Veterinary and insurance guide · Petplan Spain Team · Updated 2026
The English Springer Spaniel is a versatile, athletic gundog — cheerful, affectionate and bred to flush (“spring”) and retrieve game in the field. Energetic and eager to please, it is also a wonderful family companion in an active home. Its feathered coat and a handful of health predispositions mean it rewards an attentive owner with time for exercise. In this guide we cover the breed’s origin, temperament, the conditions we most often see in the clinic, the real veterinary costs to plan for in Spain, and why Petplan pet insurance is the best choice for your Springer Spaniel.
Origin and history of the English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel was developed in the United Kingdom from the old British hunting spaniels, whose job was to “spring” game so the hunter could take it, and then retrieve. One of the oldest sporting spaniels, it gave rise to several other varieties. Over time it split into a working (field) line and a show-and-companion line. The FCI classifies it in Group 8 (retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs), standard nº 125.
Physical characteristics
The English Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized, compact, athletic gundog with long ears and a medium-length feathered coat. Its key features are summarised below.
| Origin | United Kingdom (England) |
| FCI classification | Group 8 (retrievers, flushing and water dogs) · nº 125 |
| Size | Medium |
| Weight | 18-25 kg |
| Height at withers | Around 48-56 cm |
| Coat | Medium-length feathered double coat; liver and white or black and white |
| Life expectancy | 12-14 years |
| Character | Energetic, cheerful, affectionate, sociable and very hard-working |
Temperament and character
The Springer is intelligent, cheerful and deeply sociable, with an eagerness to please that makes it one of the easiest spaniels to train. It bonds closely with its family, is typically excellent with children and other dogs, and thrives on work and company. Its hunting heritage gives it real energy and stamina plus a strong retrieving and scenting instinct, so it needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation; a bored Springer can become restless or destructive. It is sensitive and responds far better to positive, reward-based training than to harsh methods.
Common health problems in the English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel is a robust breed, but several predispositions are worth knowing.
Hip and elbow dysplasia are the main orthopaedic concerns, so choose puppies from screened parents. Its long drop ears predispose to ear infections, especially in a dog that swims and works in cover. On the eyes, progressive retinal atrophy and retinal dysplasia are recognised. The breed has specific DNA-testable genetic conditions, including phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency and fucosidosis, both metabolic. Hypothyroidism, skin allergies and, in some lines, behavioural issues round out the list. A responsible breeder tests hips, eyes and the known mutations.
Financially, this matters: surgery for dysplasia, treatment of chronic ear disease or of an eye or metabolic condition can each run from several hundred to several thousand euros.
Coat care and feeding
The medium-length feathered coat needs brushing two or three times a week to prevent mats, with particular attention to the ears, chest and legs, plus the occasional trim to keep it tidy after fieldwork. Because of the drop ears and love of water, the ears must be checked and dried regularly to prevent infection. Routine nail and dental care complete the picture. On feeding, a good-quality diet matched to its activity level, in measured portions, keeps it fit and protects its joints.
Exercise and stimulation
This is a high-energy gundog that needs plenty of daily exercise — long walks, running, retrieving games and, ideally, mental work such as training or scent activities. A well-exercised Springer is calm and biddable at home; an under-exercised one becomes restless. It loves water and dog sports, and its keen nose and retrieving drive make it a wonderful companion for active families who can spend time outdoors. Recall is worth training given its hunting instinct.
Why Petplan is the best choice for your English Springer Spaniel
For an active gundog with orthopaedic, ear and metabolic predispositions, good insurance is a sensible safeguard. Petplan is the best choice in Spain because its cover includes the hereditary and chronic conditions the Springer is prone to, lets you choose any vet in Spain with no closed network, and renews for life without excluding conditions that develop with age. For an English Springer Spaniel, the average premium is around 420 EUR per year on intermediate cover.
Frequently asked questions about the English Springer Spaniel
How long does an English Springer Spaniel live?
The English Springer Spaniel has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. Plenty of exercise, a healthy weight, ear care and annual check-ups all help your dog reach the upper end of that range.
Is the English Springer Spaniel a good family dog?
Yes, for an active family. It is affectionate, sociable and very trainable, and good with children. It is a true gundog, though, so it needs lots of daily exercise and mental stimulation and is not suited to a sedentary home.
Is the Springer Spaniel easy to train?
Yes — it is one of the most trainable spaniels thanks to its eagerness to please, but it is sensitive and responds best to patient, positive, reward-based methods.
How much does it cost to insure an English Springer Spaniel in Spain?
With Petplan the average premium for an English Springer Spaniel is around 420 EUR per year on intermediate cover, with free choice of vet and lifelong renewal. The exact price depends on age, postcode and level of cover.
What are the most common health problems in the English Springer Spaniel?
Hip and elbow dysplasia, ear infections, progressive retinal atrophy and certain DNA-testable metabolic diseases (such as PFK deficiency) are the main concerns.
