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Animal register · DogIn the app

English Springer Spaniel

Springer Spaniel, Springer, ESS

The English Springer Spaniel comes from Great Britain, where it was bred to find, flush and retrieve game. The Kennel Club standard describes a symmetrically built, compact, strong, merry and active dog — the highest on the leg of the British land spaniels — with a friendly, happy, biddable temperament, long feathered ears, dark hazel eyes and a close, straight, weather-resisting coat; the colours are liver and white or black and white, either with tan markings, and the approximate height is 51 cm. PetPrep draws it liver and white, with a natural tail.

The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than 2 hours of exercise a day and grooming more than once a week, and gives its lifespan as over 10 years. The PDSA says Springers make good family dogs that get along well with children and other household pets, are obedient and keen to learn, and need grooming once or twice a week plus clipping every 3 months. The AKC adds that they should not be left alone for long periods and that early socialisation and puppy training courses are key.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

English Springer Spaniel — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
medium — The Royal Kennel Club S284
Adult weight
males 18–23 kg, females 18–23 kg — PDSA S285
Daily exercise
more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S284
Brushing
more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S284
Shedding
sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S284
Lifespan
median 13.5 years — Dogs Trust S123; more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S284

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

Keep in mind:

  • needs lots of exercise every dayS284S285
  • loves company — best with someone home most of the dayS286
  • shedsS284
  • needs brushing several times a weekS284S285

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S284

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S284
  • Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S284
  • Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S284

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: median 13.5 years — Dogs Trust S123
  • Lifespan: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S284

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 12–15 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: medium — The Royal Kennel Club S284
  • Height at the withers: males 51 cm, females 51 cm — The Kennel Club S282
  • Adult weight: males 18–23 kg, females 18–23 kg — PDSA S285

Training

  • No. 13 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 125, group 8 (retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs); origin: Great Britain. — FCI S281

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does an English Springer Spaniel need?

According to our sources, the English Springer Spaniel needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S284.

How long does an English Springer Spaniel live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the English Springer Spaniel is: median 13.5 years — Dogs Trust S123; more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S284. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.

How big does an English Springer Spaniel get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the English Springer Spaniel, according to our sources: Size: medium — The Royal Kennel Club S284; Adult weight: males 18–23 kg, females 18–23 kg — PDSA S285.

How much grooming does an English Springer Spaniel need?

Coat and grooming of the English Springer Spaniel, according to our sources: Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S284; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S284; Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S284.

Who is the English Springer Spaniel a good fit for?

Our sources describe the English Springer Spaniel as a good fit for: an active family — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA, American Kennel Club S284S285S286; family life — PDSA S285; families with children — PDSA S285; homes with other pets — PDSA S285. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S284S285; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — American Kennel Club S286; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S284; needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S284S285.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12
Young dogmonth 929,000 → 12,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)212,000 steps
Seniormonth 122 (10.2 years)29,000 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands 1.5× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 122 (10.2 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing twice a week.
  • Care: a visit to the groomer every 12 weeks — a reminder for the parent.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, PDSA S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S123S284S285

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. — PDSA S285
  • Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, occurs in the breed; DNA tests and eye testing are available. — PDSA S285
  • Ear infections can occur because of the long ears; bacteria can build up in the ear canal. — PDSA S285

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum

  • Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S284
  • Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S284
  • Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S284

Further tests for best practice

  • DNA test for acral mutilation syndrome (AMS), a nerve disorder that takes away pain feeling in the paws — The Royal Kennel Club S284
  • DNA test for dyserythropoietic anaemia and myopathy syndrome (DAMS), a blood and muscle disorder — The Royal Kennel Club S284
  • DNA test for fucosidosis, an inherited disease of the nervous system — The Royal Kennel Club S284
  • DNA test for phosphofructokinase deficiency (PFK), an inherited enzyme disorder of the blood and muscles — The Royal Kennel Club S284
  • DNA test for progressive retinal atrophy (PRA cord1) — The Royal Kennel Club S284

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S123Dogs Trust (UK) — Life expectancy for 155 breeds and crossbred group (table of McMillan et al. 2024 data) (PDF)https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/downloads/life-expectancy-breeds-table-2024.pdf
  11. S281FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL (125)https://www.fci.be/EN/nomenclature/ENGLISH-SPRINGER-SPANIEL-125.html
  12. S282The Kennel Club (UK) breed standard, hosted by KUSA — Spaniel (English Springer) — KC [01-2026] (PDF)https://www.kusa.co.za/images/breed%20stds%20djaki/Spaniel%20(English%20Springer
  13. S284The Royal Kennel Club — Spaniel (English Springer) — breed information page (Breeds A to Z, older address)https://thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=2053
  14. S285PDSA — English Springer Spaniel breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/medium-dogs/english-springer-spaniel
  15. S286American Kennel Club — Micaela Erickson (published 2025-03-20) — Is the English Springer Spaniel a Good Fit for You?https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/english-springer-spaniel-right-fit-for-you/
  16. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  17. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  18. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  19. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  20. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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