| AJ Stebbing English Springer Spaniels |
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Soft natured, easy going, with a sense of humor, English Springer Spaniels are very popular house and family dogs. The Springer is an affectionate and easy-going family dog, and its alertness and attentiveness make it the ideal hunting companion. An intelligent dog, and one eager to please, a Springer is easily incorporated into a family setting. We found that when looking at the field trail breed, the dogs were hard charging, ambitious, and maybe a little hyper. When researching the show breed, we found the dogs to be soft, easy going, relaxed with not a great deal of interest in hunting. We located a person who took a Champion Show Springer Spaniel and a Champion Field Trial Springer Spaniel and bred the two, titled an "out cross." AJ was one of these puppies. He is relaxed, a great family dog, and a hard charging upland game hunter. AJ is probably one of the best pheasant dogs I have ever hunted over with the exception of Pat Molini's Lab's, "Macy" and "Laddie." Springers are good with children, although it tends to have a moderate to high energy level. Its long-legged build makes it among the fastest of the Spaniels. It has unlimited stamina and needs plenty of activity to focus its mind and to provide substantial exercise, although this is different for each dog. In general, the breed is good with other pets, such as cats and ferrets. However, some English Springer Spaniels may not be suitable for homes with pet birds without additional training, due to their natural hunting instinct. As with all breeds, dogs must become accustomed to other pets, and it's better to introduce two pets when they are both very young. English Springer Spaniels are energetic, cheerful, happy and playful animals; many owners find humor in their play. As with many playful dogs or hunting dogs bred as retrievers, these dogs will play with things as simple as empty plastic bottles, socks, or towels. These spaniels easily remember where such things are kept and are good at getting them out. English Springer Spaniels need a lot of regular exercise and mental stimulation for optimum mental health. This Spaniel Family is an older breed, appearing in paintings as early as the 1600s. It is possibly the ancestor of most modern spaniels; Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels were not recognized as separate breeds until the 1800s. The purpose of the breed was to serve as a hunting dog. Before guns were used to shoot game, the land spaniel would "spring"—or flush—the game bird into the air where a trained falcon or hawk would bring it to the handler. As the shotgun replaced the bird of prey for the hunter, the English Springer Spaniel continued to serve as a hunting companion. Although most are hunted on traditional upland game, the springer spaniel is adept at hunting waterfowl and small game, as well. They are excellent rabbit dogs. The Springer breed is not without problem's. Some of the Champion Dog's on both sides, (Show and Field Trial), have been line bred, meaning relatives are bred with relatives. Breeders use this method to keep the show lines forthcoming. However, in doing so, it is believed that "line breeding" has created epilepsy or similar condition in the offspring, sometimes referred to as "Springer Rage." We purchased a female Springer from a Champion Show line from Seattle, Washington. "Seattle" was a beautiful, liver and white Springer that could hunt with grace. At the age of two she began to develop a mental condition. She was periodically go into a trance like state then snap right back out of it. Sometimes she would act confused, like she did not recognize us. This lasted a few months when one day she growled and snapped at our 1 year old son, Chase, biting him in the cheek. Diagnosed with epilepsy she was later put down. In researching her past family generations, she was off-spring of a line-bred family of Springers. I would caution anyone buying any dog to be sure the family tree is as diverse as possible. |
