Dogs
Spaniel
American Cocker Spaniel | American Water Spaniel | Boykin Spaniel | Brittany | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Clumber Spaniel | English Cocker Spaniel | English Springer Spaniel | Field Spaniel | Irish Water Spaniel | Japanese Chin | King Charles Spaniel | Kooikerhondje | Large Munsterlander | Pont-Audemer Spaniel | Small Munsterlander | Tibetan Spaniel | Welsh Springer Spaniel
Most spaniels, like this
English Cocker Spaniel, are small-to-medium dogs with drop ears and a longer
coat.
The
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, one of the smaller breeds, is primarily a
lap dog.
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.
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,
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.
Breeds
Spaniel breeds include:
See also
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