SPANIEL

any of several sporting dogs used by hunters to flush game from cover. The earliest spaniels apparently originated in Spain, hence the name, but most of the modern breeds were developed in Britain. American cocker spaniel. The cocker spaniel is a small dog standing 14 to 15 inches (36 to 39 centimetres) and weighing 22 to 29 pounds (10 to 13 kilograms). Compact and sturdily built, it has a rounded head, floppy ears, and a soft, flat or wavy coat. The coat may be either solid coloured or variegated; colours include black, reddish brown, buff, and black and white. English cocker spaniel. The English cocker spaniel is similar to the cocker spaniel but is larger and has longer legs and a longer muzzle. It has a medium-length silky coat in a variety of colours. The distinction between spaniel breeds originally was one of size, the larger spaniels being called springers and the smaller ones cockersthe latter apparently in reference to their use in flushing woodcocks. English springer spaniel. There are two breeds known as springer spaniels. The English springer spaniel (see photograph) is a medium-sized, compact dog standing 19 to 20 inches (48 to 51 centimetres) and weighing 35 to 55 pounds (16 to 25 kilograms). Its glossy coat is flat or wavy and usually black and white or liver-coloured and white. The English springer spaniel is valued both as a companion and for its use in the field as a pheasant hunter. The Welsh springer spaniel is somewhat smaller than the English and is always red-brown and white. It is noted as both a pet and a capable hunting dog and retriever. Brittany. Clumber spaniel. There are several other breeds, among them the American water spaniel, a sturdily built, curly-coated, dark brown dog used to hunt birds and small animals; the Brittany (see photograph), a setter-like, tailless or short-tailed French dog and the only spaniel that points, rather than flushes, birds; the Clumber spaniel (see photograph), a low-slung, long-bodied, powerful dog, slow but thorough in the field; and the Irish water spaniel, an old breed valued as both a water retriever and a companion dog. See also English toy spaniel; Japanese spaniel. See the Table of Selected Breeds of Sporting Dogs for further information.