Field Spaniel

People usually look up the Field Spaniel when they’re weighing up a rare gundog as a family companion, or checking whether their current dog’s size, coat, exercise needs and common health risks sound “about right”. With this breed, the details matter: long ears and a feathered coat bring routine care tasks, and an active, clever mind can become noisy or destructive if daily life gets too quiet.

Below is a clear, practical profile based on breed standards and recognised animal-welfare guidance, with notes on what owners tend to manage day to day—movement, grooming, training, and the health checks that are worth planning for.

Field Spaniel at a glance

• Size: Medium
• Height: About 46 cm at the shoulder (breed standard guide)¹
• Weight: About 18–25 kg (breed standard guide)¹
• Coat: Long, flat, glossy and silky; never curly or wiry; feathering on chest, belly and legs¹
• Colours: Black, liver and roan in various combinations (some colours are not acceptable under the standard)¹
• Temperament: Typically docile and sensitive; bred to work as a hunting companion and to stay connected with people^{2, 3}
• Typical lifespan: Commonly reported around 10–12 years (some sources report longer ranges)^{2, 3}

History and origins

The Field Spaniel developed in England as a working spaniel, built for steady movement through heavy cover and for retrieving on land and in water. Modern breed descriptions still emphasise that “utility” build: medium size, endurance, and a calm willingness to work close to the handler rather than ranging wildly.³

Physical characteristics and temperament

In the flesh, a Field Spaniel reads as a solid, slightly longer-than-tall spaniel with a long, soft coat and low-set ears. It’s a shape designed to keep moving for hours, not to sprint for minutes.^{1, 3}

Temperament is generally described as docile, sensitive and companionable, with the sort of quiet attentiveness you see in many gundog breeds. They tend to do best when they’re included in the household rhythm and given a job—training games, scent work, retrieving, or simply being part of daily routines.^{2, 3}

Training and exercise needs

Field Spaniels are bright and responsive, which is helpful, but it also means under-stimulation shows up quickly. Aim for daily physical exercise plus something useful for the brain: short training sessions, scent games, retrieving, or structured play.

• Exercise: Many adult dogs cope well with a solid daily walk plus an extra outlet (off-lead run where safe, swimming, retrieving). Individual needs vary with age and temperament.^{2, 4}
• Training approach: Reward-based, steady, and consistent suits sensitive dogs best. Harsh handling can suppress behaviour without teaching good choices.
• Alone time: If left for long stretches without preparation, some dogs develop distress behaviours (barking, chewing, digging). Building “comfortable alone time” gradually and pairing departures with enrichment is a practical, welfare-friendly approach.^{5, 6}

Practical enrichment that suits the breed

• Food puzzles, stuffed chew toys, or scatter-feeding in grass for sniffing and foraging
• Retrieve games with clear starts and stops (to avoid turning everything into constant throwing)
• Short scent trails in the yard or along a quiet walk
• Basic obedience and life-skills (loose lead walking, mat training, calm greetings)

Health concerns and common medical issues

No breed comes with guarantees. For Field Spaniels, breed and veterinary groups commonly flag joint disease (including hip dysplasia) and a set of eye and ear issues that are helped by early detection and routine care.^{4, 7}

Issues owners commonly manage

• Hip dysplasia: A heritable condition seen across many medium and large breeds; responsible breeders screen breeding stock and owners watch for stiffness, reluctance to jump, and changes in gait.⁴
• Eye conditions: Breed health guidance commonly recommends regular ophthalmic examinations for breeding stock, with issues reported including eyelid disorders (ectropion/entropion) and retinal folds.⁷
• Ear infections (otitis): Long, low-set ears can reduce airflow and trap moisture and debris. Redness, odour, head-shaking and persistent scratching are common early signs to take to a vet.

If you’re buying a puppy, ask what health screening has been done (hips, eyes, and any breed-relevant testing) and request documentary proof rather than verbal reassurance.

Grooming and coat maintenance

That silky coat is beautiful in motion, but it’s also a magnet for burrs, grass seeds and mud. Weekly brushing is a sensible baseline for most dogs, with extra attention after walks in long grass. Keep feathering and the area behind the ears free of tight mats, and check the feet and between the toes for debris after outings.

Most owners use a combination of:

• Brushing and combing: To prevent matting and reduce shedding around the house
• Occasional trimming: Especially around feet and feathering for hygiene and ease of maintenance (many people use a groomer)
• Ear checks: Regular visual checks, especially after swimming or wet weather

Breeding and puppy care: what “responsible” looks like

Field Spaniels are relatively uncommon, which can be a blessing (fewer impulse purchases) and a risk (harder to find genuinely careful breeding). Look for breeders who can explain their health screening choices, who match puppies to homes, and who raise pups in a clean, busy environment with gentle exposure to everyday handling and noises.

• Ask for the parents’ hip and eye screening results, and what follow-up support the breeder offers.⁷
• Expect questions about your routines, work hours, and how you plan to manage alone time.
• Be cautious if a seller won’t share health documentation, rushes you, or has many litters available at once.

Field Spaniel as a family pet: pros and cons

Pros

• Steady, companionable nature: Often gentle in the home when exercise needs are met^{2, 3}
• Trainable and engaged: Suits owners who enjoy teaching and doing things together
• Athletic without being enormous: Medium size with good endurance^{1, 3}

Cons

• Needs daily input: A bored Field Spaniel can invent its own entertainment (digging, chewing, barking)^{5, 6}
• Coat and ears need routine care: Brushing, post-walk checks, and ear monitoring are part of ownership
• Potential inherited health issues: Screening and early veterinary attention matter^{4, 7}

Final thoughts

A Field Spaniel tends to flourish in homes that value a calm, capable dog and can offer steady exercise, gentle training and ordinary companionship. Keep the coat and ears under quiet surveillance, put real effort into boredom-proofing the day, and you usually end up with a dog that moves through family life like a shadow—present, observant, and ready to follow you into the next room.

References

1. Dogs Australia (ANKC affiliate): Field Spaniel breed standard
2. The Kennel Club (UK): Spaniel (Field) breed standard
3. Field Spaniel Society of America: Official AKC breed standard (Field Spaniel)
4. American Kennel Club: Field Spaniel dog breed information
5. RSPCA Australia: Is your dog anxious when you’re not at home?
6. RSPCA Australia: Helping pets adjust to being alone (enrichment and gradual training)
7. Field Spaniel Society of America: Health issues in Field Spaniels
8. RSPCA Knowledgebase: How much exercise does my dog need?