Field spaniel

Field Spaniel, or field spaniel, is one of the representatives of a large family of hunting breeds, possessing, like other spaniels, a charming appearance, sincere devotion to the owner and a number of innate skills. To date, spaniels have ceased to be exclusively working dogs, and they make excellent companions, including fields. In Russia, this breed is quite rare, however, if you really want to make just such a four-legged friend, then you can find a purebred puppy.

Breed origin

The homeland of field spaniels is the United Kingdom. Initially, breeding work was aimed at obtaining dogs with a pure black color, with an improved exterior and stronger bones. But the result was not entirely successful - the Fields proved to be too heavy and elongated body. This was the reason why the breed was unpopular for a long time, losing to other varieties of spaniels.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the fields did not belong to a separate group and were derived along with the English Cocker — individuals that had larger parameters were recorded as field spaniels.

But thanks to the lovers of this variety, at the end of the 40s of the 20th century, an updated breed standard was approved on the basis of crossing fields with an English springer. Representatives of the breed do not have worldwide popularity, however, they gained distribution in their homeland, as well as in Belgium and France.

Description of the breed field spaniel

The appearance of a modern field spaniel is quite attractive - the dog is harmoniously complex, has a strong, muscular body, not without elegance. The dog has an article, a proud posture and a muscular, lean figure. The maximum height of males is 48 cm, body weight - from 17 to 23 kg, females are more miniature, but their weight according to the standard should exceed 12 kg. Appearance:

The field spaniel has an oval skull, the occiput is clearly visible. As for the transition from the frontal area to the face, it does not have a clear expression. The dog's muzzle is elongated, narrowed, with graceful contours, ends with a large nose with wide open nostrils, and there are flews. Its shape is somewhat reminiscent of a cocker face. Field is equipped with a full set of strong, white teeth, small-sized fangs.
The eyes have a deep landing, oval, almond-shaped, with a dark iris - brown, dark brown or black. Eye color depends on the color of the animal.
Hanging ears , planted low, covered with long, wavy hair, which makes them visually longer.
The neck has a beautiful bend, strong, muscular. The torso of a field spaniel is medium-sized, rather dense, of a sporty type, but at the same time elegant, with a straight, strong back and a taut belly line. The dog's chest is clearly expressed, of medium width.
The tail has a low landing, in a quiet state is lowered, but when the dog shows dominance, it rises up.
The limbs of the field spaniel are equipped with sturdy musculature, such as the shoulder girdle and thighs. The paws of the dog are tightly assembled, there are membranes between the fingers. The paws are compacted, with short black claws, also painted black.

Wool coat and colors

The coat of the field spaniel is single-layered, the hair is straight or has a slight wave. Due to its decent thickness and length, the coat is able to protect the animal in bad weather. It is silky to the touch, glitters, does not curl, there is no hard or felt.

In the abdomen and limbs there are luxurious feathering, but in dogs there is no excessively thick coat, especially in the area of the knee tendons. There are dogs with wool in the following colors:

black;
hepatic;
golden liver (tone from light to dark);
solid color or bicolor.

Spaniels with a bicolor coat color may have roach or spotted spots. In addition, there are individuals of the above colors with red markings.

Nature of field spaniels

A field spaniel is not a pet for the lazy. It is an active, positive dog, very mobile and reckless. In addition to goodwill and easy disposition, the fields have an external attractiveness, their expressive, sad eyes attract particular attention.

Like other representatives of hunting breeds, these dogs need regular active training, otherwise, a bored pet will be able to find entertainment on their own, and most often their consequences are deplorable.

Fieldy are very sociable animals, not one event will pass by them. In addition, they are very fond of the owner and family members. Such a pet can be taken with you on a journey, it carries the trip perfectly in various transport.

The dog of this breed is calm and, in comparison with other “hunters”, it is restrained. He starts to bark only if there is a reason, and his cautious attitude towards strangers makes the dog a vigilant watchman.

Fildy have high intelligence, they are balanced and devoid of aggression. The dog has hunting skills that it can successfully show in work, in the usual life the pet is friendly and contactable. The dog gets along quite well with his own kind, adores children. But other animals and birds for the spaniel will always remain possible prey.

Owners should take into account a number of nuances - the fields are independent, independent, they can sometimes be stubborn. Cautious at first, the dog gradually gets used to new people and animals, quickly making contact.

Despite the fact that Spaniels often lead up as companions, they do not cease to be hunting dogs with developed instincts. If you do not provide the dog with regular loads, the pet may begin to behave destructively and even declare a “boycott”.

You can hunt with a field spaniel in any locality. During the search for game, the dog uses a special technique, without losing contact with the owner. As soon as the dog discovers the game, he makes it rise into the air. The dog does an excellent job of fitting, it wears a prey that weighs more than the dog itself.

With the right approach, the field members make excellent companions, and with special training - excellent assistants to the hunter. Dogs are patient about people and animals, which makes dogs wonderful family pets.

Features of education and training

Future owners are warned that the dog does not grow timid or aggressive, he needs early socialization. It is better to deal with him as soon as possible, especially, and the puppy itself will not be away from participating in something useful and interesting.

Field spaniels are fairly easy to learn, however, their sensitivity and subtle, nervous nature require a special approach. During training, you cannot use harshness, physical punishment or negligent treatment. The dog must accept the owner as a leader, trust and respect his decisions.

The process of training should be consistent, built on trust and love. Working dogs very talented themselves during hunting, can also participate in search activities.

A field spaniel is a very intelligent dog who can quickly assimilate even complex commands. But the owner should exercise rigor and flexibility in the approach. It is better to start raising a puppy from the first day, then the owner will receive a pet, successful both in everyday life and in work.

Field is a hunter, so he can run past a cat or other animal while walking. Therefore you should not risk and be sure to drive the dog on a leash.

If the owner is not keen on hunting, then the dog will have enough to master a set of basic skills. But the field working spaniel will require periodic visits to training sessions, which are carried out with decoy birds. Such events help to determine the hunting qualities of the pet and reveal the potential of the dog.

How to maintain and care for a pet

The Field Spaniel is a versatile dog that is best suited for living in a country house, but if you give your pet the necessary load, then the dog will live well in the apartment. Dog hair requires simple, but regular care. It is enough to clean it 1-2 times a week, using a brush suitable for soft, long coat.

The ears of a dog deserve special attention; they must be periodically inspected and, if necessary, cleaned of dirt from a cotton pad. That they do not get dirty during feedings, it is recommended to fix them in the neck. Individuals of the show class have long hair between fingers, cut ears in auricles, and also make a haircut.

Some breeders believe that keeping a working spaniel in an apartment is unacceptable, and that only decorative varieties are suitable for this purpose. This opinion is connected with the fact that the permanent residence in the apartment pampers the animal, causing damage to its working qualities. In addition, the dog often falls ill, and its immunity becomes weakened.

However, year-round living in outdoor conditions is also not suitable for field spaniels, as the coat is not able to protect the dog from the fierce cold. It is best to provide a pet with a spacious enclosure with a warmed booth and a comfortable lounger in the house.

How to feed a field spaniel

An adult dog must be fed twice a day, not forgetting to provide the pet with fresh clean water around the clock. The owner has two options - to give the dog production feed or natural products.

In the first case, the diet should be of high quality - premium or super premium class and suitable for active dogs of medium size. In the second, the owner is faced with a more difficult task - to create a balanced menu, including healthy food for animals. Usually, when feeding “naturalkoy”, the dog needs additional vitamin-mineral supplements.

If puppies need a large amount of protein in order to fully provide a growing body with this building material, then an adult dog will need, on average, 30 g of this component per kilogram of weight.

The basis of the diet is meat and offal - they should make up about 50% of the total diet. It is mixed with porridge or vegetables. Meat can be given both in boiled and raw form, and offal requires mandatory pre-cooking. Dog is recommended to give a scar - raw or scalded with boiling water.

To improve the dog's digestion, it is recommended to add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and chopped greens to food. A puppy can be given milk, but in the diet of an adult dog it is better to include dairy products — cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir, ryazhenka, etc. But they should not be given more than 2 times a week.

A serving of food for an adult dog per day is calculated as follows - 50 grams per kilogram of weight. But this is an average figure, since everything depends on the quality of products, their ratio, dog activity, age and other factors.

You should not make a pet ration only from meat products, it will overload the dog's kidneys, prematurely wearing out the body. Also, do not give the dog a soup, the food should be pasty. Spaniels are fed after walking, otherwise there is a risk of intestinal twisting.

Breed diseases

If you compare the field spaniel with other breeds of dogs, they have good health. However, the development of a number of diseases that fields have a tendency is possible here:

joint dysplasia - hip or elbow;
hypothyroidism - disorders of the thyroid gland;
diseases of the cardiovascular system;
diseases of the ears caused by infectious pathogens;
eye pathologies;
oncological diseases;
Cushing's syndrome;
arthritis.

Allergic reaction is also possible.

Photo field spaniel

Field Spaniel Video

Where better to buy a puppy

The acquisition of a Spaniel dog is a serious task, and as for the Field Spaniel, it is rather complicated, since in Russia this breed is still quite rare. First of all, it is important for the future owner to decide whether he needs a working pet or whether the dog is started up only as a companion. In addition, special requirements are imposed not only on hunting dogs, but also on dogs that are to participate in exhibitions.

It is recommended to take the dog for hunting from working parents, these puppies have better fixed hunting skills, they are easier to learn a special program and show themselves well in work. A show-class puppy must fully comply with the standard, because even the slightest deviation can complicate a career and reduce grades and performance.

Experts do not recommend buying a puppy at the flea market or from casual breeders - there is a risk to get a half-breed, an animal with genetic diseases or unsuitable for hunting. In addition, in this case, the sellers do not give any guarantees.

It is advisable to contact the nursery or an experienced breeder who knows the characteristics of breeding field spaniels and offers for sale puppies with documents. Such a seller not only cares about his own reputation, but is also able to give the new puppy owner the necessary recommendations. The cost of field spaniel puppies with pedigree varies from 10,000 to 15,000 rubles.

A field spaniel is a good-natured, beautiful dog with all the necessary skills of a hunter and companion. But this pet is not for everyone - the field needs a mandatory daily load in order to feel good not only physically, but also emotionally. The owner, who will find a common language with his pet, will receive a loyal friend and helper.