Field Spaniel

sweet / fun-loving / sensitive

Sporting Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

18 inches (male)

17 inches (female)

Weight

35-50 pounds

Life Expectancy

12-13 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family

Independent Lovey-Dovey
100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

Not Recommended Good With Children
100% 100%

A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
80% 80%

How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

No Shedding Hair Everywhere
60% 60%

How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

Monthly Daily
40% 40%

How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
40% 40%

How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded

Curly

Double

Hairless

Rough

Silky

Smooth

Wavy

Wiry

Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long

Medium

Short

How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
80% 80%

How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
60% 60%

How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
60% 60%

A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
80% 80%

How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

Self-Willed Eager to Please
100% 100%

How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

Couch Potato High Energy
60% 60%

The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

Only To Alert Very Vocal
60% 60%

How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
60% 60%

How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

Independent Lovey-Dovey
100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

Not Recommended Good With Children
100% 100%

A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
80% 80%

How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

No Shedding Hair Everywhere
60% 60%

How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

Monthly Daily
40% 40%

How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
40% 40%

How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded

Curly

Double

Hairless

Rough

Silky

Smooth

Wavy

Wiry

Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long

Medium

Short

How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
80% 80%

How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
60% 60%

How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
60% 60%

A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
80% 80%

How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

Self-Willed Eager to Please
100% 100%

How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

Couch Potato High Energy
60% 60%

The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

Only To Alert Very Vocal
60% 60%

How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
60% 60%

How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

Although it is renowned for being placid, the sweet and delicate Field Spaniel is spirited and up for anything when playing or working in the field. Despite being few in number, these Cocker and Springer Spaniels’ near relatives are incredibly charming.

Cocker, Springer, and Sussex spaniels share a family resemblance with field spaniels. Either a dark shade of liver, a blend of the two, or black characterizes the characteristic glossy coat. They should project the image of well-balanced, modestly-sized hunting buddies and stand 17 to 18 inches tall at the shoulder. A grave, gentle intelligence may be seen in the facial expression framed by the long, fluffy ears. The lovely, sensitive souls of field spaniels have just the right amount of independence to keep life fascinating. They are obedient to teach, patient with children, and understanding of other mammals. These peaceful house dogs are described as “unusually docile” in the U.S. breed standard, yet they are nevertheless lively and like romping in the backyard.

What To Expect When Caring For a Field Spaniel

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Despite being a breed with generally good health, Field Spaniels have experienced several problems. Breeders who are responsible check for hereditary disorders and choose from healthy stock. Temperament, structure, and health are all very important in making up this breed that is a "combination of beauty and utility" in an enthusiastic canine companion. Breeders are encouraged to follow recommended testing and take orthopedics, thyroid, eyes, cardiac, and late-onset seizures into consideration when planning matings.

Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:

Hip Evaluation
Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Ophthalmologist Evaluation

Grooming

One of the breed's most endearing characteristics is its gorgeous single coat, but it needs frequent maintenance. Weekly combing and brushing will maintain the coat's sheen and assist in minimizing shedding. Fields' heads and feet may just require little trimming. Unlike several other spaniels, the breed should not have its body cropped. Their teeth should be washed frequently using a toothpaste made for dogs, and their ears should be constantly examined for any indications of infection.

Exercise

An active sporting breed, the Field possesses an energetic spirit that does best with regular exercise and mental stimulation. They are suitable for many canine sports and activities and enjoy brisk activity, as well as downtime at home with their families. Fields are found in a wide variety of lifestyles, from city to country, but do best when given challenges for both the mind and body.

Training

The Field Spaniel is an intelligent problem-solver who is trainable and can excel at any game when properly motivated. These "thinking dogs" thrive best on clear communication and reward, with minimal correction. They require early socialization and a family sensitive to their needs. Fields love their people and range from serious to clownish in attitude. Once they understand expectations, they are solid in training, and the breed excels in multiple canine sports and activities. Fields are an amazing, soft breed that are not for everyone, but owners feel their sometimes-oafish habits such as snoring, sloppy drinking, and perpetually shedding coats are well worth their companionship.

Nutrition

Field Spaniels adore their meals and treats. 'Owners often joke that we have Food Spaniels,' says one breed devotee. Fields can be quite motivated in training by their drive for food. It is generally agreed that the breed will thrive on a good-quality, balanced diet that is nutritionally bioavailable. Give table scraps sparingly, if at all, especially avoiding cooked bones and foods with high-fat content. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not.

History

The several breeds of British spaniels that hunters employed to flush game birds were not differentiated as they are now until far into the 1800s. They were instead arranged according to size and job description. When dog exhibitions first appeared in England in the late 20th century, this situation changed. Setting distinct types and breeds suddenly became crucial, and the Field Spaniel—a particular breed of spaniel descended from crosses of the Cocker, English Springer, and Sussex—became such. These early Fields were not only skilled hunters but also instant successes in the show ring.

A “grotesque caricature of a spaniel,” as one commentator called it, was created by breeders who were spurred by the breed’s success in the ring to create a showy Field Spaniel. Such negligent breeding practices diminished the Field’s value as a gundog and caused the breed to develop health issues. The popularity of the Field declined as quickly as it rose, and the breed eventually stood on the verge of extinction.

The Field was still too good to ignore due to its appealing characteristics. The Field was renovated in the 20th century by passionate fans. By the late 1960s, aficionados had returned to the fundamentals and had reconstructed the dog along the lines it had been before the introduction of Cocker and Springer blood. Since then, the Field Spaniel has become more popular.