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Historically, spaniels were bred to be compact, athletic, and enthusiastic hunting companions. These canines excel at finding, flushing out, and retrieving games across a wide variety of terrain, including water. Spaniels continue to be used for hunting and they’re also popular as companion breeds.
What is a spaniel?
Traditionally bread as hunting companions, spaniels are a medium-sized athletic dog breed. They are often characterized by breed features like drooping ears, a broad muzzle, and wavy fur.
Breed Characteristics
Most spaniels are medium-sized, have distinctive drooping ears, a broad muzzle, and a curly or silky, wavy coat on their ears, tail, and legs. They typically appear in colors like liver and white, red and white, black and white, sometimes deep brown or black. Breeds with long hair will likely need regular grooming to keep their coats mat-free—those with long, hanging ears are also more susceptible to ear infections. In general, spaniels are known for being intelligent, loyal, obedient, and affectionate. They tend to be prone to separation anxiety if left on their own too much.
Tip
Spaniels tend to be high-energy, agile, and driven. Because of this, they’re generally best suited to living in an active household. Problem behaviors can quickly surface if they don’t get enough exercise and enrichment. These breeds often make fantastic hiking, canicross, or competitive dog sports partners. These are 14 of the most popular spaniel breeds full of affection and fun-loving companionship.
American Cocker Spaniel
The American cocker spaniel is one of the most popular spaniels. It is the smallest breed in the American Kennel Club Sporting Group. Their compact size, lively personalities, and sweet expression endear them to dog lovers worldwide. Smart, athletic and eager to please, this people-orientated and playful breed enjoys the company of respectful children. They usually get on well with other dogs too. Their coat is high-maintenance and will require regular grooming unless kept clipped short.
Breed Overview
- Group: Sporting (AKC)
- Height: 13.5 to 15.5 inches
- Weight: 20 to 30 pounds
- Coat and Color: Silky, flat, or slightly wavy coat that has profuse feathering on the ears, chest and legs; comes in a wide variety of solid and parti-color patterns
- Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
American Water Spaniel
This rare medium-sized breed originates from the Great Lakes region of the United States during the 19th century from several other breeds, including the Irish and English water spaniels. They are known for their strong water retrieval skills. They make excellent family pets, although they require plenty of exercise to meet their high energy levels. They are intelligent and lively, developing strong bonds with their family members.
Breed Overview
- Group: Sporting (AKC)
- Height: 15 to 18 inches
- Weight: 25 to 45 pounds
- Coat and Color: Thick double coat, which can be wavy or tightly curled, comes in three shades of brown: solid liver, brown, or dark chocolate and may have white on their toes or chest
- Life Expectancy: 10 to 14 years
Boykin Spaniel
Another spaniel native to the United States, the Boykin is the official dog of South Carolina. Its athletic physique and webbed-toes were developed to retrieve fowl from swamps, lakes, and rivers. If you live near a lake or the ocean, this water-loving breed could be a good match. The breed is known for being gentle, friendly, and enthusiastic. They respond well to positive training methods, tend to be very sociable, and love being active. If they get enough exercise and enrichment, then they’re usually mellow and snuggly.
Breed Overview
- Group: Sporting (AKC)
- Height: 14 to 18 inches tall at the shoulder
- Weight: 25 to 40 pounds
- Coat and Color: Medium-length distinctive rich liver, brown, or dark chocolate colored coat that ranges from straight to slightly wavy
- Life Expectancy: 10 to 15 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Despite only being recognized officially by the AKC in 1995, the Cavalier King Charles has a long and noble heritage. They’re the most popular spaniel in the United States today. Their popularity can be attributed to their typically affectionate, sociable, happy-go-lucky, and eager-to-please personality.
Although they’re an active breed, their energy is more subdued. They were originally bred as companions for British nobility. They will not need as much exercise as the average spaniel and are a popular choice for apartment living. Cavaliers are a member of the AKC Toy Group and are smaller than most spaniels.
Breed Overview
- Group: Toy (AKC)
- Height: 12 to 13 inches
- Weight: 13 to 18 pounds
- Coat and Color: Long, sleek, silky coat with feathering around the legs, ears, chest, and tail; long ears and soft expression
- Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
Clumber Spaniel
One of the biggest spaniels on our list, the Clumber is calmer than many of their other working relatives. Clumbers tend to be mellow around the home. Although they can be determined once they get a scent, they aren’t as fast or active as cockers or springers. They can be wary around strangers, but they respond well to positive training and socialization. Clumbers are notoriously jowly. You’ll need to be prepared to clean up a fair amount of drool. Relatively rare in the United States, you might need to go on a waiting list to secure a Clumber pup from a reputable breeder.
Breed Overview
- Group: Sporting (AKC)
- Height: 17 to 20 inches
- Weight: 55 to 85 pounds
- Coat and Color: Medium-length, dense straight coat in white with yellow or orange markings
- Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
English Cocker Spaniel
Compact, enthusiastic, and agile, spaniels were once prized as woodcock hunting companions, likely the source of the breed’s name. Nowadays, English cockers are a popular, active companion breed. They have a silky coat and soft eyes that will melt the heart. They also love spending time with their human family. Often described as velcro dogs, they’re best suited to a household where they’ll have company for most of the day.
They share similar characteristics to the American cocker, although their hunting drive tends to be more pronounced. You might need to work harder on recall training, and you’ll have to ensure they get plenty of exercise and stimulation around the home.
Breed Overview
- Group: Sporting (AKC)
- Height: 15 to 17 inches
- Weight: 26 to 34 pounds
- Coat and Color: Silky, medium-length coat with feathering on ears, legs, and chest; long, pendulous ears, long snout, and softly contoured body
- Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
English Springer Spaniel
English springers are another famous spaniel. One of the busiest, driven, and active spaniels, they aren’t suited to a sedentary household. They thrive when given the opportunity to use their fantastic scenting abilities, and they love having a job to do. English springers often work as drug and bomb detection dogs for the police and military. Affectionate, sociable, eager to please, and very trainable, these dogs are exuberant and easily over-aroused. Reward-based training methods work best with this breed.
Breed Overview
- Group: Sporting (AKC)
- Height: 19 to 20 inches
- Weight: 40 to 50 pounds
- Coat and Color: Medium-length flat or wavy, glossy topcoat, and a short, profuse, and soft undercoat; ears, legs, and chest often have longer feathering; commonly seen in white and black or white and liver coloring
- Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
Papillon
You might be surprised to learn that the papillon is part of the spaniel group. This toy breed used to have dropped ears before it was selectively bred to have ears that form the upright butterfly-like shape they have now. It’s also called the continental toy spaniel. They are one of the smallest spaniels but are far from just a lapdog. One of the toy breeds’ smartest, these feisty little characters are known for being friendly, alert, and active. Intelligent dogs are highly trainable and are often masters at performing tricks. They can have a stubborn streak, though, so keep things exciting and motivating them. These little dogs can have a big voice. You’ll want to work on rewarding quiet behavior and avoid leaving them on their own for long periods.
Breed Overview
- Group: Toy (AKC)
- Height: 8 to 11 inches
- Weight: 6 to 10 pounds
- Coat and Color: Petite yet hardy toy with a straight, long, single-layer coat with frills, and a butterfly-like appearance of its erect ears and alert demeanor
- Life Expectancy: 14 to 16 years
Welsh Springer Spaniel
The Welsh springer spaniel is closely related to its English counterpart, although a little smaller. They only have red and white markings. The Welshie is affectionate, active, and happy. They’re also known for being a bit more laid back around the home and a little less busy outdoors. This breed develops strong bonds with its families. They need a household with people around for most of the day to prevent them from becoming distressed. They can also be a little warier around strangers and are more prone to alert barking.
Breed Overview
- Group: Sporting (AKC)
- Height: 17 to 19 inches
- Weight: 35 to 55 pounds
- Coat and Color: Soft, straight, flat red and white coat with some feathering
- Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
English Toy Spaniel
The English toy spaniel is known for its sunny personality and cuddly nature. It looks a lot like the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and like that breed, it is a beautiful companion dog. It is devoted and very much attached to its family and will gladly shadow you wherever you go. They are fantastic cuddlers, happy to occupy your lap. This breed cannot be left alone for too long. Its small size makes it easily portable. They only need moderate exercise—a couple of walks a day will suffice.
Breed Overview
- Group: Toy (AKC)
- Height: 9 to 10 inches
- Weight: 8 to 14 pounds
- Coat and Color: Straight to slightly wavy; silken and glossy; colors: blenheim (white with deep red or chestnut markings), Prince Charles (tricolor), King Charles (black and tan), or ruby (rich mahogany red)
- Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
Field Spaniel
Closely related to cocker and springer spaniels, field spaniels hunted game in England’s vast fields. They have abundant energy and are playful, loyal, intelligent. They bond tightly with their family and make an excellent fit for an active family. They need plenty of space to run around and aren’t recommended for people living in apartments, condos, or homes without backyards. Without proper exercise, they can become bored, mischievous, or even destructive.
Breed Overview
- Group: Sporting (AKC)
- Height: 17 to 18 inches
- Weight: 35 to 50 pounds
- Coat and Color: Dense, water-repellent single coat (long and wavy or straight); color: black, liver, golden, golden liver, or roan
- Life Expectancy: 12 to 13 years
Irish Water Spaniel
The Irish water spaniel—also called the rat tail spaniel for its distinctive, smooth tail—is a medium to a larger-sized gun dog used for retrieving waterfowl like ducks and geese and flushing and retrieving upland game like quail and pheasant. They are solidly built, athletic dogs that are loving, devoted, and affectionate with their families, but they can be standoffish with people they don’t know. They are alert and curious. They have a unique and charming appearance with loose cascading curls on its head.
Breed Overview
- Group: Sporting (AKC)
- Height: 21 to 24 inches
- Weight: 41 to 68 pounds
- Coat and Color: The crisply curled coat comes may be rich liver (brown) to dark liver with a purplish tinge (a hue that’s sometimes called puce liver)
- Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
Kooikerhondje (Kooiker)
The Dutch kooikerhondje, or kooiker for short, is a petite spaniel with an easygoing temperament. This dog’s compact size and friendly nature accompanied duck hunters for centuries, but today they’re masters of canine competition, such as flyball and agility. The kooiker is a low-maintenance, alert family companion but can be wary of strangers. Their distinctive white and orange (or red) coat is eye-catching, but one of the kooiker’s most notable features is the long black hair feathering or “earrings” on its ears.
Breed Overview
- Group: Sporting (AKC)
- Height: 14 to 17 inches
- Weight: 20 to 35 pounds
- Coat and Color: Medium length straight coat with feathered ears, legs, and tail; color:
- white with orange to deep red patches
- Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Sussex Spaniel
The Sussex spaniel is much rarer than its other spaniel relatives. The breed developed during the late 18th to early 19th century for being built low to the ground to navigate thick underbrush and for barking to mark its location. Around World War II, they nearly went extinct. They’re affectionate, happy, intelligent, and have lots of stamina. They aren’t as energetic or fast as some other spaniels, but they are typically loyal family companions, craving attention and a deep bond with their family.
Breed Overview
- Group: Sporting (AKC)
- Height: 13 to 15 inches
- Weight: 35 to 45 pounds
- Coat and Color: Medium-length flat or wavy single coat, with feathering on the legs; color: rich, solid golden liver, occasionally there is white on the chest
- Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Breeds to Avoid
Some dogs with “spaniel” in their name are not spaniels. Brittanys are commonly called a Brittany spaniel, but the AKC dropped the word “spaniel” from its name in 1992 since this dog shares more traits in common with pointers. Brittanys physically resemble spaniels with long pendulous ears, a long, wavy coat, and its high-energy hunting drive; however, they point out their prey. The Tibetan spaniel and the Japanese chin (also called the Japanese spaniel) are two toy breeds that technically do not have enough traits to qualify as spaniels; the primary reason is they are not hunting dogs.
