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