A little look at life together.
Getting to know the Field Spaniel
The Field Spaniel is a sturdy, medium-sized sporting dog with a long single coat and an often sensitive, people-oriented manner. Choose patient teaching and a reliable combing routine for the coat and feathering.
An everyday routine
Plan a daily mix of walks, play, and rest. The amount that works for a particular dog depends on age, fitness, experience, and temperament.
Coat care to plan for
Set aside time each week for coat care, checking through the hair rather than only brushing the surface. Shedding periods or longer furnishings may need extra attention.
Before deciding, meet the individual dog and ask about their history, handling preferences, and current routine. Breed tendencies are a starting point, not a promise about personality.
Field Spaniel questions
Do Field Spaniels shed?
Yes, at a moderate level. Weekly brushing and combing keeps the coat glossy and helps cut down on loose hair. The coat is a single layer of silky, moderately long hair with feathering, not a double coat.
How big does a full-grown Field Spaniel get?
Males ideally stand 18 inches at the shoulder and females 17 inches, and an inch either way is acceptable. Adults weigh 35 to 50 pounds.
How long do Field Spaniels live?
Life expectancy is 12 to 13 years for the breed. That is a breed-wide figure, not a prediction for one dog.
What is the difference between a Field Spaniel and a Cocker Spaniel?
They are close relatives. Until 1901 the only thing separating Cockers and Field Spaniels in the show ring was size, and the two were interbred in the breed's early days. Today the Field is a separate, medium-sized breed that stands 17 to 18 inches, comes in black, liver or golden liver, and carries less coat than other spaniels.
Are Field Spaniels rare?
Yes. The breed is small in number, and its history explains why. Breeding for an exaggerated long, low shape in the show ring nearly drove the Field Spaniel to extinction, and by the late 1960s enthusiasts were rebuilding it with help from Cocker and Springer bloodlines.
Are Field Spaniels good family dogs?
They have a gentle reputation. The temperament is unusually docile, sensitive and fun-loving, with a strong pull toward human company, and the breed is very good with young children. A Field may be a little reserved when first meeting someone.
How much grooming does a Field Spaniel need?
Less than many spaniels. A pet Field needs little beyond cleaning and brushing, plus trimmed nails and clipping the hair between the foot pads and inside the ears. Weekly brushing and combing is enough, and the breed is not body clipped the way some other spaniels are.
Are Field Spaniels easy to train, and how much exercise do they need?
They are very trainable. This is a thinking dog that does best with clear communication, rewards and very little correction. It is also an active sporting breed that needs regular exercise and mental challenges, and it lives happily in homes from city to country when it gets both.
