18 Spaniel Breeds you Should Know About
Spaniels come in a wide range of shapes and sizes from little toy breeds to energetic sporting dogs, they are quite a varied group and span many different types of dogs. In this article, we will run over the top 18 Spaniel breeds you should know about. If you are looking to learn about the different types of Spaniels or even considering which would be the new addition to your family. If this sounds interesting, read on to see how much of a diverse group of dogs Spaniels are. The English Cocker Spaniel is one of the most popular of all the types of Spaniels, and for very good reason. Their cheerful disposition and loving personality make them a wonderful addition to any family. English Cockers are great with young families and other dogs and always seek affection. They pretty much treat everyone like a friend which does take them off the list of good guard dogs. English Cocker Spaniels are very lively dogs and embody the kind and energetic nature which is associated with this family of dogs. Cocker Spaniels were bred to be hunting dogs are were very skilled at hunting a bird called the Woodcock, this is actually where they got their name from. Breed Overview English Cocker Spaniel Breed Information The American Cocker Spaniel is a smaller relative of the English Cocker, but no less spirited. They are a favourite of many dog owners and have many endearing qualities that earn their high position in the AKC breed rankings. American Cockers are very affectionate, loyal, and always keen to play. They make great family pets and are great with smaller children and fellow dogs. They also have that keen Spaniel intellect that you'd expect making them very easy to train. This breed is known for having coats that require a lot of maintenance so they do require regular upkeep of their coats. Breed Overview American Cocker Spaniel Breed Information The English Springer Spaniel is actually one of the most popular of all Spaniel breeds ranking 26th in popularity. They are known for being very energetic dogs who never really run out of energy. An English Springer can go for hours at a time without losing a beat. Along with being one of the most popular dogs English Springer Spaniels are also one of the smartest and are the 13th smartest breed. Originally Springers were bred to be hunting dogs and this is actually where they go their name from as they made birds 'spring' out of their hiding places for hunters to shoot. Apart from their history of chasing prey English Springer Spaniels are also brilliant companion dogs. They thrive around people and love spending time with their families with older families. Most Springers are a bit too energetic for young kids, no bad intentions, just a bit too excitable. Breed Overview The Welsh Springer Spaniel is very similar to the English Springer with a few key differences. First visually they are a bit smaller and only come in one coat colour which is red and white. They are also not quite as popular as their English counterpart coming in at 126th. That said, they are very kind, affectionate, and a bit more relaxed than the English Springer. You'll find the Welsh Springer Spaniel is a bit less keen on the outdoors. Welsh Springers are quite weary of strangers and like to keep to their families. Breed Overview The English Toy Spaniel is one of the smallest Spaniel breeds on the list weighing only 6.5kg at most! While very small this little dog makes up for it with their big heart. There is no shortage of love and cuddles if you have an English Toy Spaniel around making them one of the best companion dogs. Unlike many of the other Spaniel breeds on this list, the English Toy Spaniel was not bred as a working dog. Given this, it won't come as a surprise that they get full marks for affection, being playful, and being good with children, even younger ones. They also get along well with other animals. Breed Overview The Field Spaniel is a close relative of the Cocker and Springer Spaniel and shares their ability for hunting birds. This sporting dog hails from England and is still a popular working dog. This breed has become even more popular in the past few years and is ranked #136 on AKC's top breed list. They are very energetic dogs who are known to be as keen to play as they are to work. Field Spaniels make great companions and are brilliant with young children and families alike. They are also very good with younger children, though make sure it is supervised. Unsurprisingly, the Field Spaniel is a smart dog who is highly trainable. From basic obedience training to entering your dog into competitive sports this Spaniel will do a great job. Breed Overview The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is another breed that was intended for companionship over work. Historically it was very popular with royalty. The appeal of the King Charles Spaniel can't be understated as they are the most popular Spaniel breed proudly placed 15th out of all breeds. An impressive achievement and a testament to what great family dogs they are. Where the King Charles Spaniel excels is affection. They deeply love their family and always look to spend time cuddling with their favourite humans. Cavaliers are brilliant with kids of all ages, with proper precautions, of course, and get along with other dogs too. If you are looking for a companion dog you will have a hard time finding a better option. Breed Overview The Boykin Spaniel is another dog breed known for being a skilled hunting dog that is talented at retrieving a wide range of game from environments such as marshy land or lakes. They originate from the United States, specifically South Carolina and are not so prevalent outside of the US so if you are looking for this breed in the UK it may be a challenge to find one. A Boykin's coat is always a beautiful brown colour that does vary somewhere between rich chocolate to liver. One of the many remarkable traits of this Spaniel. Even though they were bred as working dogs a Boykin Spaniel still makes a brilliant family pet. They are great with children thanks to their gentle and playful nature. That gentle nature also means a Boykin will respond best to positive reinforcement when training. As a sporting dog, this type of Spaniel does need a very outdoorsy family who can offer a lot of time outside. Boykin's do love water so trips to a lake or beach will always go down well. Breed Overview Brittany Spaniels are a highly-intelligent Sporting dog breed that came from French hunters and is now loved by canine enthusiasts all over the world. They are very energetic dogs who need a lot of exercise to stay in good shape, this is definitely a breed reserved for very active people. A Brittany Spaniel can make a good family dog but isn't the most affectionate dog on this list. Due to their keen minds, a Brittany is very easy to train even for more complex tasks or dog sports such as agility or flyball, but they will need a lot of mental stimulation. No matter what activity you are up for a Brittany will definitely be keen to join! Quite interestingly the AKC actually removed "Spaniel" from the Brittany's name in 1982, though you can still see from the picture they have that real Spaniel vibe about them. There was some suggestion that they were closer to pointers. Breed Overview The Clumber Spaniel is one of the largest dogs on this list weighing up to 38kg as adults, more than double the weight of some of the other Spaniels! Even though these dogs are much larger they are still hunting dogs Clumbers are quick on their feet and great at pushing through thick bushes after prey. This breed of Spaniel is far calmer than many of their more energetic relatives and tends to prefer to relax at home with their family. If you are considering a Clumber Spaniel one thing you'll need to watch out for is drooling, you'll be cleaning that up a lot! Clumber Spaniels are always white and could have orange or lemon markings which when coupled with their distinct body shape makes them easy to identify. They are one of the least popular Spaniels on this list and are currently ranked 149th in AKC's breed popularity rankings. Breed Overview The American Water Spaniel is another dog breed that originates from America, this time in the Great Lakes region. They are quite a rare breed of Spaniel but are still brilliant dogs if you can find one. This Spaniel is related to the Irish Water Spaniel, though they are a bit smaller, but no less eager to please! Like many of the other Spaniel breeds featured in this article, the American Water Spaniel was bred to hunt. They are very effective at tracking down birds and have near limitless energy. This makes this dog a brilliant addition to your family but only if you have quite an outdoorsy family as these dogs need a lot of exercise, at least a few hours a day. Breed Overview The Irish Water Spaniel is the other water Spaniel to make the list. It is quite a bit larger than its American relative but does share quite a few qualities with its high energy and great ability as a hunting dog. It has also been referred to as the "rat tail Spaniel" due to the lack of hair on its tail. Quite a distinctive feature and a very easy way to tell it apart along with its curly coat. An Irish Water Spaniels coat is always liver too. Apart from its impressive work ethic and athletic ability, this breed of Spaniels are also very friendly dogs who thrive in family environments. They are great with older children and score top marks for affection. Like most other Spaniels, the Irish Water Spaniel is a smart dog and will be very easy to train, of course, this does come with a strong need for mental stimulation. Breed Overview The Sussex Spaniel is one of the smaller breeds in this classification of dogs. It originated in Sussex in England, which is where it got its name. Despite their smaller stature and longer, lower bodies the Sussex Spaniel was also bred to hunt. They had a more unique quirk for hunting as they bark to alert hunters to the location of prey. These Spaniels are very affectionate and make brilliant family dogs. They will do well with younger children if introduced carefully. You will find the Sussex Spaniel to be quite playful, very adaptable, and has a beautiful golden liver coat. There was a point where Sussex Spaniels were almost extinct with only seven known to exist in 1945. From that point, they have made a strong comeback and are now ranked 177th by AKC, not bad for a dog breed that was almost extinct! Breed Overview The Russian Spaniel is a breed of Spaniel that came into its own during WW2 in the Soviet Union. Their physical appearance has similarities with the English Springer Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel. This breed is also known for its high prey drive associated with hunting dogs and is very energetic. Similar to many other Spaniel breeds the Russian Spaniel brings a very friendly, smart, positive outlook and has a very playful nature that makes them great fun to have around. It is quite hard to find a Russian Spaniel puppy if you were looking for one. Outside of Russia, they tend to be most popular in Canada, but you may get lucky and find one in the UK or USA. Also, it's worth mentioning that this breed of Spaniel is not recognised by the American Kennel Club. Breed Overview The French Spaniel the second Spaniel breed that originated in France. It's a medium-sized dog which is very athletic and highly sociable. French Spaniels are very affectionate and get along very well with people, small children, and other dogs. Basically, everyone is a friend when it comes to a French Spaniel, perhaps not the best guard dog! They also have that keen Spaniel intelligence that makes training a breeze. Another Spaniel that excels at dog sports. This breed also came close to being extinct at one point around the 1900s. But thanks to the efforts of some French Spaniel enthusiasts this breed is still around today. Breed Overview The Picardy Spaniel is another French Spaniel breed that was developed to be a gun dog. Currently, this Spaniel is not recognised by the AKC or UK Kennel Club. It has a relaxed temperament and strong loyalty to its owners. Picardy's are very close to their families and get along very well with children. They do suffer quite easily from separation anxiety if left alone too long though. Physically they share many traits with English Springers with their natural hunting instincts, you'll need an active lifestyle if you plan to have one of these Spaniels. Breed Overview While its name might be hard to pronounce for English speakers and it might not be immediately clear as a Spaniel, the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is in fact a member of the Spaniel family. Visually this breed looks quite similar to the English Springer Spaniel with an athletic figure but it only comes in one coat colour which is red and white. This sporting breed is from Holland and are keen hunting dogs. Mostly for birds such as ducks like many other Spaniels. Being originally bred as hunting dogs Nederlandse Kooikerhondje have a lot of energy, something you will need to consider if you were to consider taking this breed home. It can be quite tricky to find this dog, it is one of the rarer Spaniel breeds we've covered. Breed Overview The Papillon is another secret Spaniel with a name that doesn't give it away and doesn't have those floppy ears that commonly identifies Spaniel breeds. Papillon's used to have ears that dropped down the side of their heads before but were then bred to have more perky, upright ears instead. This just helped to further disguise these Spaniels. This breed is the only Toy Spaniel to make the list and is sometimes referred to as a "Continental Toy Spaniel". Papillons are the smallest Spaniel but by no means the quietest. They are very vocal dogs and have a lot of energy. And possibly a dash of small dog syndrome. You will have a great guard dog though as long as nobody sees your dog. Papillons are also very eager to please and very smart dogs, a very common trait in Spaniel breeds. If you are looking for a family dog the Papillon is a solid pick. They are great with kids always looking to play. Breed Overview Now that you have a good idea of the variety of Spaniel breeds which exist we are covering some of the most common questions people have. The smallest Spaniel breeds are all in the toy dogs category. This includes the English Toy Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Papillon who all weigh between 2.2 and 8kg max. While none of the types of Spaniels we have talked about would be regarded as 'calm' there are a few that could be a bit less energetic than others. These are: I would say any of these dog breeds make great additions to a family. If you are looking for which one to pick consider the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel because their great nature and how well they get along with young kids. Going the be American Kennel Clubs popularity rankings for all dog breeds the most popular Spaniel is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at 15th closely followed by the English Springer Spaniel in 26th. Using the AKC's breed popularity rankings as a way to measure the least popular Spaniel we can say that the Sussex Spaniel is the least popular ranked 177th followed by the American and Irish Water Spaniels in the 165 and 166th spots. No, while most Spaniels do belong to the sporting dogs category there are three toy dogs which are the Papillon, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and English Toy Spaniel and one foundation stock service dog. And there you have it, all 18 types of Spaniel you should know about. Although they may look quite different these dogs share many qualities such as a kind, playful nature, readiness to please their owners, and high energy levels. There is nothing quite like a Spaniel to brighten your day! I know I certainly won't be looking out of this group of dogs when getting another dog! Hopefully this article has been helpful and you've discovered a few new Spaniels you've not heard of before, there are certainly a few curveballs on this list.
English Cocker Spaniel
American Cocker Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
English Toy Spaniel
Field Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Boykin Spaniel
Brittany Spaniel
Clumber Spaniel
American Water Spaniel
Irish Water Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel
Russian Spaniel
French Spaniel
Picardy Spaniel
Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
Papillon
FAQ's
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Conclusion
Hi, my name is Allan! I am the owner of Spaniel Advisor and I've got over seven years experience of owning Spaniels.
I hope this article was helpful for you!