Help Picking the perfect spaniel breed

 Original Question

I am interested in getting a spaniel breed. There are so many that I am interested in that I don’t know what to choose. I’ve had an English Cocker before.

I am not a particularly physically active person. I love to train dogs obedience and fun tricks. I want a dog that is kind and biddable, but I also like having to put a little more effort into training. I am not wanting to deal with any aggression. I’d like a dog that likes to learn.

Im interested in: Boykin spaniels the most. I have never met one, but I like the videos I see of them and think they are cute. English cocker spaniels, had one growing up and he was the best. springer spaniels, these guys interest me, I’ve known I few that were good dogs. Field spaniels, I know they are rare, but they are beautiful and I think they look like nice dogs. Clumbers I know also rare, it doesn’t seem like they are as obedient as other spaniels which turns me off, same with Sussex spaniels but I am willing to take a look at both. Come, sit,and stay are the most important commands to me.

with this info what is the best spaniel for me?

Answer 

Spaniels as a whole shouldn't have aggression issues, so going through a good breeder should negate that.

Clumbers would probably suit you energy-wise, but they can be more independent than other Spaniels. I don't know much about Sussex spaniels.

Boykins are notoriously high energy; not quite at working Cocker level, but really close. If that's a breed you are interested in I would suggest meeting breeders and talking to them about their dogs because you may find that their energy level isn't what you want to handle.

Bench English Cockers and Springers would probably be the best fit, as they are gentle, biddable, and have enough energy to be good companions (and smart enough to be fun trick dogs!) but won't be bouncing off the walls if you have a down day or something. It's important to vet breeders carefully and make sure they are doing all of the required health testing and that their dogs have good temperaments; they don't have issues as commonly as American Cockers do, but it's still something to pay attention to.

I think Field spaniels are a little higher energy than those two as there isn't a working/bench split in the breed, but you could probably find a Field that would fit you as long as you were open with the breeder about what you are looking for. Fields are rare and the breeders all tend to know each other, so even if you end up talking to a breeder that has more active dogs they could point you to another breeder that would be a good fit pretty easily.

Good luck - spaniels really are the best! I have a Cocker mix right now and am hoping to have a Field next (far in the future, after my current boy has left me).

What is a "Boykins" spaniel"?

The Boykin Spaniel is a US breed developed in the Carolinas. They are almost always some shade of brown, and they are roughly the size of a large Cocker or small Springer. They have been bred as hunting dogs for a while. AKC registration came about much more recently. It's a bit like the border collie situation: people serious about the working traits in the breed didn't see a benefit to turning them into a show breed.