Field Spaniel Breed Standard
As Published By The American Kennel Club
General Appearance
The Field Spaniel is a combination of beauty and utility. It is a well balanced, substantial hunter-companion of medium size, built for activity and endurance in heavy cover and water. It has a noble carriage; a proud but docile attitude; is sound and free-moving. Symmetry, gait, attitude and purpose are more important than any one part.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Balance between these three components is essential. Size-Ideal height for mature adults at the withers is 18 inches for dogs and 17 inches for bitches. A one-inch deviation either way is acceptable.
Proportion-A well balanced dog, somewhat longer than tall. The ratio of length to height is approximately 7:6. (Length is measured on a level from the foremost point of the shoulder to the rearmost point of the buttocks.) Substance-Solidly built, with moderate bone, and firm smooth muscles.
Head
Conveys the impression of high breeding, character and nobility, and must be in proportion to the size of the dog.
Expression Grave, gentle and intelligent.
Eyes - Almond in shape, open, and of medium size; set moderately wide and deep.
Color - Dark hazel to dark brown. The lids are tight and show no haw; rims comparable to nose in color.
Ears - Moderately long (reaching the end of the muzzle) and wide. Set on slightly below eye level; pendulous, hanging close to the head; rolled and well feathered. Leather is moderately heavy, supple, and rounded at the tip.
Skull - The crown is slightly wider at the back than at the brow and lightly arched laterally; sides and cheeks are straight and clean. The occiput is distinct and rounded. Brows are slightly raised. The stop is moderate, but well-defined by the brows. The face is chiselled beneath the eyes.
Muzzle - Strong, long and lean; neither snipy nor squarely cut. The nasal bone is straight and slightly divergent from the plane of the top skull. In profile, the lower plane curves gradually from nose to throat. Jaws are level.
Nose - Large, fleshy and well developed with open nostrils. Set on as an extension of the muzzle. Color: solid; light to dark brown or black, as befits the color of the coat.
Lips - Close fitting, clean, and sufficiently deep to cover the lower jaw without being pendulous.
Bite - Scissors or level, with complete dentition. Scissors preferred.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck - Long, strong, muscular, slightly arched, clean, and well set into shoulders.
Topline - The neck slopes smoothly into the withers; the back is level, well muscled, firm and strong; the croup is short and gently rounded.
Body - The prosternum is prominent and well fleshed. The depth of chest is roughly equal to the length of the front leg from elbow to ground. The length of rib cage is 2/3 of the body length. Ribs are oval, well sprung, and curve gently into a firm loin.
Loin - Short, strong and deep, with little or no tuck-up. Tail-Set on low, in line with the croup; at rest slanting downward. Should be docked to balance the overall dog.
Forequarters
Shoulder blades are oblique and sloping. The upper arm is close-set; elbows are directly below the withers, and turn neither in nor out. Bone is flat. Forelegs are straight and well boned to the feet. Pasterns are moderately sloping but strong. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet face forward and are large, rounded, and webbed, with strong, well arched, relatively tight toes and thick pads.
Hindquarters
Strong and driving; stifles and hocks only moderately bent. Hocks well let down; pasterns relatively short, strong and parallel when viewed from the rear. Hips moderately broad and muscular; upper thigh broad and powerful; second thigh well muscled. Bone corresponds to that of forelegs. No dewclaws.
Coat
Single; moderately long; flat or slightly wavy; silky and glossy; dense and water-repellent. Setter-like feathering adorns the chest, underbody, backs of the legs, buttocks, and the underside of the tail. Pasterns have clean outlines to the ground. There is short, soft hair between the toes. Overabundance of coat, or cottony texture, impractical for work, are incorrect. Trimming is limited to that which enhances the natural appearance of the dog.
Color
Black, liver, golden liver, roan, or any of these with tan points. A small amount of white on the chest and/or throat is allowed.
Gait
The head is carried alertly, always above the level of the back. There is good forward reach that begins in the shoulder, coupled with strong drive from the rear, giving the characteristic effortless, long, low and majestic stride. The legs move straight, with a slight convergence at increased speed. In action, the tail is carried inclined downward or level with the back, and with a wagging motion. Side movement is straight and clean, without energy wasting motions. Overreaching and single tracking are incorrect. The Field Spaniel should be shown at its own natural speed in an endurance trot.
Temperament
Unusually docile, sensitive, fun-loving, independent and intelligent, with a great affinity for human companionship. They may be somewhat reserved in initial meetings. Any display of shyness, fear or aggression is to be severely penalized.