Field Spaniel Standard

General Appearance: A well balanced, noble, upstanding sporting Spaniel built for activity and endurance.

Characteristics: Ideal for rough shooting or as a companion for the country dweller. Not suitable for the city.

Temperament: Unusually docile, active, sensitive, independent .

Head and Skull:   Conveys the impression of high breeding, character and nobility. 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 curving gradually from nose to throat.

Eyes: Wide open but almond-shaped with tight lids showing no haw. Grave and gentle in expression. 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:   Strong, muscular; stifles moderately bent. Hocks well let down.

Feet:   Tight, round with strong pads and not too small.

Tail:   Previously, customarily docked.     Docked :. Set on low. Never carried above the level of the back. Nicely feathered, with lively action. Previously, customarily docked by one third. Undocked: Set low. Never carried above the level of the back. Nicely feathered with lively action. Reaches approximately to the hocks. Of moderate length in balance with the rest of the dog.

Gait/Movement:   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. Abundant feathering on chest, under body and behind legs, but clean from hock to ground.

Colour:   Black, Liver or Roan. Any one of these with tan markings. In self-coloured dogs white or roan on chest permissible. Clear black/white or liver/white unacceptable.

Size:   Height: approximately 46cms (18ins) at the shoulders. Weight between 18-25 kgs (40-55 Lbs).

Faults:   Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

© The Kennel Club (UK.)

Click here to go to About Field Spaniels page