English Springer Spaniel Care: Exercise, Ears, Training and Health

By Dr Duncan Houston

An English Springer Spaniel can bring considerable enthusiasm to walks, games and everyday company. Their working background often shows in an interest in scent, movement and retrieving.

A sustainable routine combines those outlets with rest, grooming and attention to changes in comfort or behaviour.

Quick Answer

Give a Springer regular physical and mental activity, reward-based training and grooming that keeps feathering free of mats. Check ears after outdoor activity and investigate pain, discharge or recurrent head shaking. Review parental joint and eye screening, and have sudden aggression or other major behaviour changes assessed rather than assigning a breed label.

Field and show backgrounds

Developed to flush and retrieve game, English Springers include field and show lines that can differ in build, coat and activity needs. These are useful clues, not guarantees about an individual dog.

Ask a breeder or rescue about the dog's history and daily needs. A secure garden does not replace walks, interaction and training, and being described as friendly does not remove the need to supervise children or introductions to other animals.

Build a balanced day

• Mix suitable walks with sniffing, search games and short skills sessions.
• Practise recall and exchanging objects in easy settings with useful rewards.
• Use a lead or secure space around wildlife and roads.
• Build fitness gradually and include recovery time after demanding activity.

Do not use a fixed exercise target when your dog is growing, injured or struggling in hot weather. New reluctance, limping or poor recovery calls for assessment. Introduce comfortable alone time gradually instead of expecting a food toy to resolve distress.

Coat, ears and routine care

Brush regularly through the feathering, especially behind ears and under legs. After long grass or woodland walks, check paws, coat and skin for burrs, ticks or wounds. Bathe as needed and dry thoroughly.

Hanging ears can be difficult to inspect, but automatic frequent cleaning is not a substitute for diagnosis. Redness, smell, discharge or head shaking can involve allergy, infection or foreign material. Merck's guidance on ear disease explains why treatment should follow examination. Do not probe a painful canal or reuse old medication.

Maintain comfortable nails and daily toothbrushing where possible. Feed a complete life-stage diet, measure portions and include rewards in the total. Adjust calories to actual work and body condition; routine supplements are not a requirement for an active dog.

Health screening and signs to notice

Breed-club recommendations include hip, elbow and eye evaluations and PRA-crd4/cord1 DNA testing. Discuss family history and test limitations; a clear result for one condition is not a complete health guarantee.

About sudden aggression

The label “Springer rage” does not explain an individual event and should not be assumed to describe an autoimmune disease. Pain, fear, guarding, learned behaviour and neurological or other medical problems may need consideration. The MSD Veterinary Manual lists medical causes of behavioural changes.

Keep children and other animals safely separated, avoid provoking another episode and record context or safe video for your vet. Punishment can increase risk and obscure warning signals.

Emergency signs

Seek emergency care for collapse, breathing difficulty, severe heat illness, major injury or a seizure reaching five minutes. Repeated seizures within a day or incomplete recovery between episodes is also urgent. A painful, closed or suddenly cloudy eye needs prompt same-day assessment.

Common mistakes and prevention

Avoid assuming all field dogs need constant intense exercise, cleaning sore ears without examination, overlooking coat mats, or diagnosing aggression from breed alone. Maintain preventive care, keep identification current and respond early to changes in mobility or comfort.

Frequently asked questions

Can a show-line Springer still be very active?

Yes. Line descriptions do not replace assessment of the individual dog's needs.

Does every Springer need weekly ear cleaning?

No. Ask your vet for a routine based on the ears and any underlying disease.

Is sudden aggression always neurological?

No. Several medical and behavioural causes are possible, so professional assessment matters.

Shared activity works best when your dog also has comfort, clear communication and time to rest.

ASK A VET™ can help you prepare questions about your Springer's ears, activity or behaviour for your veterinary team.