ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL 



generally practised ; but still the setter is in considerable 

 request amongst sporting men, and it will be long before 

 he ceases to be regarded as a leading British breed and 

 a most valuable field-dog. At the same time, it may be 

 observed that the constitutions of some English setters are 

 inclined to be delicate, this being no doubt a result of the 

 inbreeding to which certain strains have been subjected ; 

 but the good sense of breeders renders it unlikely that such 

 a system will be continued in the future. 



The head of this most beautiful and intelligent dog is 

 of the most exquisite grace, the chiselling of the outline 

 being a constant source of admiration to those who can 

 appreciate the refinement of the model and the wealth of 

 intelligence portrayed by the expression of a well-broken 

 specimen of the breed. 



English Springer Spaniel. — At the time of writing the 

 English springer is more popular amongst sportsmen than 

 the exhibitors of dogs, and it is to be trusted, for the sake 

 of the breed's working powers, that this may long continue 

 to be the case, as it is a first-rate field-dog that has not had 

 its abilities affected by the introduction of fancy points. 



The skull is long and broad, slightly domed, and fairly 

 developed over the eyes ; the muzzle of a good length and 

 breadth ; the eyes of a dark-brown colour and large, without 

 being of the goggle order ; and the ears long, set on low, 

 and carried flat to the sides of the head. The neck is of 

 a good length, and the shoulders slope nicely, the chest 

 being deep and fairly wide, the body short, well ribbed 

 up, and strong about the loins. The fore-legs, which are 

 moderately long, must be straight and heavy in bone, with 

 big, round feet ; and the tail, which is usually docked, is 

 carried low. The coat is not of great length, but there 

 must be plenty of it, and a slight tendency to waviness 

 is not seriously objected to, whilst there is feathering on 

 the legs all the way down to the ground, and a slight fringe 

 upon the dges of the ears ; the most usual colours being 



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