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THE KENNEL CLUB BREED STANDARD
ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL
General Appearance
Symmetrically built, compact, strong, merry, active. Highest on leg and raciest in build of all British land Spaniels.
Characteristics
Breed is of ancient and pure origins, oldest of sporting gundogs; original purpose was finding and springing game for net, falcon or greyhound. Now used to find, flush and retrieve game for gun.
Temperament
Friendly, happy disposition, biddable. Timidity or aggression highly undesirable.
Head and Skull
Skull of medium length, fairly broad, slightly rounded, rising from foreface, making a brow or stop, divided by fluting between eyes, dying away along forehead towards occipital bone which should not be prominent. Cheeks flat. Foreface of proportionate length to skull, fairly broad and deep, well chiselled below eyes, fairly deep and square in flew. Nostrils well developed.
Eyes
Medium sized, almond-shaped, not prominent or sunken, well set in (not showing in haw), alert, kind expression. Dark hazel. Light eyes undesirable.
Ears
Lobular, good length and width, fairly close to head, set in line with eye. Nicely feathered.
Mouth
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to jaws.
Neck
Good length, strong and muscular, free from throatiness, slightly arched, tapering towards head.
Forequarters
Forelegs straight and well boned. Shoulders sloping and well laid. Elbows set well to body. Strong flexible pasterns.
Body
Strong, neither too long or too short. Chest deep, well developed. Well sprung rids. Loin muscular, strong with slight arch and well coupled.
Hindquarters
Hindlegs well let down. Stifles and hocks moderately bent. Thighs broad, muscular, well developed. Coarse hocks undesirable.
Feet
Tight, compact, well rounded, with strong, full pads.
Tail
Set low, never carried above level of back. Well feathered with lively action. Customarily docked.
Gait / Movement
Strictly his own. Forelegs swing straight forward from shoulder, throwing feet well forward in an easy free manner. Hocks driving well under body, following in line with forelegs. At slow movement may have a pacing stride typical of this breed.
Coat
Close, straight and weather resisting, never coarse. Moderate feathering on ears, forelegs, body and hindquarters.
Colour
Liver and white, black and white, or either of these colours with tan markings.
Size
Approximate height: 51 cms (20 ins)
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 it’s degree.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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