Do not run away with the idea though that the breed is a paragon of virtue, the breed standard states "Symmetrically built, compact, strong, merry, active. Highest on the leg and raciest in build of all British land Spaniels". Strong, merry and active are three important words here and it should be remembered that this is a breed that was developed to work, therefore Springers benefit from being trained, be it for a formal discipline or merely to take its place in the family home. All puppies need time and patience and Springers need as much as any other, perhaps a little more than some of the less energetic breeds, but they will reward you with love and devotion, not to mention a great deal of fun, if you give them the right grounding. They are equally well suited to living in the town or country providing that you have a well fenced garden and once they are grown, the time to exercise them both in body and mind. As with any other breed of dog English Springer Spaniels are not recommended to anyone who is planning to be out all day leaving the dog on its own; dogs are pack animals and therefore do not take kindly to solitary confinement.

Breed Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE	Symmetrically built, compact, strong, merry, active. Highest on leg and raciest in build of all British land Spaniels.
CHARACTERISTICS	Breed is of ancient and pure origins, oldest of sporting gundogs, original purpose was finding and springing game for net, falcon or greyhound. Now used to find, flush and retrieve game for gun
TEMPERAMENT	Friendly, happy disposition, biddable. Timidity or aggression highly undesirable
HEAD AND SKULL	Skull of medium length, fairly broad, slightly rounded, rising from foreface, making a brow or stop, divided by fluting between the eyes, dying away along forehead towards occiputal bone which should not be prominent. Cheeks flat. Foreface of proportionate length to skull, fairly broad and deep, well chiselled below eyes, fairly deep and square in flew. Nostrils well developed.
EYES	Medium size, almond shaped, not prominent nor sunken, well set in (not showing haw); alert, kind expression. Dark hazel. Light eyes undesirable
EARS	Lobular, good length and width, fairly close to head, set in line with eye. Nicely 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	Good length, strong and muscular, free from throatiness, slightly arched, tapering towards head
FOREQUARTERS	Forelegs straight and well boned. Shoulders sloping and well laid. Elbows set well to body. Strong flexible pasterns.
BODY	Strong, neither too long nor too short. Chest deep, well developed. Well sprung ribs. Loin muscular, strong with slight arch and well coupled
HINDQUARTERS	Hindlegs well let down. Stifles and hocks moderately bent. Thighs broad, muscular, well developed. Coarse hocks undesirable.
FEET	Tight, compact, well rounded, with strong full pads.
TAIL	Set low, never carried above level of back. Well feathered with lively action. Customarily docked. Docked: Set low, never carried above level of back. Well feathered with lively action. Undocked: Set low, never carried above level of back. Well feathered with lively action. In balance with the rest of the dog.
GAIT / MOVEMENT	Strictly his own. Forelegs swing straight forward from the shoulder, throwing the feet well forward in an easy free manner. Hocks driving well under body, following in line with forelegs. At slow movement may have a pacing stride typical of this breed.
COAT	Close, straight and weather resisting, never coarse. Moderate feathering on ears, forelegs, body and hindquarters
COLOUR	Liver and white, black and white, or either of these colours with tan markings.
SIZE	Approximate height: 51 cms (20 ins).
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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog
NOTE	Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully decended into the scrotum