English Springer Spaniel
Also known as: Springer, Springer Spaniel
An energetic, highly trainable gundog bred to flush and retrieve game - happiest with a job and plenty of daily exercise. Springers are affectionate, sociable and quick to learn, excelling at field work and dog sports with a joyful enthusiasm that makes them exceptional partners for active owners.
Origin and purpose
The English Springer Spaniel is one of the oldest land-spaniel types, named for its job of "springing" game birds into the air for the hunter, and later retrieving them. It was formally separated from the Cocker (originally littermates were divided by size) and standardised in the early 20th century; modern field and show lines differ noticeably.
Temperament
Breed authorities describe the Springer as friendly, eager, obedient and quick to learn — an affectionate, people-oriented worker that bonds closely and thrives on activity. It needs an outlet for its energy and intelligence. As ever, the individual dog and its raising predict behaviour far better than the breed (Morrill et al., Science 2022).
Health and longevity
The Springer carries several heritable conditions. Buy from breeders who screen eyes, hips and run the relevant DNA tests.
Common health conditions
Living with a English Springer Spaniel in Calgary
This section is specific to Calgary (Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)). The rest of this guide applies to the breed anywhere.
Toronto Animal Services
Dogs in Toronto must be licensed annually with Toronto Animal Services. There is no provincial housing breed restriction on licensing, but Ontario's Dog Owners' Liability Act (DOLA) bans pit bull-type dogs from the province — this applies citywide regardless of housing type.
Toronto Humane Society / Toronto Animal Services: Not eligible
This breed is not eligible for Toronto Humane Society / Toronto Animal Services.
Licensing
Toronto dog licence required annually from Toronto Animal Services: CAD $32/year (sterilised) or CAD $78/year (unsterilised); microchipping strongly encouraged. Source: Toronto Animal Services (toronto.ca/community-people/animals-and-pets/pets-in-the-city/dogs/).
Climate & exercise in Calgary
Calgary is humid continental; cold winters (Jan avg -5°C, windchill to -20°C); warm humid summers (Jul avg 27°C); road salt season November through March. walk before 8am or after 7pm in July and August; pave test before midday walks — Toronto pavement can exceed 55°C in direct summer sun. Toronto's humid summer heat raises risk for brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldog, Pug, Bulldog) in July–August; road salt and ice-melt chemicals on sidewalks November–March require paw-washing after every winter walk; the Rouge Valley and Don Valley ravines are prime Ixodes scapularis tick habitat.
Parasite prevention
Plan for Lyme disease tick (Ixodes scapularis, blacklegged tick) present in Toronto ravines and Rouge National Urban Park — prevention April through November; heartworm prevention June through November (Ontario mosquito season); road salt paw protection November through March.
Cost of ownership in Calgary
Local English Springer Spaniel cost figures for Calgary are being verified. Budget for purchase or adoption, initial setup, food, grooming, routine veterinary care, parasite prevention and pet insurance. Figures are quoted in $.
Health & longevity
Responsible breeders health-test their breeding dogs. Ask to see current certificates before committing.
Nutrition note: A high-drive working dog; match calories to a genuinely active routine and keep lean.
Known breed conditions
DNA & screening panel
Cost of ownership
FLAG: indicative Singapore estimate only — grooming, ear care and DNA/eye screening add to cost.
Registries
Sources & references
- AKC — English Springer Spaniel breed standard & traits[Breed standard / registry]
- The Kennel Club (UK) — English Springer Spaniel[Breed standard / registry]
- Merck Veterinary Manual — hereditary and breed-associated disease[Veterinary reference]
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) — breed health screening / CHIC testing[Peer-reviewed / VetCompass / OFA]
- NParks/AVS — Pets in HDB flats (approved small breeds; ≤55 cm shoulder height)[Breed standard / registry] · checked June 2026
- Morrill et al., "Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics…", Science 376 (2022) — breed ≈ 9% of behaviour[Peer-reviewed / VetCompass / OFA] · 2022
Source tiers: 1 = breed standard / registry authority; 2 = peer-reviewed / VetCompass / OFA; 3 = veterinary reference; 4 = encyclopaedic. PawHub cites only tiers 1–4 and never blogs or e-commerce pages. Behavioural traits carry low confidence — breed explains ~9% of individual behaviour variation (Morrill et al., Science 2022).
Image credits
- Image 1: Canarian · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Image 2: Ratsniffer · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Image 3: State Farm · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
