The history of the Field Spaniel has amazed many dog lovers, and it is quite a wonder how the breed survived till the present day. Because it is a rare breed, the Field Spaniel will always attract the curiosity of canine enthusiasts, who would be most eager to know of the amazing facts that this excellent breed left along its wake. There are indeed many interesting things to know about the Field Spaniel.
Did you know that in the past the only distinction between the Cocker and Field Spaniel when it comes to the show ring was the weight? The Cocker Spaniels were introduced in America in the early 1880s and it was in 1901 that a distinction was finally made between this breed and the Field Spaniels. Prior to that, the noted distinction was on the weight of 25 pounds. Those measuring under this weight are classified as the Cocker Spaniels while those weighing above it are the Field Spaniels. Now, there are clearly defined breed standards to differentiate the two breeds.
Did you know that the establishment of the Field Spaniel in the United States met quite a difficulty? The predicament appeared when it became necessary to cross the Springer and Cocker Spaniel with the Field Spaniel to get rid of the exaggerations done by past breeders. Because of this, there were many Field Spaniels that were deemed ineligible and were not registered by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Did you know that it was Phineas Bullock, a resident of England that could be blamed for the earlier grotesque caricature of a Field Spaniel? Bullock perpetuated a dog that was extremely long in body and was quite low to the ground and had bone structure that was quite phenomenal. This was done through persistent crossbreeding with the Sussex Spaniel, and the resulting Field Spaniel was rejected by the dog loving public. It is just quite fortunate that the Field Spaniel we know of today has veered from this past caricature.
Did you know that a man named Mortimer Smith was responsible for the improvements made on the Field Spaniel? It was Smith's efforts that paved the way for the Field Spaniel's structural improvement. The beautiful Field Spaniel that we have come to love today would not have come about if not for him.
Did you also know that all Field Spaniels that exist today are the descendants of four dogs from the 1950s? At one point in the 1950s, there were only four Field Spaniels left in the world. All the Field Spaniels that are living today came from these four dogs, which were Colombina, Elmbury Morwena, Gormac Teal and Ronayne Regal. The breed was almost extinct for half a century, from 1916 until 1969.