The Field Spaniel is a moderately built, medium-sized British gundog — about 17-18 inches at the shoulder and 35-50 pounds — and it is genuinely rare, which is the first thing a prospective owner has to reckon with. Low numbers mean a smaller gene pool, fewer breeders, longer waitlists, and a real obligation to vet health testing carefully, because there is less margin for error than in a popular breed. This is a close cousin of the Cocker and Springer Spaniel, bred to flush and retrieve game, with a calmer, more deliberate working style than the Springer's busy intensity. Temperament is the breed's strongest selling point and its main caution at once. Field Spaniels are sweet, devoted, and notably sensitive — they bond closely, read household tension, and respond to soft, consistent handling. Harsh corrections backfire badly; this is not a dog that tolerates heavy-handed training. They are typically good with children and other animals when socialized, more independent than a Cocker but still people-oriented to the point that they do poorly left alone for long workdays, where they are prone to separation distress. They are working spaniels, so they need real exercise and a job for their nose, not just yard time. Who the Field Spaniel is right for: a patient owner who wants a moderate-energy, affectionate gundog or active companion, can offer daily exercise plus mental work, will use reward-based training, and is prepared to research health testing in a small gene pool. Who it is wrong for: someone wanting a low-maintenance dog who is fine alone all day, or who trains with corrections and pressure — both fail this breed on its own terms.
Life Span
12–13 years
Weight
16–23 kg
Height
43–46 cm
moderate
Exercise
moderate
Grooming
moderate
Shedding
Yes
Good with Kids
Yes
Good with Pets
Friendly
Apartment
The Field Spaniel was developed in 19th-century England out of the same land-spaniel stock that produced the Cocker and Springer Spaniels — in the early days, spaniels were divided by working size from a single litter rather than by breed, with smaller dogs called Cockers and larger ones Field or Springer types. As the show fancy took hold in the late 1800s, breeders selected the Field Spaniel toward an exaggerated long, low, heavy body that dama…
Field Spaniel dog breed portrait
The Field Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Group.
The average lifespan of a Field Spaniel is 12 to 13 years.
Field Spaniel dogs are valued for their sweet, fun-loving, sensitive nature.
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An adult Field Spaniel needs 60+ minutes of real exercise daily — brisk walks, retrieving games, swimming, or fieldwork — plus scent and training games, because this is a working gundog and an under-exercised one becomes anxious and destructive rather than calm. Companionship: build your routine around the fact that Field Spaniels do not cope well with long isolation. They are prone to separation distress, so a household where someone is home much of the day, or a serious plan for enrichment and gradual alone-time training, is close to a requirement, not a nicety. Coat and ears: the moderately long, feathered coat needs brushing 2-3 times a week and trimming every couple of months to control feathering and prevent mats behind the ears, on the legs, and on the belly. The long, low-set ears trap moisture and are a recurring ear-infection risk — check and dry them weekly, more after swimming, and learn to spot early redness or odor before it becomes a costly infection. Weight and joints: keep the dog lean. Excess weight directly accelerates hip dysplasia, this breed's most common orthopedic problem; feed measured meals and keep a visible waist. Training: reward-based only. A sensitive spaniel shuts down or grows anxious under harsh correction, so short, positive sessions started early produce a far more reliable adult. Decision rule: if a Field Spaniel rubs its face, squints, or has a red, runny, or odorous eye or ear, book a vet promptly — this breed's inherited eyelid faults (ectropion/entropion) and ear conformation turn 'wait and see' into corneal damage or chronic infection.
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Field Spaniel Care Guide
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