Field Spaniel
This medium-size flushing spaniel is lighthearted, sensitive, and affectionate. He’s also an excellent family companion.
Daily Care
Grooming Tips
The Field Spaniel has a single coat, meaning there’s no undercoat. The coat isn’t heavy and it’s easy to maintain.
Brush it weekly and comb out the feathering a couple of times a week, or whenever the dog has been outside or has twigs or other debris clinging to his hair. Trim the hair between the footpads and inside the ears. Bathe the dog only as needed; regular brushing should keep him pretty clean.
If you plan to show your Field Spaniel, ask the breeder for advice on presenting the dog in the show ring. He should look natural, but he may need a little more neatening with clippers, thinning shears, and stripping knives than a petdogwould receive.
The rest is basic care. Trim the nails as needed, usually every few weeks. If your Field Spaniel loves to swim — and even if he doesn’t — keep the hanging ears clean and dry to prevent bacterial or yeast infections. Brush the teeth frequently for good overall health and fresh breath.
Exercise Tips
A complete bundle of energy, the Field Spaniel needs about an hour of exercise daily. Playing in a large, fenced yard is one of the best ways for a Fieldie to stretch his legs and run freely however; hiking in the woods or jogging through the neighborhood will also suffice.
Field Spaniels love the water. With access to a pond, lake or stream, the Fieldie will frolic for hours, providing his family with laughter at his funny antics.
Fieldies enjoy playing fetch and chasing balls. Children gravitate toward him because he is as energetic and playful as they are. The Field Spaniel makes a great pet for families who truly lead active lifestyles.
Feeding Tips
It’s best to feed the Field Spaniel a diet of high-quality, dry kibble specifically formulated for his activity level. Of course, a Fieldie who is out hunting all day will require more food than the dog that is less active.
Health Tips
The average life expectancy of the Field Spaniel is between 10 and 12 years. The most common health issues associated with the breed arehip dysplasiaandear infections.
Trainability
Although the Field Spaniel has an independent streak, he is relatively easy to train. Fieldies tend to bore easily during training so the sessions should be short but repetitive. This breed does not respond to harsh treatment or being manhandled. Patience and gentleness go a long way while training the Field Spaniel. Naturally, treats provide great motivation during training sessions.
Field Spaniels enjoy competing in dog sports such as hunting tests, obedience trials, agility courses and the breed ring. Because of their affection for people, Fieldies can make effective therapy dogs.
History
Originating in England in the 1800s, the Field Spaniel used to be considered the same breed as theEnglish Cocker Spaniel.
The dog was used to flush and retrieve both fur and feather from land and water. In the 20th century, it was decided that anything above 25 pounds would be considered a Field Spaniel and anything below would be an English Cocker Spaniel, and the two were officially separated into different breeds.
During the 1800s the Field Spaniel was being bred with a greatly exaggerated length and weight. Almost a hundred years later in the 1920s, the standard returned to a moderate length and weight.
Although it is a fine bird dog with a great, mild disposition, the breed remains rare to this day, most likely due to the extreme popularity of the Cocker Spaniel. The Field Spaniel was recognized by the AKC in 1894. Some of the Field Spaniel’s talents are tracking, hunting, retrieving and watchdog.
