Spaniel Breeds
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Spaniel breeds encompass a wide variety of dogs with a rich and longstanding heritage. When bred and trained for purpose, all spaniels are capable working dogs. Each breed has its own dedicated community of advocates and enthusiasts.In New Zealand, several spaniel breeds are represented, but the English Springer Spaniel and the Working Cocker Spaniel are the only two breeds that run and consistently excel in Spaniel Natural Game Trials. Both breeds also perform exceptionally well as rough-shooting companions.
The Field magazine, list the following seven Spaniel breeds in the UK.
The first mention of the existence of the spaniel is found in a description written by Gaston Phebus in 1300. It was nearly five hundred years later that English spaniels were divided into seven separate breeds which include: the Clumber spaniel, the Cocker spaniel, the English Springer spaniel, the Field spaniel, the Irish Water spaniel, the Sussex spaniel, and the Welsh Springer spaniel.
A link to the DogsNZ breed and can be pasted into your browser for further information.
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Circa 1906, the animal food company "Spratts' commissioned the artist Arthur Wardle to produce the artwork entitled "Field Spaniels of the 20th Century" which included the ESS Dual Champion Velux Powder (top left) amongst 7 other spaniel Champions of the day. These include (clockwise from ESS, Cocker Spaniels, Sussex Spaniels, Field Spaniels and a Clumber Spaniel
The Field, 13 October, 2023
Sporting Gun, 15 June 2022
Horse and Hound 04 March 2024
Whistle and Wag Dog Training, 01 Nov 2024
Field Spaniels: A Potted History by Peggy Grayson
Irish Water Spaniel Association
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Gundog Journal 19 July 2021
The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club (UK)
Clumber Spaniel
The first Clumber Spaniels originated in France, but were moved to sanctuary in England during the French Revolution. They were in the care of the Duke of Newcastle at Clumber Park, hence the name. This sturdy spaniel is the slowest and heaviest of the spaniels, but works well in heavy brush, flushing and retrieving game. Though the Clumber's early history is not well documented, Basset Hounds and St. Bernards may have contributed to the breed.
https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/breeds/info/clumber-spaniel/340
Working Cocker Spaniel
One of the oldest Spaniel Breeds, stemming from the same taproot as all of the modern land Spaniels, the Cocker Spaniel was originally bred to find and flush woodcock and continues to be an equally enthusiastic and capable hunting companion to this day.
A large and specialized group of dogs, land spaniels consisted of two sizes. They were often found in the same litter, and it was in 1892 that the two sizes were considered to be two separate breeds. The smaller spaniel, weighing less than 25 pounds, was called the cocker spaniel because of its talent for hunting woodcock. But the two different size spaniels shared an affinity for hunting.It was in 1901 that the weight limit for the cocker spaniel was no longer recognized, and the breed quickly became popular in England.https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/breeds/info/cocker-spaniel/344/general-information
English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel is a land spaniel (versus water spaniel) whose primary function was to "spring" game from thick brush for sportsmen. It descends from Spanish dogs, hence the name "spaniel"; these dogs being brought to Britain as early as 1570. It is the oldest of the spaniel breeds and is considered the forefather of all other land spaniels with the exception of the Clumber. Despite its long history, the breed was not officially recognised until 1902 in England, although it was exhibited there since the 1850s under the name Norfolk Spaniel.https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/breeds/info/english-springer-spaniel/360
Field Spaniel
In the early years of spaniel breed development, the spaniels were divided into water and land spaniels. The land spaniels were generally called Field Spaniels in the 1800s, but in 1892 small spaniels, now termed English Cocker Spaniels were officially split into a new breed based on their lesser weight (< 25 lb). Originally, breeders wished to develop a black spaniel breed. For a while Field Spaniel breeding programs produced a dog of extremely exaggerated type due to repeated outcrosses with Welsh Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound and Sussex Spaniels. This made them unsuited in conformation for their work. By the 1940s the breed was threatened by extinction. The Field Spaniel breed was recovered by implementing selective breeding practices, and by out-crossing to Cocker Spaniels and English Springer Spaniels. This restored a functional breed type. Field Spaniels are smaller than English Springer Spaniels.
https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/breeds/info/field-spaniel/349
Irish Water SpanielThe Irish Water Spaniel is an ancient Irish hunting dog, developed from northern and southern water spaniel types in the 1830s by Dublin breeder Justin McCarthy, known for its distinctive curly liver coat, "rat tail," and powerful swimming, excelling at retrieving waterfowl with webbed feet, and despite early popularity, remains a rare breed today, often mistaken for Poodles but actually predating them in some histories.
Note: NZGTA Reg. Admin. 1. Classification of Gundogs has the Irish Water Spaniel classified under Group 2, Retrievers.https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/breeds/irish-water-spaniel
Sussex Spaniel
The Sussex Spaniel originated in the early nineteenth century under the direction of Mr. A. Fuller of Rosehill, Sussex. Bred specifically for work in dense cover and the heavy clay terrain of Kent and Sussex, the breed developed a low, substantial frame suited to slow, methodical ground coverage. It is one of the ten original breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club in the 1880s.
The breed’s population declined severely during the Second World War, leaving only five known individuals by 1945. All modern Sussex Spaniels descend from this small foundation. Closely related to the Cocker and Field Spaniels, the Sussex is traditionally regarded as the “old gentleman’s gundog,” valued for its steady working style and exceptional scenting ability. Although still employed in working roles, particularly on beating lines in the United Kingdom, the breed remains numerically rare. It is listed as a Vulnerable British Breed, with fewer than 200 puppies produced worldwide each year.
https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/breeds/info/sussex-spaniel/362
Welsh Springer Spaniel
The Welsh Springer Spaniel dates to the 1600s in Wales. The 'Springer' Spaniel is so named because of their hunting style which is to spring hidden game. In Wales they are often referred to as starters. It can hunt tirelessly for hours over difficult terrain and is resistant to poor weather as well as being unafraid to jump into very cold water. Popularity in the show ring has done the breed little favours as a working dog. Even the most ardent of Welsh supporters will dispute that these red-and-white spaniels rarely show the same passion and drive for hunting as their English cousins, but with patience they can become useful shooting companions. They are probably at their best in the beating line, which is what they were bred for during the 19th century.
https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/breeds/welsh-springer-spaniel
Spaniel Breeds and their success in NZ Gundog Trialing
As of 31 December 2025
Irish Water Spaniel
The last recorded Irish Water Spaniel to win a championship trial (Range, find and flush / two bird water retrieve), was the late Gerry Hanrahan's GFTCh Nicky of Darolyn, winner of the 1974 and 1975 NZ Spaniel. Nicky was competitive in both Spaniel and All breeds events.
This breed is rare in New Zealand.
Note: NZGTA Reg. Admin. 1. Classification of Gundogs now has the Irish Water Spaniel classified under Group 2, Retrievers.
English Springer Spaniel
Since Gerry Hanaran's IWS winning the 1974-75 NZ Spaniel Championship (Range, find and flush / two bird water retrieve) this event as been completely dominated by English Springer Spaniels.
Since Spaniel Natural Game trials commenced in NZ, 36 ESS have gained their FCH title with a further 8 going on to gain the GFCH title.
Working Cocker Spaniel
Since the first Working Cocker first gained its FCH title in 2005, by the end of the 2025 trialing season 18 Working Cockers had gained their FCH title with a further 1 going on to gain the GFCH title. The Working Cockers compete against their larger "cousin's" the English Springer Spaniels.
Prior to Spaniel Natural Game trials cockers spaniels rarely competed in Field Trials simulated trials, (Range, find and flush / two bird water retrieve).
The NZ Dominion Gun Dog Trial Association 50th Jubilee Spaniel Championship (Range, find and flush / two bird water retrieve) in 1986, had a field of 30 dogs of which only one was a Cocker spaniel.
Welsh Springer Spaniel
The last Welsh Springer Spaniels were trialed in simulated trials (Range, find and flush / two bird water retrieve), in the early/mid 1980's with mixed success.
They were not competitive enough to beat their English cousins in championship trials. No Welsh Springers have entered Spaniel Natural Game trials in New Zealand.
Clumber Spaniels
Present in New Zealand and Australia in very low numbers. None have entered Spaniel Natural Game Trials in New Zealand.
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In New Zealand, the English Springer Spaniel and the Working Cocker Spaniel are the only spaniel breeds that consistently demonstrate the natural hunting ability, drive, and steadiness required to succeed in Spaniel Natural Game Trials. While most spaniel breeds are technically eligible to compete, these two have proven to be the only ones actively trained, campaigned, and capable of winning under New Zealand trial conditions.