There has long been a
misconception that Field Spaniels were only
bred to be a flashy show dog- thus not a
hunting dog. Many sources even state that
Field Spaniels can no longer hunt and are
now simply a family companion. Statement
like these couldn’t be any further then the
truth. Although Fields were originally bred
to be a solid black dog that would be able
to catch the judge’s eye in the ring- their
main purpose remained as a hunting dog that
was expected to help bring game to the
family’s dinner table. Heavy boned and low
to the ground the Field spaniels were bred
to handle the dense English countryside
coverage. Working at a moderate pace the
Field Spaniel was more of a gentleman’s
hunting dog as the hunter was able to follow
without having to run in the field. A
properly trained Field spaniel is truly a
sight to behold. They are efficient workers
covering a field thoroughly, often finding
birds that other dogs have missed.
Field Spaniels can excel
in hunting with proper training. They respond
best with the use of
positive training methods.
Field Spaniels are a soft breed and will
shut down when harsh methods are utilized. A good dog can be
ruined by overzealous trainers who are used
to a tough field bred dog attitude. When
harsh methods are applied to a Field Spaniel
they will simply shut down and not work. If
you desire a dog that can “take a
correction” you need to look into another
breed.
Field
Spaniel can compete in spaniel hunt tests.
The three levels are Junior (JH), Senior (SH)
& Master (MH). Each level has its own
criteria with each level requiring more
challenges tasks and less mistakes. The
parent club also gives out working dog
certificate in hunting. Where the AKC titles
require multiple passes the FSSA parent club
working dog certificates require the dog to have to pass only once
and the requirements are not as strict as
the hunt titles. Field Spaniels are
ineligible to compete in field trials at
this time.
Here
at Killara we are fortunate to have dogs that
that have demonstrated a lot of natural
instinct. They show drive and determination
when searching for bird, have wonderful
flushes and quick retrieve. Having a dog
that loves to hunt makes training them a lot
easier. All our dogs at Killara are
owner trained and handled. We do not send
our dogs off to trainers as we believe it is
important to maintain lines that are
biddable and can be handled by the average
person. We rely on obedience training
& utilizing positive methods to maintain a
happy working dog attitude. 
Read about the Field Spaniel Hunting style.
