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Spaniels
A Spaniel is a group of gun dog breeds. Spaniels are generally smaller
dogs with longer coats and drop ears whose job is to assist with bird
hunting. Spaniels have the primary purposes of flushing game from dense
undergrowth and retrieving game after it has been shot. Different breeds
reflect different emphasis on the dogs' uses. At one time, spaniels were
subdivided into Land, Field, and Water spaniels, according to the terrain in
which they worked best.
Spaniels
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There has been so much interbreeding of various gun dogs over the centuries
to achieve additional breeds for new subniches that it is sometimes difficult
to determine whether a breed is a spaniel, a retriever, or both or neither.
Not much has changed about spaniels in general over the years, as can be seen
in this 1921 entry in Collier's New Encyclopedia :
Their distinguishing characteristics are a rather broad muzzle,
remarkably long and full ears, hair plentiful and beautifully waved,
particularly that of the ears, tail, and hinder parts of the thighs and
legs. The prevailing color is liver and white, sometimes red and white or
black and white, and sometimes deep brown, or black on the face and breast,
with a tan spot over each eye. The English spaniel is a superior and very
pure breed. The King Charles' dog is a small variety of the spaniel used as
a lapdog. The Maltese dog is also a small breed of spaniel. The water
spaniels, large and small, differ from the common spaniel only in the
roughness of their coats, and in uniting the aquatic propensities of the
Newfoundland dog with the fine hunting qualities of their own race.
Spaniels possess a great share of intelligence, affection, and obedience,
which qualities, combined with much beauty, make them highly prized as
companions.
Spaniel breeds include:
- American Cocker Spaniel
- American Water Spaniel
- Clumber Spaniel
- English Cocker Spaniel
- English Springer Spaniel
- Field Spaniel
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Sussex Spaniel
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
Toy spaniels (see toy dogs) include:
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from
Wikipedia and from
Wag-Dog.com
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