| Size at withers | 43–51 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 25–39 kg |
| Life expectancy | 10–12 years |
| Size class | Large (25–40 kg) |
| Normal resting vitals | Heart rate 60–110 bpm · Respiration 10–30/min · Temperature 38.3–39.2 °C |
| Coat | Dense, straight, feathered coat |
| Temperament | Steady, dignified, family-affectionate |
| Common health issues | Hip dysplasia; entropion; ectropion; ear infections; intervertebral disc disease |
| Exercise needs | Moderate |
| Climate & housing suitability | Moderately adaptable, though its heavy build calls for care in the heat. |
| Owner notes | The heaviest spaniel. |
Origin and purpose
Sporting (AKC). Origin: England.
The heaviest spaniel.
What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the owner's job is to give it somewhere to go.
Temperament and training
Stated temperament: Steady, dignified, family-affectionate
Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.
Conditions this breed is predisposed to
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
Ectropion
Entropion
Hip dysplasia
Otitis externa (ear canal inflammation)
Health screening — what to test, and when
| Screen for | Test | When |
|---|---|---|
| Ectropion | Eye examination | Annually |
| Entropion | Eye examination | Annually |
| Hip dysplasia | Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring) | Once at 12–24 months; earlier if lame |
| Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) | DNA test for the chondrodystrophy variant; imaging if signs appear | DNA once; imaging urgently on any back pain or hind-limb weakness |
| Otitis externa (ear canal inflammation) | Ear examination (otoscopy), and cytology of any discharge | At every annual visit; on any head-shaking, odour, or scratching |
Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.
For breeders — test before you mate
- Ectropion — Eye examination
- Entropion — Eye examination
- Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — DNA test for the chondrodystrophy variant; imaging if signs appear
Feeding
Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.
Exercise and enrichment
Stated requirement: Moderate
Moderate daily exercise plus mental stimulation. Adaptable to apartment life provided the daily walk actually happens every day.
Coat and grooming
Dense, straight, feathered coat. Brush 3× weekly.
Climate and living conditions
Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable, though its heavy build calls for care in the heat.
Ageing and senior care
Life expectancy: 10–12 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. Senior care →
Before you take one home
- Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
- Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.
