places straight, but on some parts of the body (ears, paws) has a ripple.

Colors in the English Cocker Spaniel can be: gray, red, red-piebald, black, black-tan, golden-red or black-and-piebald. But in different countries, as a rule, preference is given to one or two types of shades. As for the white coat in these dogs, it is extremely rare and is considered a blemish, since such dogs are often born deaf.

English cocker spaniels - dogs are funny, very mobile and friendly. They are extremely loyal and obedient. The energy of these hunting dogs can charge everyone around. Very rare cases of manifestation of the "cocaine" of aggression, in general, these dogs are always benevolent toward others. Well, the hunting qualities can be spoken endlessly, especially when it comes to waterfowl.

You are not recommended to purchase an English cocker spaniel if:

You have neither the time nor the desire to tinker with the dog's hair every day. The long pile of this "cocker" does not allow to miss regular combing, after all, it is only a day or two to leave the wool without care, as it quickly stops in a tangled "loofah".

• To the hunters, of course! These dogs will please every avid lover to shoot at game.
• To beginners in dog breeding. These dogs are flexible and easy to contact, they are not obstinate, they are unpretentious.

If, nevertheless, you decided to purchase this charming dog, you should know that English cocker spaniels are very prone to ear diseases. In addition, there are so-called "aggressive lines", which it is better not to choose if you are not a professional breeder. The best option is advance consultation with "experienced" owners of this breed.

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The word "spaniel" is primarily associated with dogs of the breed Cocker Spaniel. And this is understandable, because we are talking about the old breed of medium-sized hunting dogs, which bring a lot of joy to people from all walks of life.

Nevertheless, one should not think that the only representative of the breed of spaniels is a cocker spaniel. In fact, there are 8 subspecies of spaniels officially registered by the International Cynological Union and classified as a group of hunting dogs raising game.

So, the breed spaniel includes the following varieties:

english cocker spaniel (english cocker spaniel);

irish water spaniel;

english Springer Spaniel (english springer spaniel);

american cockerer (american cocker);

welsh springer spaniel.

clumber spaniel;

field spaniel;

sussex and Clumber Spaniels, as well as American swamp spaniels.

English Cocker Spaniel

Despite the alleged Spanish origin of spaniels, Britain is rightly considered the second homeland of this breed. It was the English hunters who began to bring out new varieties of spaniels and to form not ordinary ways of hunting with these dogs.

There are several written sources on the basis of which one can judge the role played by spaniels in the life of the English aristocracy. Before us came a special law, published in the X century. King of Wales, which spoke of the severe punishment for the theft of a spaniel.

For a long time in the UK spaniels were bred exclusively for hunting small game. Over time, several breeds of spaniels appeared (Irish, Sussex, Clumber, Norfolk, Field Spaniels), although there was no clear boundary between them. All animals differed in physique, weight, size, color and length of hair. It is the field spaniels and Sussex are the ancestors of the English Cocker Spaniels.

In Western Europe spaniels were brought specially for hunting birds. With the advent of these beautiful and intelligent animals, falconry quickly ceased to be popular.

In just a few centuries, English breeders brought out more than 20 different breeds of these dogs. Some of them, unfortunately, quickly died out due to the disappearance of the types of hunting for which they were created. A vivid example of this is the English water spaniel, a breed that disappeared in the 18th century.

In 1697 breeders of cocker spaniels began to tail their tails to their pets. This was done not only for beauty, but also for practical reasons, because dogs, pursuing prey in bushes, "beat their tail to the blood." Significantly later, in 1790, a decree was issued, in which the maximum allowed weight for the breed was 22 pounds.

In 1859 an exhibition took place in Great Britain, where a separate group of Cocker Spaniels was represented. It included animals of even smaller size with a long, thick coat. The breeding of such dogs was dealt with by James Ferrow, a talented dog breeder.

At the end of XIX century. James Ferrow founded his own nursery. His dogs from the line Ob regularly won at the exhibitions and entered the list of outstanding champions. Two of them (Obo-1 and Chloe-2) were taken to the US, tied up and produced Obo-2.

Obo-2 participated in many exhibitions. His appearance was very unusual and attracted the attention of the best American specialists.

The animal had an elongated body, "large, widely spaced eyes," a well-developed musculature, a woolen coat on the abdomen and the inside of the paws. At the withers, the height of the dog did not exceed 24.5 cm. As the manufacturer, the Obo-2 was at its best, giving life to 217 puppies, which were then mated with the descendants of animals imported to the North American continent in the 17th century. settlers, and became the ancestors of a new breed of dogs.

American Cocker Spaniel

American Cocker Spaniel, perhaps, is one of the smallest hunting dogfriends. It appeared as a result of the merging of two parallel developing spaniels - American and English.

The first spaniels appeared in North America in 1620, long before the formation of the United States. Probably, they were brought to the continent by the first settlers who sailed to the New World on the ship "Mayflower".

American Cocker Spaniel

Appearance of these dogs was very different from the appearance of spaniels, bred at that time in the UK. American Spaniel  was smaller and had a thicker and longer coat. In 1883, this animal was first exhibited at an exhibition held in New Hampshire in Manchester.

In 1915 the breed american Cocker Spaniel  finally formed and isolated. Her improvement at the expense of mating with the English Spaniels completely ceased.

In 1935, the Club of the American Cocker Spaniel separated from the Club of Cocker Spaniel lovers.

In 1945, the separation of the English Cocker Spaniel from the American was completed.

Animals of the new breed began to enjoy great success not only in the US, but also in Europe.

In Russia, American Cocker Spaniels were brought only in the 1970s. Until the 1980s. they were considered a great rarity and were very expensive. To date, the "American" is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular and beautiful dogs, rarely used in hunting, but very appreciated as a pet.

English Springer Spaniel

Outline the history of the English Springer Spaniel is not easy. Its origin is clearly traced, but the appearance of this dog has changed a lot, mainly due to the crossing of the so-called kin relationship.

If you carefully study the ancient paintings and prints with images of spaniels, you can see that here the color of the spaniels is almost exclusively brownish-red-white. It is this color of spaniels that is considered historical.

In 1885 in the UK, the Spaniel Club was created, which developed a standard describing the approximate type of spaniel.

English Springer Spaniel

In 1907 in Germany, in Munich, the Spaniel Club (Jagdspaniel - Klub eV) was organized, which, along with other Spaniel breeds, took into account the English Springer Spaniel.

In 1903 the breeders of the Spaniels in the UK divided into two camps: on the one hand hunters, on the other - preferring shows and exhibitions. However, the English Springer Spaniel standard was the same for both groups concerned.

After the Second World War, the English Springer Spaniel became one of the most popular breeds in the UK. In the years 1940-1948. he was registered at the "Kennel Klub Rekord".

In the first years of its existence, the Spaniel Club recorded a sprinter in the register of breeding. In Germany the breed was introduced slowly, unlike the European neighboring countries, primarily France, Holland and Belgium.

The English Springer Spaniel has gained fame as both a companion and a hunting dog.

Its natural features, of course, are in hunting.

During the hunt, the English springer searches the thicket, raising the bird for a shot anywhere where only the hunter can follow it. At the same time, he fearlessly crosses an unfamiliar terrain, is not afraid of water, easily swims the river even with a strong current. For this kind of work there is no need and in a good scent.

In Germany, they use spaniels as dogs raising game, which necessarily need a good scent. Since the British, despite all efforts, can not grow dogs with a sharp nose, this provides a happy opportunity for the breeders of the European continent to successfully bring the English Springer to the test. There is a reasonable hope to again genetically fix this distinctive feature and thereby introduce this breed into the ranks of hunting dogs raising game.

Irish Water Spaniel

Irish water spaniel is better known as "Clown unter den Spaniels", which in Russian translates to "clown in spaniel mask". This is a very old breed. It originated in 1834, when the Boatswain was born, the ancestor of the modern Irish water spaniels.

The owner of the animal was Justin McCarthy of Dublin, who brought his dogs, probably from southwestern Ireland, where trade with the countries of the Mediterranean has long been conducted. It can be assumed that dogs like "Afghan", which were recently used for hunting, mingled with local Irish dogs.

Irish water spaniel - one of the few hunting breeds of dogs of Irish-English descent, which did not affect the division into demonstration and workers.

Clumber Spaniel

The Clumber Spaniel's appearance is a bit different from the other spaniel varieties.

By origin he is a spaniel. There is a version according to which about 200 years ago the French Duke of Noyles gave the duke of Newcastle a dog of the Spaniel breed. By this he wanted to prove that the French hunting dogs are more efficient than English dogs. Whether this version is true, it is impossible to find out today, however there are no other versions about the origin of the breed. Solidly established lito is that at the end of the XVIII century. These spaniels were located on the territory of the English estate Clamber Park, located in Newcastle.

Whatever it was, the dogs of the Clumber Spaniel breed for a long time were really bred exclusively by English aristocrats. They cared for both the continuation of the family and the purity of the breed.

In 1904, the Club of Clamberers was founded in the UK.

Field Spaniel (Field)

Field-spaniel - one of the first established varieties of spaniels. From the first book of spaniel registrations, it follows that among the 200 recorded Spaniel dogs there were only 4 individuals of field spaniels, 2 males and 2 females.

This is due to the fact that in the first decade of the activities of the Spaniel Club, the predominant opinion in his board was that it was first necessary to develop the breed of cocker spaniels and english spaniels, and only in the past few years dog breeders, on the contrary, have begun to propagate the diversity of breeds and varieties. Despite this, the appearance of the field spaniel at the exhibition or on trials is rare, but still you can see them more often than before.

It is noteworthy that the modern kind of field spaniel is not only the result of breeding work, but also of crossbreeding. Thus, born in 1928, the champion Bodfan Elected had both a paternal and a maternal grandfather, the English sprinter Mat ford Dusk.

In the United Kingdom, in the historical homeland of the field spaniel, in 1923 the Society of Fans of Field Spaniels was founded. In 1979, the first open exhibition of this breed was held, and the following year the club "Kennel" introduced the status of a champion for the field.

Over time, the UK has become more interested in this rare breed. In 1951, 6 dogs were registered in the country, in 1964 - 4, in 1971 - 31, in 1981 - 79, in 1986 - 127, in 1990 - 121, in 1991 102 registrations were made.

Sussex Spaniel

Sussex spaniel occurs, like all other breeds of spaniels, except for the clamber, from the field (field) or springer- (jumping) spaniel.

Sussex presumably derives its origin from kennels A.E. Fuller EsQ. Of Rosehill. The first Sussex spaniels were born in a kennel in 1795, and in 1847 an established breed was bred. Soon after the death of the owner, his widow sold the kennel and gave two Sussex spaniels, a male and a bitch, a ranger to Rafe. The remaining twelve dogs fell into the hands of Mr. Jacobs. He crossed them with a black field-spaniel, resulting in a real pure Sussex breed ceased to exist.

In 1874 George, a Sussex spaniel of hepatic color, won an exhibition in Birmingham, but, since both his parents were black, the first place was not awarded to him. The irony is that two years earlier, in the newspaper The Field, George was declared a typical representative of the Sussex Spaniel breed.

Outside of the UK Sussex can be met very rarely. In Belgium, officially registered only 26 dogs of this breed, in France - 18, in Germany - 2.

In 1923 Mrs. Freer bought the champion Brosse en Primax Judy and from her led a new, solid line for the name of her kennels "Fourclovers". In 1968 the newspapers wrote: "80% of the total number of Sussexes are offspring of the Fourclovers line.

The Second World War stopped the development of this breed. Economic instability and military operations allowed Freer to save only eight representatives of the breed. The limited number of livestock has led to a deterioration in the character of dogs of this breed and to their sterility.

In 1964 the Sussex Freer crossed with the Clumber Spaniel. This gave good results, the growth and character of the animals improved, and the color of the liver became dominant.

Welsh Springer Spaniel

This is probably the oldest breed of spaniels produced in the UK. It is believed that already the writers of the Roman Empire in their works told about these specific dogs, but there is no evidence that it was specifically about this breed, since no information was given on the color.

Recognition of the Welsh Springer Spaniel as a breed occurred in 1902 with the help of the Kennel Club Committee.

In Germany, wales are not widely distributed, more in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia are especially monitored for the preservation of their hunting abilities.

Russian hunting spaniel

This breed is very popular in Russia.

It was obtained as a result of multiple and varied crosses over 100 years of different breeds of spaniels, most suitable for hunting conditions in our country. The standard for the Russian hunting spaniel was developed in 1951, was later improved, and our domestic spaniel became very popular and numerous breed of hunting dogs.

English Toy Spaniel

This breed is called differently. The most fashionable name is "toy", which means "toy", or, in the old way, "king charles spaniel", "cavalier-king-charles spaniel", "blenheim", "prince-charles spaniel" .

The ancestors of the English spaniel come from China or Japan. It is said that in 1613 such dogs brought an English officer, Captain Saris. The spaniel in appearance and behavior is similar to a cavalier king charles spaniel, although it is smaller and more snub-nosed.

Tibetan Spaniel

The ancestors of the Tibetan spaniel are Chinese decorative dogs, constantly living in the monasteries of mountain Tibet, close relatives of the Lhasa Apso and the Tibetan terrier.

The Tibetan spaniel is not common. Individuals of this breed enjoy relatively little demand and are few in number. In our country tibetan Spaniels  very little.

Japanese Spaniel

The Japanese spaniel, also called the Japanese chin, still causes a lot of controversy about its origin. Some believe that this breed was still in the VIII century. came to Japan from China and quickly assimilated there. Others believe that this breed is a national Japanese one, the development of which has been given increased attention for many centuries.

In Japan, you can find the most diverse types of Japanese spaniel. In Europe, the first copies of this breed were found in the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1853, one of the British admirals brought a Japanese spaniel to Queen Victoria. Later imported pedigree dogs made it possible for the wide distribution of the only Japanese breed in the world.

In Japanese temples, hin is revered as a favorite of the gods. The breed received its name from the Japanese word "hin", which in translation means "treasure, jewel". Indeed, these dogs were very expensive.

Spaniels are a group of breeds of small hunting dogs, the first spaniels appeared many centuries ago.

History of occurrence

Spaniels, apparently, were imported by the Celts to the territory of England from Spain for several centuries BC. From here, probably, the name of the breed - Spaniel, the breed became very popular already in the Middle Ages, the modern appearance of these dogs was gradually formed.
  Spaniels are divided into land and water.
  Land, or earthy, spaniels are used when hunting for feathered game in the field. During the hunt, the dog should scare the birds and drive them out of the shelters, and then find and bring the shot game.
  Water spaniels are used for hunting waterfowl. This class of dogs is relatively new when crossing with a poodle.

Characteristic qualities of spaniels

Spaniel - this is a medium-sized, hardy, intelligent dog with a good nose and eyesight. The dog is very energetic, cheerful, well feels the mood of the owner, to unfamiliar people concerns with suspicion. Being a hunting dog, has a pronounced instinct of persecution, and therefore without adequate training will chase after all escaping and departing, incl. for cats, pigeons, butterflies, etc.
  Eyes smart, round, brown.
  Weight depending on the specific breed varies from 11 to 40 kg, growth at the withers - from 35 to 50 cm. Colors and wool can also vary greatly.

Species of spaniels with photos

Speaking of spaniels often mean cocker spaniels. However, in fact, there are a lot of varieties of these dogs and they all differ in color, size, shape of the muzzle and hull. Here are some of them:

English Cocker Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel (photo)

American Cocker Spaniel



  American cocker spaniel (photo)

English Springer Spaniel



  English Springer Spaniel (photo)

Irish Water Spaniel



  Irish Water Spaniel (photo)

Clumber Spaniel



  Clumber Spaniel (photo)

Field Spaniel (Field)

Field Spaniel (photo)

Sussex Spaniel



  Sussex Spaniel (photo)

Welsh Springer Spaniel



  Welsh Springer Spaniel (photo)

Russian hunting spaniel



  Russian hunting spaniel (photo)
  Note: The International Cynological Federation (ICF) does not recognize the Russian spaniel, but the RKF recognized the breed

Tibetan Spaniel



  Tibetan Spaniel (photo)

Japanese Spaniel
  Japanese Spaniel (photo)

Also there are dogs, bred from spaniels, but lost their working qualities, which have become room-decorative:
   Cavalier King Charles Spaniel



  Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (photo)

King Charles Spaniel | English Toy Spaniel



  King Charles Spaniel (photo)

Continental toy spaniel (Papillon and Fahlen)



  Papillon / papillon - toy spaniel with standing ears (photo)

  Fahlen - that-spaniel with hanging ears (photo)

Caring for a spaniel

It does not require complex care, except for breeds with long and thick wool - they will often have to comb, trim, etc.
  The content of the spaniel in the apartment is possible, but it should be borne in mind that this is primarily hunting dog, and therefore she needs sufficient physical exertion, otherwise she can begin to sweep unspent energy on interior items.
  Also, these dogs should not be overfed - they are prone to overeating, leading to obesity and other health problems.
  To prevent spaniel diseases, you should regularly examine your ears and skin - to avoid otitis and dermatitis. The dog should be vaccinated regularly.

Puppy puppies

The first walks (in the hands of the owner) can begin with 2 months, gradually increasing the time spent on the street. Training the spaniel for obedience is best to begin at 4 months, at this time the dog is already able to perceive the commands of the master and strives to bring him joy. If the training has not been started before 1 year, the dog can become uncontrollable and cause many problems.

Since spaniels are very different, and more popular are small breeds of dogs, the prices for puppies differ.
  On Avito and in nurseries you can find many offers for the sale of puppies. For example, you can buy a puppy Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Russian spaniel for about 20 thousand rubles, a puppy of an English Cocker Spaniel will cost about 7-10 thousand, an American Cocker Spaniel will be slightly more expensive - 15-20 thousand.
  Puppies show class, with the pedigree of RKF are sold, usually more expensive.
  If a pet is bought not for exhibitions, then the main attention should be paid to the health of the puppy, as well as the availability of all age-appropriate vaccinations and veterinary passport.