spaniel

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, one of the smaller breeds, is primarily a lap dog.

A Spaniel is a type of gun dog. Spaniels may have arrived in the British Isles during Caesar’s invasion (54-55 BC). It is assumed spaniels originated from Spain as the word spaniel may be derived from Hispania (Spain) or possibly from the French phrase "Chiens de l’Espagnol" (Dogs of the Spaniard). Spaniels were especially bred to flush game out of dense brush. By the late 1600’s spaniels had become specialized into water and land breeds. The extinct English Water Spaniel was used to retrieve water fowl shot down with arrows. Land spaniels were setting spaniels—those that crept forward and pointed their game allowing hunters to ensnare them with nets, and springing spaniels—those that sprang pheasants and partridges for hunting with falcons, and rabbits for hunting with greyhounds. During the 17th century, the role of the spaniel dramatically changed as Englishmen began hunting with flintlocks for wing shooting. Goodall & Gasow (1984), write the spaniels were "transformed from untrained, wild beaters, to smooth, polished gun dogs."

Spaniels are generally small dogs with long coats and drop ears. Spaniels assist in bird hunting.

In assisting hunters, it is desirable that Spaniels work within gun range, are steady to shot, are able to mark the fall and retrieve shot game to hand with a soft mouth. A good nose is highly valued, as it is in most gun dog breeds. They are versatile hunters traditionally being used for upland game birds, but are equally adept at hunting rabbit and waterfowl. Whether hunting in open fields, woodlands, farm lands - in briars, along fencerows or marshlands, a spaniel can get the job done.^[1]

On the basis of function and hunting style, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) draws a distinction between continental and Anglo-American spaniels. FCI places continental dogs of the spaniel type in the pointing group (Group 7, sect. 1.2) because they function more like setters which "freeze" and point to game. Breeds in this group include the Blue Picardy Spaniel, the French Spaniel, the Brittany, the Pont-Audemer Spaniel, and the Small Münsterländer. FCI classifies most other dogs of the spaniel type as flushing or water dogs (Group 8, sections 2 and 3).^[2][3]

Not much has changed about spaniels in general over the years, as can be seen in this 1921 entry in Collier's New Encyclopedia:

Their distinguishing characteristics are a rather broad muzzle, remarkably long and full ears, hair plentiful and beautifully waved, particularly that of the ears, tail, and hinder parts of the thighs and legs. The prevailing color is liver and white, sometimes red and white or black and white, and sometimes deep brown, or black on the face and breast, with a tan spot over each eye. The English spaniel is a superior and very pure breed. The King Charles is a small variety of the spaniel used as a lapdog. The water spaniels, large and small, differ from the common spaniel only in the roughness of their coats, and in uniting the aquatic propensities of the Newfoundland dog with the fine hunting qualities of their own race. Spaniels possess a great share of intelligence, affection, and obedience, which qualities, combined with much beauty, make them highly prized as companions.

English Cocker Spaniels are small-to-medium dogs with drop ears and a longer coat.

The name comes from the word for Spanish (Español).

Breeds

Type of Spaniel	Also Known As	Country of Origin	Min. Height	Max. Height	Min. Weight	Max. Weight	Image
American Cocker Spaniel	Cocker Spaniel (in the United States)	United States	13 in (33 cm)	15 in (38 cm)	24 lb (11 kg)	29 lb (13 kg)[4]
American Water Spaniel		United States	15 in (38 cm)	18 in (46 cm)	25 lb (11 kg)	45 lb (20 kg)[5]
Boykin Spaniel		United States	15 in (38 cm)	18 in (46 cm)	25 lb (11 kg)	45 lb (20 kg)[6]
Brittany Spaniel		France	17.5 in (44 cm)	20.5 in (52 cm)	30 lb (14 kg)	40 lb (18 kg)[7]
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel		England	12 in (30 cm)	13 in (33 cm)	13 lb (5.9 kg)	18 lb (8.2 kg)[8]
Clumber Spaniel		England	17 in (43 cm)	20 in (51 cm)	55 lb (25 kg)	85 lb (39 kg)}[9]
English Cocker Spaniel	Cocker Spaniel (In the United Kingdom)	England	15 in (38 cm)	17 in (43 cm)	26 lb (12 kg)	34 lb (15 kg)[10]
English Springer Spaniel		England	19 in (48 cm)	20 in (51 cm)	40 lb (18 kg)	50 lb (23 kg)[11]
Field Spaniel		England	17 in (43 cm)	18 in (46 cm)	35 lb (16 kg)	50 lb (23 kg)[12]
French Spaniel	Epagneul Français	France	21 in (53 cm)	24 in (61 cm)	50 lb (23 kg)	70 lb (32 kg)[13]
German Spaniel	Deutscher Wachtelhund	Germany	16 in (41 cm)	20 in (51 cm)	44 lb (20 kg)	66 lb (30 kg)[14]
Irish Water Spaniel		Ireland	21 in (53 cm)	24 in (61 cm)	45 lb (20 kg)	65 lb (29 kg)[15]
King Charles Spaniel	English Toy Spaniel (in the United States)	England	09 in (23 cm)	10 in (25 cm)	06 lb (2.7 kg)	12 lb (5.4 kg)[16]
Kooikerhondje		The Netherlands	14 in (36 cm)	16 in (41 cm)	20 lb (9.1 kg)	24 lb (11 kg)[17]
Papillon	Continental Toy Spaniel, Épagneul Nain Continental	France	08 in (20 cm)	11 in (28 cm)[18]	05 lb (2.3 kg)	10 lb (4.5 kg)[19]
Phalène	Continental Toy Spaniel, Épagneul Nain Continental	Belgium	08 in (20 cm)	11 in (28 cm)	08 lb (3.6 kg)	10 lb (4.5 kg)[20]
Picardy Spaniel	Épagneul Picard	France	22 in (56 cm)	23.5 in (60 cm)	44 lb (20 kg)	55 lb (25 kg)[21]
Pont-Audemer Spaniel	Épagneul Pont-Audemer	France	20 in (51 cm)	23 in (58 cm)[22]	40 lb (18 kg)	53 lb (24 kg)[23]
Russian Spaniel		Russia	15 in (38 cm)	18 in (46 cm)	20 lb (9.1 kg)	35 lb (16 kg)[24]
Sussex Spaniel		England	13 in (33 cm)	15 in (38 cm)	35 lb (16 kg)	44 lb (20 kg)[25]
Welsh Springer Spaniel		Wales	17 in (43 cm)	19 in (48 cm)	35 lb (16 kg)	55 lb (25 kg)[26]
Épagneul Bleu de Picardie	Blue Picardy Spaniel	France	22 in (56 cm)	24 in (61 cm)[27]	43 lb (20 kg)	45 lb (20 kg)[28]

Extinct breeds

Type of Spaniel	Country of origin	Period of extinction	Image
Alpine Spaniel	Switzerland Savoy	1830s
English Water Spaniel	United Kingdom	1930s
Norfolk Spaniel	United Kingdom	1902
Tweed Water Spaniel	United Kingdom	1800s

Misnamed breeds

The following breed is not a true spaniel, but was named as such due to its resemblance to the traditional spaniels.

Type of Spaniel	Also Known As	Country of Origin	Min. Height	Max. Height	Min. Weight	Max. Weight	Image
Japanese Chin	Japanese Spaniel	Japan	09 in (23 cm)	10 in (25 cm)	04 lb (1.8 kg)	11 lb (5.0 kg)[29]
Tibetan Spaniel		Tibet	09 in (23 cm)	11 in (28 cm)	09 lb (4.1 kg)	15 lb (6.8 kg)[30]

Footnotes

Notes

References

• Palika, Liz (2007). The Howell Book of Dogs: The Definitive Reference to 300 Breeds and Varieties. Howell Book House. ISBN 978-0470009215. 
• Fogle, Bruce (2006). Dogs (EYEWITNESS COMPANION GUIDES). DK Adult. ISBN 978-0756616922. 
• Smith, Steve (2002). The Encyclopedia of North American Sporting Dogs: Written by Sportsmen for Sportsmen. Willow Creek Press. ISBN 978-1572235014. 

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Spaniel

• Hunting dog
• List of dog types for a list of dog types
• List of dog breeds for a complete list of breeds