Country/Date of Origin: Great Britain/1800s
The English Springer is a member of the British family of spaniels. These hunting dogs are used before the gun to "spring" or flush birds into the air so that the hunter can shoot them.
Cockers and springers were once found in the same litter. The smaller ones were used for woodcock and became known as cockers. The larger ones became known as "springer" or "starter" spaniels and eventually became a separate breed.
The versatility and hunting prowess of the English Springer makes it the spaniel of choice for hunters in the United States. It was accepted into the AKC in 1932.