How to choose a Spaniel

The dorsal line of the neck and torso neck is moderately long, strong and neat, slightly arched at the elevated head, and continuous and smooth with the sloping shoulders. This part of the dorsal line from the shoulder to the tail is strong and slightly sloping. The torso is strong and compact, with short ribs and joints. The chest is deep and level with the elbow, and the forechest is very well developed; however, it does not hinder the movement of the forelegs. The ribs are long and extend continuously to the middle of the torso, tapering off as they reach the end of the rib cage. The lower line is flush with the elbow and has a slight upward bend at the side of the abdomen. The back is straight, robust and horizontal. The loin is short, strong and slightly arched. The rump is elegantly rounded and smoothly joined to the hind legs. The rump is gently inclined toward the base of the tail, which drops naturally along the rump. The tail is horizontal or slightly arched, showing its lively personality and pleasurable action in the hunt. A tightly clamped tail, suggesting a timid and unreliable disposition would be a disadvantage, and as with the hard dog, the tail forms a proper angle with the dorsal line. The efficient movement of the front legs of the forequarters requires the coordination of the forequarters. The scapulae are flat, tightly integrated at the ends, and blend smoothly with the contour lines of the trunk. Measured from the top of the shoulder to the end of the scapula and then to the elbow, the scapula and upper arm are clearly equal, forming an angle of approximately 90°; this places the front leg well below the torso and the elbow just below the top of the scapula. The elbow is very close to the torso. The front legs are straight and meet the feet forming a right angle. The bones are strong, slightly flat, and neither too round nor too heavy. The metacarpal joints are short, strong and slightly oblique, and do not show weakness. The foot is rounded or slightly oval. The feet are compact, nicely arched, medium sized, thickly padded, with decorative hair between the toes. Hindquarters The English Springer Spaniel should be firm, strong and well grown in the hips and thighs for work and dog shows. His entire hindquarters show strength and drive. The thighs are wide and strong and the knees are strong. For efficient hunting, the angle of the hindquarters bone joints, the fly joints, is never greater or less than the angle of the forequarters bone joints, the fly joints. The fly joint has a little roundness, which is not small or obvious in appearance. The hind metacarpal joints are strong and well boned. In posterior view, the posterior metacarpal joints are parallel. The wolf claws are usually excised. The feet are the same as the forelegs except smaller and more compact. The coat of the English Springer Spaniel has an outer coat and an undercoat of fleece. On the trunk, the outer coat is medium-length, flat or wavy and easily distinguished from the undercoat, which is short, soft and dense. The amount of undercoat is influenced by climate and season. The outer coat and undercoat of the heterozygous dog are waterproof and resistant to climatic influences and harsh conditions. The ears, chest, legs and belly are covered with hairs of medium length and thickness. The hair on the head, front of the forelimbs and front of the hind limbs, and under the fly joint is short and fine. The coat is neat and shiny. The head, ears, neck and feet are trimmed to remove decaying undercoat and excessive hair is trimmed to make it thin and short in order to improve the attractiveness of its appearance according to the standard, which meets the requirements. The tail may be trimmed or left wavy. First, the appearance should be natural. Excessive hair can disrupt the neat contours of the conformation, but excessive trimming, especially of the coat on the torso or down the lower cheeks, and artificial grooming will be penalized in dog shows. The texture and condition of the coat is more important than the number of coats. The following coat color hybrids and markings are acceptable: (l) black or liver with white markings or white body with black or liver markings; (2) blue or liver fancy coat; (3) tricolor: black, white or liver, white with fawn markings, usually found on the brow, cheeks, inside the ears and under the tail. Any white part of the coat can be a marked spot.