Life span: 10 to 12 years
Availability: Rare
About Field spaniel
The Field Spaniel is a moderately-sized spaniel. They have water resistant coat that is generally a solid colour, however some come in a roan (speckled) coat. They have feathered legs; chest, ears, tail and undersides. Its nose is large, with very open nostrils and the almond-shaped eyes are either hazel or chestnut brown. They have a strong muscular neck and broad, long fringed ears.
The breed started out as a popular dog, but through some not-so-successful cross-breeding, fanciers turned him into a dog that was longer than he was tall, with short legs, a large head, and too much coat. That didn't make for a very good or very attractive hunting dog, and the public expressed its displeasure. The Field Spaniel's popularity bottomed out.
The AKC registered its first Field Spaniel, Colehill Rufus, in 1894, but when a fire destroyed a major kennel in 1909, the breed practically disappeared in the United States. The last registration of a Field Spaniel occurred in 1930. The next importation of Field Spaniels occurred in 1967, and those three dogs along with subsequent imports are the basis of the breed today. Despite his fine qualities, he remains a rare breed compared to other spaniels.