Breeds

Well balanced, noble, upstanding sporting Spaniel built for activity and endurance.

Ideal for rough shooting or companion for the country dweller. Not suitable for city.

Unusually docile, active, sensitive, independent.

Conveys the impression of high breeding, character and nobility. Well chiselled, occiput well defined, lean beneath eyes. A thickness here gives coarseness to 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.

Wide open but almond shaped with tight lids showing no haw. Grave and gentle in expression. Dark hazel in colour.

Moderately long and wide, set low and well feathered.

Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Long, strong and muscular enabling dog to retrieve his game without undue fatigue.

Shoulders long and sloping and well laid back. Legs of moderate length. Straight, flat bone.

Chest deep and well developed. Ribs moderately well sprung. Length of rib cage is two thirds of the body length. Back and loin strong, level and muscular.

Strong, muscular; stifles moderately bent. Hocks well let down.

Tight, round with strong pads and not too small.

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

Long, unhurried stride with great drive from the rear. Short, stumping action undesirable.

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.

Black, black and tan, blue roan, blue roan and tan, liver, liver and tan, liver roan, liver roan and tan. In self coloured dogs, white or roan on chest is permissible. Clear black and white, liver and white, orange, red or golden unacceptable.

Height: approx. 46 cms (18 ins) at the shoulders

Weight: 18-25 kg (40-55 lbs)

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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog, and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

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