(AKC Sporting Group)
Size: Medium.
Weight: 49 to 55 pounds (male); 44 to 50 (female).
Availability: May take some effort to find.
UTILIZATION : Flushing dog, Retriever.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : 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.
merry, active. Highest on leg and raciest in build of all British land
Spaniels.
biddable. Timidity or aggression highly undesirable.
CRANIAL REGION :
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
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Nostrils well developed.
Muzzle : Foreface of proportionate length to skull, fairly broad and
deep, well chiselled below eyes.
Flews : Fairly deep and square.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor
bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to
the jaws.
Cheeks : Flat.
Eyes : Medium size, almond-shaped, not prominent nor sunken, well
set in (not showing 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.
NECK : Good length, strong and muscular, free from throatiness,
slightly arched, tapering towards head.
BODY : Strong, neither too long nor too short.
Loin : Muscular, strong with slight arch and well coupled.
Chest : Deep, well developed. Well sprung ribs.
TAIL : Customarily docked.
Docked : Set low, never carried above level of back. Well
feathered with lively action.
Undocked : Set low, never carried above level of back. Well
feathered with lively action. In balance with the rest of the dog.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs straight and well boned.
Shoulders : Sloping and well laid.
Elbows : Set well to body.
Pasterns : Strong, flexible.
HINDQUARTERS : Hindlegs well let down.
Thighs : Broad, muscular, well developed.
Stifles and hocks : Moderately bent. Coarse hocks undesirable.
FEET : Tight, compact, well rounded, with strong, full pads.
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
HAIR : Close, straight and weather resisting, never coarse. Moderate
feathering on ears, forelegs, body and hinquarters.
COLOR : Liver and white, black and white, or either of these
colours with tan markings.
SIZE : Approximate height at withers : 51 cm (20 ins).