introduction to the field spaniel

ONE OF THE HANDSOMEST AND POSSIBLY MOST NOBLE LOOKING OF ALL THE SPANIEL VARIETIES,THE FIELD SPANIEL HAS HAD A CHEQUERED CAREER SINCE THE BREED EVOLVED SOME 150 YEARS AGO.

 

THE FIELD IS A TRUE COUNTRY MAN, ACTIVE TIRELESS, INQUISITIVE, APT TO BE NOISY AND IF NOT KEPT FULLY EMPLOYED DESTRUCTIVE. HE IS NOT A DOG FOR A CITY-DWELLER,OR FOR THOSE OUT AT WORK ALL DAY WHO MEAN TO LEAVE HIM SHUT INDOORS ALONE FOR HOURS ON END BE SURE HE WILL PROTEST LONG AND LOUDLY AND ANNOY THE NEIGHBOURS, OR VENT HIS FRUSTRATION BY RIPPING THE CHAIR SEATS, CHEWING SLIPPERS, OR REMOVING WALLPAPER.  THIS IS A SENSITIVE BREED WHO LIKES TO BE WITH PEOPLE AND TO TAKE PART IN ALL THAT IS GOING ON.

DO NOT IMAGINE THAT BECAUSE YOUR DOG OBEYS YOU ONE DAY, HE WILL DO SO THE NEXT, A FIELD REALLY NEEDS TO KNOW HIS LESSONS WELL BEFORE HE CAN BE ENTIRELY TRUSTED TO CARRY OUT YOUR BIDDING AND EVEN THEN SUCH IS HIS SENSE OF FUN AND DESIRE TO MAKE EVERYONE LAUGH,HE WILL FORGET ALL HE HAS BEEN TAUGHT AND DO SOMETHING QUITE ABSURD.

 

 

THE FIELD SPANIEL BREED STANDARD

HEAD AND SKULL

CONVEYS THE IMPRESSION OF HIGHT CHARACTER AND NODILITY, WELL CHISELLED,

OCCIPUT WELL DEFINED, LEAN BENEATH THE EYES, A THICKNESS HERE GIVES COARSENESS

TO THE WHOLE HEAD. SLIGHTLY RAISED EYEBROWS MODERATE STOP NOSE WELL DEVELOPED

WITH GOOD OPEN NOSTRILS, MUZZLE LONG AND LEAN NEITHER SNIPEY NOR SQUARELY CUT

IN PROFILE CARVING GRADUALLY FROM NOSE TO THROAT.

 

EYES

WIDE OPEN BUT ALMOND-SHAPED WITH TIGHT LIDS SHOWING NO HAW. GRAVE AND GENTLE IN EXPRSSION DARK HAZEL IN COLOUR.

EARS

MODERATELY LONG AND WIDE, SET LOW AND WELL FEATHERED.

MOUTH

JAWS STRONG WITH A PERFECT REGULAR AND COMPLETE SCISSOR BITE, I.E. UPPER TEETH CLOSELY OVERLAPPING LOWER TEETH AND SET SQUARE TO THE JAWS,

NECK

LONG STRONG AND MUSCULAR ENABLING DOG TO RETRIEVE HIS GAME WITHOUT UNDUE FATIGUE.

FOREQUARTERS

SHOULDERS LONG AND SLOPING AND WELL LAID BACK, LEGS OF MODERATE LENGTH, STRAIGHT FLAT BONE.

BODY

CHEST DEEP AND WELL DEVELOPED, RIBS MODERATELY WELL SPRUNG, LENGTH OF RIBCAGE IS TWO-THIRDS OF THE BODY LENGTH, BACK AND LOIN STRONG, LEVEL AND MUSCULAR.

HINDQUARTERS

STONG, MUSCULAR STIFLES MODERATELY BENT HOCKS WELL LET DOWN

FEET

TIGHT, ROUND WITH STRONG PADS AND NOT TOO  SMALL

TAIL

UNDOCKED SET LOW NEVER CARRIED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE BACK NICELY FEATHERED WITH LIVELY ACTION

GAIT/MOVENMENT

LONG,UNHURRIED STRIDE WITH GREAT DRIVE FROM THE REAR, SHORT STUMPING ACTION UNDESIRABLE

COAT

LONG FLAT GLOSSY AND SILKY IN TEXTURE, NEVER CURLY SHORT OR WIRY, DENSE AND WEATHERPROOF, ADUNBANT FEATHERING ON CHEST, UNDER BODY AND BEHIND LEGS, BUT CLEAN FROM HOCK TO GROUND.

COLOUR

BLACK, LIVER, OR ROAM ANY ONE OF THESE WITH TAN MARKING IN SELF - COLOURED DOGS WHITE OR ROAM ON CHEST PERMISSIBLE, CLEAR BLACK/WHITE OR LIVER/WHITE UNACCEPTABLE

SIZE

HEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 46cms [18] AT THE SHOULDERS, WEIGHT BETWEEN 18-25KGS [40-55 ]