Spaniel (English Springer)

Good Practice schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that breeders, at a minimum, conduct these tests before breeding, as evidence indicates these conditions are a significant concern in the breed.

• Prioritising genetic diversity
• Elbow testing (for elbow dysplasia) using the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
• Eye testing (and gonioscopy for PLA) using the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
• Hip testing (for hip dysplasia) using the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme

Best Practice schemes and tests

These tests address conditions that are still significant for the breed, though they may not be as critical as those listed under Good Practice. They might be less common or newly identified, and research is ongoing to determine their full impact.

To support the breed’s health, responsible breeders should ensure they complete all tests in both categories. Following our Best Practice guidelines means completing both the Good Practice and Best Practice tests for your breed.

• DNA test for Acral mutilation syndrome (AMS) - Find a list of tested dogs here
• DNA test for Dyserythropoietic anemia and myopathy syndrome (DAMS) - Find a list of tested dogs here
• DNA test for Fucosidosis (fuco) - Find a list of tested dogs here
• DNA test for Phosphofructokinase deficiency (PFK) - Find a list of tested dogs here
• DNA test for Progressive retinal atrophy PRA(cord1) - Find a list of tested dogs here

Click here to find out more about The Kennel Club's health standard

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed or Activity Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

To support your health testing journey, we provide our tailored Spaniel (English Springer) Breed-Specific DNA Package. Giving you the information you need about potential health risks, this package includes screening for Acral mutilation syndrome (AMS), Fucosidosis (Fuco), Phosphofructokinase deficiency (PFK), Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA cord1), DNA Profile (SNP - ISAG 2020).

5 essential tests valued at £295 for just £150, that screen for multiple conditions at once, saving you time and providing vital health information. 

The Breed Health and Conservation Plans

Our breed health and conservation plans (BHCPs) use evidence and data to help us understand the health issues found in each pedigree dog breed. These plans help breeders and owners identify health and welfare problems and use information, health tests and health schemes to avoid passing on those problems to future puppies. They also support and provide breeders with tools and specialist expertise to help manage genetic diversity, understand the impacts of close breeding, and find the best ways to preserve the population of their breed.

Working together for the breed

We’ve worked with breed clubs and breed representatives to gather all available evidence to help us determine the priority concerns for the breed and decide how we can work together to manage and reduce these problems.

Breed priorities

The current key priorities for the breed are:

• Genetic diversity
• Breed health education
• Engaging in further research

How we plan to make improvements

We’ve agreed the following list of actions with the breed clubs to improve the health of the breed. Both parties are committed to working on these areas and will review these on a regular basis to ensure the actions remain focussed and relevant to the breed’s health.

Breed club actions include:

• The breed clubs to provide husbandry advice (particularly ears, teeth and weight) on the English Springer Spaniel health website
• The breed clubs to investigate avenues into incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle (IOHC) research, with the Kennel Club to assist in recruitment of dogs – IN PROGRESS (information about the ongoing IOHC research can be found here)
• The breed clubs to continue to engage in research opportunities for their breed – ONGOING

Our actions include:

• To investigate the possibility of directing traffic through the Breed Information Centre to the English Springer Spaniel health website – COMPLETE (this action was completed in 2020, with a link available above)
• To keep the breed updated on any advancements in a cruciate ligament study
• To share the findings of the popular sire study– IN PROGRESS (We are undertaking a complete review of every breed’s population analysis, which will be released once finalised)
• To investigate formulating breeding advice regarding the consequences of close breeding and genetic diversity – IN PROGRESS (this will be included in the action above)

The full evidence base is available at the discretion of the breed clubs, however if you would like to seek access to the full report, please contact our health team here.

How do I use this information?

Breeders should be mindful of the top priorities in their breed and ensure they are working to reduce and eliminate the presence of these diseases when choosing to breed their dogs.

Puppy buyers should also be aware of these issues and be sure to ask their breeder how they are contributing towards the above actions, and whether any of these problems have been seen in their breeding lines.

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email either 

or 

Find out more about health issues in this breed by visiting the UK English Springer Spaniel breed clubs' health website.

There are not currently any additional breed specific restrictions in place for this breed.