An English Springer Spaniel running through a field

English Springer Spaniel Insurance, Care and Health Advice

If you want to find out all about the English Springer Spaniel, this dog breed guide is perfect for you. It has facts about weight, life expectancy as well as information on the common problems that can be seen in this intelligent and energetic breed.

English Springer Spaniel Facts

Dog breed type icon
Type
Working
Dog breed lifespan icon
Lifespan
12 - 14 years
Dog breed size icon
Size
Medium
Dog breed weight icon
Weight
18 - 25 kg
Dog breed height icon
Height
46 - 56 cm
Dog breed temperament icon
Temperament
Affectionate, intelligent, energetic
Dog breed exercise icon
Exercise
60 - 120 mins per day
Dog breed grooming icon
Grooming
Medium maintenance

Is a English Springer Spaniel Right for Me?

Springers are an affectionate, intelligent and energetic breed, so are well suited to households that have an active lifestyle. They love nothing more than going for long walks or a swim, playing fetch, and then cuddling up on the sofa in the evening. If this sounds like your ideal dog, then a Springer will fit in well with your family.

A cute English Springer Spaniel puppy looking into camera

What Are English Springer Spaniel Puppies Like?

Like most puppies, Springers have lots of energy to burn, but they like to sleep lots too! Spaniels are really intelligent and learn quickly, so make sure you start training your puppy early.  Start with puppy toilet training so that they learn from a young age.

If you’re unsure about puppy training, you can pick up tips at puppy training classes. This is also a great way to socialise your puppy with other dogs.

A wet and smiling English Springer Spaniel looking up at the camera

Life with a English Springer Spaniel

Springers are intelligent with loving temperaments that generally make them a very obedient breed. They want to please their owner and will be on their best behaviour if you give them lots of attention and reward them for good behaviour.

They’re a particularly energetic breed that were originally bred to work out in the field. This means your Springer will have lots of energy to burn and will want to have lots of play time with you.

Caring for Your English Springer Spaniel

Springers are known for being a bit greedy which means they’re prone to becoming overweight. Feeding guidelines and nutritional content will be on the dog food packaging but ask your vet if you’re unsure. It’s important to provide your dog with the correct diet.

Monitor your dog’s weight and if you think they’re putting weight on, reduce the quantity gradually until your dog is back to their normal weight. Separating your dog’s daily food ration into two or three meals can help to stop them from feeling hungry all day!

Grooming is an important part of life with a Springer. They have a double coat that needs grooming 2 or 3 times a week. Grooming helps remove any shedding fur and prevent mats and tangles. Springers have very fluffy ears, chest and lots of hair on the backs of their legs.

These areas will need brushing more often. You can also get these extra fluffy areas trimmed to stop them from picking up twigs and dirt out on walks and to prevent the hair from matting.

Unfortunately, because of their long fluffy ears, Spaniels are prone to ear infections. You’ll need to clean their ears gently with a cotton ball. If you’re unsure how to do this, your vet will be able to show you how to do it safely.

Springers are keen to please and love human attention. You won’t have any problems training your dog if you give them plenty of exercise and lots of praise and rewards for their good behaviour.

Springers have a playful and energetic personality, so they need plenty of playtime and exercise. Ideally, your dog will need at least an hour a day, but probably more. You can split their exercise time into two or three walks a day.

Playing with your dog is a great way to get them exercising. They love retrieving balls; the best thing about playing fetch is that your dog can get lots of exercise, without having to take too much time out of your day. Springers love the water, so swimming is another great form of exercise that is gentle on their joints.

English Springer Spaniel Insurance

Need English Springer Spaniel insurance? You don't have to look far, Everypaw’s Lifetime Dog Insurance can be there to look after your pup if they take a tumble or a new illness rears its head. With different levels of vet fee cover to choose from, you can have the peace of mind that you’ll find dog insurance for you and your Springer Spaniel.

Start a quote

Common English Springer Spaniel Health Problems by Vetstream

Certain health issues are common in this breed. If you take your dog for regular vet health checks, any potential health problems are more likely to be noticed early on. We have got together with veterinary experts Vetstream, to give you an idea of what to keep an eye out for in your Spaniel.

Generalised Progressive Retinal Atrophy (GPRA) is a group of inherited eye diseases. It’s a progressive condition that leads to blindness within a few months or years. Unfortunately there aren’t any treatments for GPRA, but most dogs adapt well to going blind and live normal and happy lives.

If your dog has this condition, they might struggle to see in the dark and lose the ability to see things unless they're right in front them (tunnel vision). Sometimes cataracts develop which make the eyes look cloudy.

These signs are also common in other eye conditions, so you should speak to your vet if you notice any of them. Your vet will be able to do some tests to find out if your dog has GPRA or if it’s another eye condition.

Hip Dysplasia is an inherited condition affecting the joints. The ball-and-socket joint of the hip rub together, causing damage to the surfaces of the joint, which is painful for the dog. Severe cases will eventually lead to arthritis. Dogs that are overweight or over-exercised are more likely to be affected. If your dog has hip dysplasia it might look stiff or be lame.

It’s really important to keep your dog on a healthy diet to avoid obesity, and restricting exercise will help relieve any symptoms. In severe cases, surgery might be needed to either repair or replace one or both joints. If the condition is advanced and your dog has developed arthritis, pain can be controlled with medication to give them a better quality of life.

Retina Dysplasia is often inherited. It refers to an abnormal growth of the retina in the eye that causes folds, rosettes or even retinal detachment. It can affect one or both eyes and can be detected within the first 6 months of a puppy’s life.

If your dog suffers from this condition, they may have impaired vision or blindness. Unfortunately, there’s no treatment for Retinal Dysplasia, but your vet will give you advice on how you and your dog can live with the disease. Even if your dog goes blind, they can still live a long and happy life.

Storage Disease is a rare condition that your dog can inherit from their parents. This disease affects the metabolic pathways in the body, and usually becomes apparent in young dogs between 2 month and 2 years of age.

Signs of Storage Disease vary but can include tremors, difficulty walking, paralysis or seizures, and puppies can become blind or deaf. There’s no treatment for this disease and affected puppies normally die within 4-6 months, but some have lived for 3-4 years.

Quick English Springer Spaniel Q&A

Springers can live up to around 14 years of age. Unfortunately, this breed suffers from some inherited health conditions that may shorten their lifespan. But, if your dog has regular vet health checks, most of these conditions can be managed and your dog can still live a long and happy life.

A Spaniel’s coat sheds all year, but more during the Spring and Autumn. If you groom your dog two or three times a week, this will help to remove some of the excess fur and prevent any knots and tangles from causing problems.

Springers are playful and energetic, so they need plenty of playtime and exercise. If your family is active and loves to get out and about on walks, hikes or visits to the beach, then a Springer will fit in very well with your family. If you’re after a quieter lap dog, then a Springer won’t be the breed for you.

Springers usually start to calm down at around 2 to 3 years old. But this breed has very high energy levels compared to other breeds. They’re always going to be a bit of a handful, no matter how old they are, if they’re not trained properly.

That’s All You Need to Know About English Springers

The English Springer Spaniel has a loving temperament, but they’re a bundle of energy that needs lots of exercise. Long walks, swimming, playing fetch, you name it, they’ll want to do it. Because of their high exercise needs they need to be kept occupied to avoid any unwanted behaviour. This breed also has a long double coat that needs regular grooming, so be prepared for lots of grooming time as well as play time!

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

;