Field Spaniel Dog Breed

The Field Spaniel is English in origin and is a rare breed, in fact, all Fieldies can trace their lineage back to four dogs from England that saved the breed from extinction during the 1950's-1960's. What caused such a trainable, talented and sweet breed to teeter on the verge of collapse? Unfortunately it was unsound breeding practices. They were, like all Spaniels, hunting dogs and considered in the group termed "land spaniels" but with the emergence of dog shows breeders had began to try to tease out a breed with eye-catching looks. The Field Spaniel was bred to be all black which made them unpopular with hunters who had trouble spotting them in the field. The Fieldie was bred longer and longer, lower and lower to the ground until their bizarre looks lost them favor in both their homeland and most other countries. Fanciers of the breed recognized the fallout of these canines was due to gross breeder error and, fortunately, this fun-loving, docile breed was brought back to rare status (the Field Spaniel also returned to America). Read below for a list of pros and cons of the this lovable sporting dog:

Field Spaniels are rare and finding one that has naturally hunting abilities is even rarer, once you find one that will be good in the field, he/she will need little training to become an excellent hunter. Most Fieldies are simply companion dogs with a fair portion of these being bred as show dogs. Some notable bloodlines to check out if you are searching for your perfect Fieldie include: Killara Field Spaniels, Nautica Field Spaniels, Catera Field Spaniels and Elgert Field Spaniels.

Fieldies are versatile enough hunt, flush out and retrieve down birds from in various amounts of cover. Experts describe the hunting style of the Field Spaniel as more "deliberate" than other spaniels. They are slow enough to for the hunter to walk comfortably behind them and often find birds other breeds may leave behind. The are soft, sensitive dogs that are notoriously gentle. This doesn't mean they don't require early obedience training-- in fact, it's a necessity and the trainer is encouraged to be firm (but not harsh). They are known to be very trainable, even for a first time owner.

Members of this breed make excellent family dogs for active people. They are very people-oriented and must live indoors (preferably with easy outdoor access). They are very gentle and patient with kids and most do quite well with other pets! Most Field Spaniels are friendly, although this may be after a brief period of analyzing whether they want to know you or not; they are never shy or aggressive. They are not notable watch dogs and definitely not guard dogs.

This breed needs a medium amount of outdoor exercise each day; access to a large property or fenced yard is ideal. Fieldies not being employed as hunting companions can excel at other active activities such as rally and agility training. They make decent exercise buddies and will enjoy long walks, hikes and splashing around in water.

The Field Spaniel temperament is, put simply, game. This means whatever they do, they do it to the utmost with a fun-loving disposition. Outdoors they are tireless hunting companions while indoors they will shower you with sweet, gentle attention. They are great with children and usually live peacefully with other pets. Most are friendly with strangers but some will be reserved when meeting newcomers; they often warm up quickly and are not a breed considered timid or aggressive. This also means you should look elsewhere if you are in need of a watch or guard dog. Another important thing to keep in mind is that Field Spaniels are very owner/family oriented meaning they are not a breed that can live outdoors or spend the majority of time kenneled-- they'd simply miss you too much!

On the other hand, according to the experts at Killara kennels, they can be quite sneaky. They have been known to be busybodies when bored-- taking items they ought not to and stringing them about the house, digging, splashing in any type of water they find, and more... This means they need early, firm obedience training; luckily they are very trainable and owners agree that a stern reprimand (most of the time) can put an end to nuisance behaviors. They respond best when owners can challenge their intelligence by varying up the training instead of the constant repetition that other breeds need.

The Field Spaniel is a breed with few hereditary health issues and most Fieldies live 12-13 years. A few things you can do at home to prolong your pets health are: scheduling yearly checkups with your vet even if your pet is not sick, feeding him/her according to veterinary guidelines, and keeping up with dental care. We noted the most well documented issues of the Field Spaniel breed below, but keep in mind some are more rare than others.

• Hip dysplasia is ones of the most common issues for these dogs.
• Hypothyroidism is another common condition that may manifest as an autoimmune form of thyroid disease.
• Eye problems such as retinal fold and eyelid disorders, entropion and ectropion, are also seen relatively often.
• Heart defects are sometimes seen in the breed and can be inherited or unrelated to genes.
• Epilepsy is not common but has been observed in Field Spaniels.