Live Life Team
This is a medium-size British gundog. Its origins are uncertain, but they began in the show ring. The dog weighs around 45kg (20 pounds) although there is much regional variation in size. Males are much larger than females. The coat is long and silky with much feathering. It is black or dark liver in colour. It is a long, low dog compared to other spaniel breeds but has retained the characteristic webbed feet.
Originally, Field Spaniel was a generic term that covered all spaniels used in the field. This remained the case in early dog shows where the Field Spaniel class was originally a group rather than a specific breed. As the other Spaniel breeds became standardised, the Field Spaniel appeared. It is unique in being the only Spaniel breed developed from the show ring.
Early dogs were nearly always black and quickly became popular. However, breeders continually tried to improve on its show potential, introducing genes from the Bassett Hound to create a bizarre long-backed, short-legged dog with a range of genetic problems.
After the war, the Field Spaniel was almost extinct. The few remaining dogs were crossed with English Springers in order to return the breed to something approaching its original form. All modern Field Spaniels are descended from this stock. The Field spaniel is a social, adaptable dog that is good with children. However, it has retained many of its hunting instincts and cannot be trusted near small animals. Although the dog has been exported across the world, it remains a rare breed.
