JUDGING ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS by Boris Pegan
D
og show exhibiting glorifies the external beauty of the English Springer Spaniel, but hunting is the heart and soul of the breed. As a judge, I believe
that every Gundog breeder, at some point in their breeding process, should closely consider what their dog was originally bred for. They must understand that breed Standards were not written with chalked up and fluffed up show dogs in mind, but for working Gundogs. For the English Springer Spaniel, the Standard describes a unique breed, their skills, instincts, outward appearance, conformation and hunting desires, and that these attributes are different from any other breed. The Standard was written for a dog that, for years, was bred for a particular purpose that didn’t include free stacking or running around a show ring. How many breeders and judges read the Standard and ask themselves ‘why’? Without at least basic knowledge of the English Springer in the field, it is practically impossible to understand what correct type and conformation are all about.