Spaniel, one of the longest established breeds of dogs. Dr Cains gives a description of the spaniel in his treatise Of English Dogges (1576). The working spaniel may be divided into the Clumber, the Sussex, and the Field Spaniel. The clumber derives his name from the estate of the Duke of Newcastle, who originally imported them from the kennel of the Duc de Noailles, and bred them for many years at Clumber Castle (q.v.). The pure breed was guarded with such jealousy that until recent years it was difficult to obtain a pure clumber. Clumbers are usually worked in a team of four or five; as they generally hunt in silence, they are extremely useful in thick cover, the game not being alarmed without cause. In appearance the clumber is a handsome lemon and white dog, short in the leg, long in body, coat like a setter, a massive head with large drooping ears.
The Sussex is also a variety of long standing, though the pure breed was only resuscitated in 1870 with great difficulty. In colour the Sussex should be a 'golden-liver' or brown, otherwise it closely resembles the clumber.
The Black Spaniel is gradually becoming the commonest, as it is certainly the handsomest variety of field spaniel; it is bred mainly from Sussex blood. The 'cocker' and the 'springer' are names indiscriminately applied to field spaniels of unknown breeding; they are generally liver and white, and are probably cross-bred Sussex.
Though there are records of the existence of an English water-spaniel, yet the breed has been entirely eclipsed by the Irish water-spaniel, a variety maintained in purity through the efforts of the late Mr Justin McCarthy. The Irish dog resembles a large poodle in face and size, an untrimmed coat curling all over the body; in colour it should be a reddish liver.
Toy Spaniels, though identical in name, have little in common with the working spaniel. They are divided into the black-and-tan King Charles, first brought into notice by Charles II., and the red and white Blenheim, established by the Duke of Marlborough. The toy spaniel should not weigh more than 10 lb., and should have a short turned-up face like a pug-dog. From their long coats and small size these dogs are only fitted for pets, but are bright and cheery in disposition.