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General Appearance
Well balanced, noble, upstanding sporting Spaniel built for activity and endurance.

Characteristics
Ideal for rough shooting or companion for the country dweller. Not suitable for city.

Temperament
Unusually docile, active, sensitive, independent.

Head and Skull
Conveys the impression of high breeding, character and nobility. Well chiselled, occiput well defined, lean beneath eyes. A thickness here gives coarseness to whole head. Slightly raised eyebrows. Moderate stop. Nose well developed with good open nostrils. Muzzle long and lean neither snipy nor squarely cut. In profile curving gradually from nose to throat.

Eyes
Wide open but almond-shaped with tight lids showing no haw. Grave and gentle in expression. Dark hazel in colour.

Ears
Moderately long and wide, set low and well feathered.

Mouth
Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck
Long, strong and muscular enabling dog to retrieve his game without undue fatigue.

Forequarters
Shoulders long and sloping and well laid back. Legs of moderate length. Straight, flat bone.

Body
Chest deep and well developed. Ribs moderately well sprung. Length of rib cage is 2two-thirds of the body length. Back and loin strong, level and muscular.

Hindquarters
Strong, muscular; stifles moderately bent. Hocks well let down.

Feet
Tight, round with strong pads and not too small.

Tail
Previously customarily docked.
Docked: Docked by one third. Set on low. Never carried above level of back. Nicely feathered, with lively action.
Undocked: Set low. Never carried above level of back. Nicely feathered with lively action. Reaches approximately to the hocks. Of moderate length in balance with the rest of the dog.

Gait/Movement
Long, unhurried stride with great drive from the rear. Short, stumping action undesirable.

Coat
Long, flat, glossy and silky in texture. Never curly, short or wiry. Dense and weatherproof. Abundant feathering on chest, under body and behind legs, but clean from hock to ground.

Colour
Black, liver or roan. Any one of these with tan markings. In self-coloured dogs white or roan on chest permissable. Clear black/white or liver/white unacceptable.

Size
Height: approximately 46 cms (18 ins) at the shoulders. Weight: between 18-25 kgs (40-55 lbs).

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Last Updated - September 2007

Glossary of Canine Terms

Health Information

The Kennel Club operates health screening schemes with other organisations.  Some are clinical veterinary screening schemes and some are DNA screening schemes, which may be relevant to this breed.

The current health screening requirements and recommendations for Kennel Club Accredited Breeders of this breed show what is required and recommended for the sire and dam of any litter of this breed bred by an Accredited Breeder.

Breed specific summary results from the Purebred Dog Health Survey in 2004 are available.  Individual summaries are only available where the breed response rate was greater than 15%.

Recommended Reading

All the below publications are available from the Online Shop.

Kennel Club Breed Standards Kennel Club Breed Standards are available for most breeds indicating the qualities which competition judges normally take into account and the standard or model which breeders endeavour to achieve. The Breed Standards can be purchased by group.

The Kennel Club Illustrated Breed Standards Containing full descriptive standards for 192 breeds, as well as representation for the six Kennel Club recognised breeds that are currently without standards, this beautifully illustrated volume is a must for all dog enthusiasts. This third edition has been completely revised and updated by a panel of experts and incorporates the very latest standards for breeds in each group.

Breed Clubs and Societies

• FIELD SPANIEL SOCIETY. Sec. Mr J Robertshaw. Tel No: 01282 859535.

This breed of dog is a 'Vulnerable Native Breed'.

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