ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL

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 fun.

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 eyes, dying away along forehead towards occipital 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. Preferably docked.

GAIT/MOVEMENT: Strictly his own. Forelegs swing straight forward from shoulder, throwing 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: Height: approx. 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.

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

WELSH SPRINGER SPANIEL

ORIGIN: Great Britain

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Symmetrical, compact, not leggy obviously built for endurance and hard work. Quick and active mover, displaying plenty of push and drive.

CHARACTERISTICS: Very ancient and distinct breed of pure origin. Strong, merry and very active.

TEMPERAMENT: Kindly disposition, not showing aggression or nervousness.

HEAD & SKULL: Skull of proportinate length, slightly domed, clearly defined stop, well chiselled below eyes. Muzzle of medium length, straight, fairly square. Nostrils well developed, brown to dark.

EYES: Hazel or dark, medium size, not prominent, nor sunken, nor showing haw.

EARS: Set moderately low and hanging close to cheeks. Comparatively small and gradually narrowing towards tip and shaped somewhat like a vine leaf.

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

NECK: Long, muscular, clean in throat, neatly set into sloping shoulders.

FOREQUARTERS: Forelegs of medium length, straight, well boned.

BODY: Not long, strong and muscular. Deep bisket, well sprung ribs. Length of body should be proportionate to length of leg. Loin muscular and slightly arched. Well coupled.

HINDQUARTERS: Stong and muscular, wide and fully developed with deep second thighs. Hindlegs well boned, hocks well let down, stifles moderately angled, neither turning in nor out.

FEET: Round, with thick pads. Firm and cat like, not large or spreading.

TAIL: Well set on and low, never carried above level of back, customarily docked. Lively in action.

GAIT/MOVEMENT: Smooth, powerful, ground covering action; driving from rear.

COAT: Straight or flat, silky texture, dense, never wiry or wavy. Curly coat highly undesirable. Forelegs and hindlegs above hocks moderately feathered, ears and tail lightly feathered.

COLOUR: Rich red and white only.

SIZE: Approximate height: Dogs 48 cms (19 ins) at withers. Bitches 46 cms (18 ins) at withers.

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 is degree.

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