What are they like to live with? all replies welcome.

dont own one so take this with a pich of salt but, they are liek any other spaniel, they are very much a family dog.
but i have heard that on walks when there nose hits teh ground they are gone, but that my be clumber spaniels.

i really like fields i considered going into teh breed but i found one that was much better for me.

I have 2 Fieldies and they are great to live with, not as hyper as some other spaniels, wouldn't have any other breed.

I know a lady with Fileds and I think them lovely much less hyoer than their nearest relatives the English Springers.

Used to know someone with Fields and never saw one with a bad temperament, but I can't comment on the breed as a whole though as I don't really know them.

Thanks for the replies. Where can i find out more about the breed?

The breed club would be a good starting point attend some shows and/or working events.

I'm not a Spaniel fan but Fields and Welsh springers are probably my favorite, with fields ahead ;)

My closest friend had two for 10/11 years, from different breeders. I saw a lot of them, holidaying together etc. Delightful characters, lovely temperaments and biddable. They would take all the exercise we could give them! They were both neutered, the bitches coat remained quite fine and easily managed, the male did go woolly.

From my limited experience,  I would say they are a nice breed to live with. They used to be on the rare breeds list, I don't know if that is still the case. As with all breeds, you need to meet as many as you can, to be sure they are the breed for you.

They are a numerically small breed, so you are likely to need to wait a while and get on a breeders waiting list.

There were 75 pups registered in 2008 and 27 in the first half of 2009.

I have sent you a message

I co-own Field Spaniels with a friend... she gets the short n hairy and I get the larger and very active GSP's!!

Fields are a lovely breed, as others have said perhaps a bit less busy than some spaniels but they are very bright and need plenty to occupy mind and body. IME they bond very closely with their people and can be a bit clingy so early training to teach them to cope with short period "home alone" is essential to prevent separation anxiety. They are also quiet sensitive dogs and again IME need early socialisation to help prevent them getting spooky. We carry our babies out as much as possible and sit in town, by the school gates, pet super stores etc   As with all pups they need careful rearing, don't let them get too fat as they are a bit prone to being soft on their pasterns as babies. I would also err on side of being "over cautious" with excersie - would be aiming for slightly less than the 5min excersie / mth of life until 6 - 8mths. 

As others have said they are a relatively rare breed with low registrations so it is likely you will have to wait some time for a puppy - some useful contacts for you can be found on Field Spaniel Society web site  http://www.fieldspanielsociety.co.uk/index.htm  The secreetary holds a puppy list.

K

Thanks for all your replies.

Were they a docked breed?

Yes they were. I have one docked one and one with a tail. We did have problems with my boys splitting his tail but he's been fine now for quite a few months, touch wood.

Our new puppy also has a tail :( It is so long and whips her sides when she is excited.. know of a number of fieldies who have had problems with tails getting damaged, fingers crossed she will be ok but must admit to being worried.

K

Are they a retrieving or flushing out breed. What are they bred for? even tho im interested in the show bred type.

I have a show type ESS, he is 6 yrs young and very clingy indeed. We have only had him 2 yrs so have not had the oportunity to stop this from happening. Having said that he is very affectionate and biddable. He came from a show background and won his class at crufts with his previous owner. He is not destructive and has no problem with housetraining ( I was expecting us to have to re-train with this as he lived in outdoor kennels) His clingy nature only means that he cries and howls if I go out and leave him alone and he is my shadow around the house, all day. I had heard that a field or Welsh Spaniel is more of a problem unless worked and field trained.

> I had heard that a field or Welsh Spaniel is more of a problem unless worked and field trained.

My Fields certainly aren't clingy and they don't get worked! My bitch would go with anyone, loves people to the point that when we go for a walk and someone makes eye contact with her she has to sit down till they pass by as she is hoping they give her some attention! I don't work so I am at home all day with the dogs but they do get left on there on when I go to the shops etc. I have left them for 4 maybe 5 hrs hours maximum and have had no problems with them crying or howling. My nieghbours would be the first to complain if they did!!

My friend's Fields, that I wrote about in my earlier post, were regularly left 4-5 hours, as she worked part-time. Absolutely no problem. They were not left as babies, but were gradually trained to accept periods alone and well exercised. I have found this to be the best approach with breeds I have experience in. I imagine there are probably individual animals in most breeds, that may be more resentful about being left alone.

Tricolours, this page on the Society site, will give you a good insight to their purpose and character.

http://www.fieldspanielsociety.co.uk/breedIntroduction.htm

> Are they a retrieving or flushing out breed. What are they bred for? even tho im interested in the show bred type.

They are a Spaniel so used for the same purpose as other spaniels.  As they are a numerically small breed fortunately there is not really a working show split.

Must admit didn't know the breed too well but neighboured at YKC camp to a friend who has them and am rather taken with them - seemed friendly and very calm dog.

She too said the tails are a worry when working.

> Must admit didn't know the breed too well but neighboured at YKC camp to a friend who has them and am rather taken with them - seemed friendly and very calm dog.
>
> She too said the tails are a worry when working.

hehe she is very likely to be the breeder of my two!

Oh really :) :)

Begins with T and ends in E?

Yep :-D small world!

It was Vinnie we were 'neighboured' next too - really nice boy :) and his owner pretty good company too :)

I have Vinnie's sister :-) My pup's mum is Vinnie's half sister, don't think she had Ffi with her but she is my boy's sister. :-)

Very small world indeed :) - yes just Vinnie and one of the Borders (again quite liked her too!!!)  Really was quite taken by Vinnie though :)

I've never seen a field spaniel but from the photos I've seen of them, they seem to look very similar to a liver-coloured working cocker (which is what my boy is).  Does anyone know how they compare to working cockers in terms of size, temperament, trainability, etc?  They look gorgeous, but I might be biased as they remind me of Barney!

Size wise think springer Spaniel.

Thanks bestdogs, that was an interesting read.

Thanks everyone.