The Development of the Field Spaniel
by Becki Jo Wolkenheim-Hirschy
© 1997 - 2000 All Rights Reserved

The Field Spaniel was envisioned by the earliest developers as a solid black spaniel. This was at a time when solid black spaniels were not preferred by sportsmen. For strictly working purposes, spaniels with patches of white in the coat were easier to identify when working the field. Thus, the question must be posed, "if there were already plenty of spaniels to work for hunters, why was there a need for a new spaniel breed?" One explanation theorizes that the emergence of the dog show may have been a compelling reason behind the initial effort to develop the Field Spaniel as a separate and distinct spaniel breed. History shows that the more or less formal version of the dog show came into being at about the same time as the emergence of the Field Spaniel as a breed. A large, solid black spaniel may well have been thought to be a way to win the approval of judges. Even today, many fanciers share the goal of those who developed the breed: to produce a typey, sound Field Spaniel that can win in the show ring, yet work in the field; a versatile companion ideally suited for many activities.

The modern Field Spaniel owes his foundations to dogs of unremarkable lineage who were intertwined with the foundations of other spaniel breeds. Spaniels were often classified as either "Land" or "Water" spaniels. Those spaniels classified as Land Spaniels were equally as often called Field Spaniels. Of particular interest is the link between the Field Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel; until 1901, the two breeds were divided primarily by weight with solid-colored animals larger than 25 pounds recorded as Field Spaniels while those smaller than 25 pounds were recorded as English Cocker Spaniels.

Following the initial development as a separate breed of spaniel, the Field Spaniel as a breed met with near disastrous continued development by fanciers as the breed evolved into a dog so long and so low as to be virtually useless in performing the tasks of a gundog. This development of type removed the Field Spaniel far away from the original visions of the early developers. The general public was not impressed and turned away from this lovely utilitarian breed. The Field Spaniel has never again regained its' original popularity. The extreme version of the breed which contributed heavily to near extinction of the Field Spaniel was of a type that was very long with crooked, short legs, a beautiful yet heavy head, and excessive feather.

These physical traits were the result of outcrosses, most notably to the Sussex Spaniel. Evidence also exists for the introduction of Basset Hound in approximately 1880. This produced a dog that was shorter on leg while longer in body. It has been suggested that show ring wins by the longer and lower type of Field Spaniel contributed to the further development of that type. However, another theory also exists. At the time, sportsmen believed that a spaniel with shorter legs would work thick cover more effectively than one with relatively longer legs while also slower of pace, working closer to the hunter and thus easier for the foot hunter to follow. Regardless of the reasons for the development of exaggerated type, the breed went into a decline thought to be a direct result of the extreme appearance of the breed.

Luckily, the Field Spaniel was rescued by fanciers who had the good sense to reflect upon the original type envisioned by the developers of the breed. As a result, outcrosses to the English Springer Spaniel were made to restore a more upstanding type of dog. All modern Field Spaniels descent directly from two dogs and two bitches. All but one of these trace directly to the last outcross made in the 1950s to the English Springer Spaniel. These Field Spaniels were: Ronayne Regal and Gormac Teal, littermates of the black coat color, whelped in 1962; Columbina of Teffont, a black bitch whelped in 1957; and Elmbury Morwenna of Rhiwlas, a liver color bitch whelped in 1963.

The Field Spaniel in the United States

In 1894, a liver-colored dog names Coleshill Rufus became the first Field Spaniel registered by the American Kennel Club. However, the intial introduction of the Field Spaniel in the U.S. was not long lived. The breed went into a decline following a fire that destroyed a prominent kennel in 1909. The last Champion Field Spaniel of the early introduction of the breed into America was recorded by the American Kennel Club in 1916. It would be over 50 years before another Champion would be recorded. The last registration of the initial beginnings of the breed was recorded in 1930; the next registration would not be recorded until the late 1960s when three imported Field Spaniels were brought into the U.S. to re-establish the breed from the small amount of stock remaining in England.

The modern re-birth of the Field Spaniel in the U.S. began in the homeland of the breed in December 1966. Three of this litter were imported to America in 1967 to form the base of the breed in America. These Fields were: "Mac" (CH Pilgrim of Mittina) and "Twiggy" (CH Flowering May of Mittina), owned by Richard and Doris Squier (Squier's Kennels) of Randolph, Ohio; and "Brig" (CH Brigadier of Mittina) owned by P. Carl Tuttle (Gunhill Kennels) of Rectorville, Virginia. All were bred by Mrs. A.M. Jones, MBE of England (Mittina Kennels) and were liver in color. Even today, you may see the names of these original imports in extended pedigrees of Field Spaniels in the U.S.