The English Springer Spaniel breed of dog is merry and affectionate, a quick learner and wonderful companion. He is stylish and enthusiastic, and known for his ability and willingness to endure adverse hunting conditions. He is a medium-sized dog with long, hanging ears, a docked tail, and a moderately feathered coat that can be white with black or liver markings, blue or liver roan, or tricolor. Today, there are two types within the English Springer Spaniel breed of dog: one type for field and one for show. The higher energy field dog has more white, while the stockier show type has more liver or black markings. His soft gentle expression and friendly wagging tail mark him unmistakably as a member of the ancient Spaniel family. His carriage is proud, his body compact and deep, legs strong and muscular. He is built to cover rough ground with agility and reasonable speed. The head of the English Springer Spaniel breed of dog is impressive but refined. The stop, eyebrows and chiseling around the eye sockets contribute to the Springer’s alert, kindly and trusting expression. His eyes are particularly important. They should be of medium size and oval in shape, set apart and fairly deep in their sockets, dark hazel in the liver and white dogs and black or deep brown in the black and white dogs. Eye rims should match the coat. The English Springer Spaniel's ears are long and fairly wide, hanging close to the cheeks. The ear leather is thin and approximately long enough to reach the tip of the nose. His skull is medium-length and fairly broad, flat on top and slightly rounded at the sides and back. The occiput bone is inconspicuous. His eyebrows are well-developed. The muzzle is approximately the same length as the skull and one half the width of the skull. His nasal bone is straight, cheeks are flat, and face is well-chiseled under the eyes. The jaws are of sufficient length to allow the dog to carry game easily. The upper lips cover the line of the lower jaw, but are not pendulous. The English Springer Spaniel breed of dog should have a fully-pigmented nose, liver or black, depending on the color of the coat. The nostrils are well-opened and broad. Teeth are strong, clean, and meet in a scissors bite. The English Springer Spaniel's neck is moderately long, muscular, clean and slightly arched at the crest. It blends gradually and smoothly into sloping shoulders. The portion of the topline from withers to tail slopes very gently. The body is strong and compact; the chest is deep but not so wide as to interfere with the action of the front legs. Ribs are fairly long, springing gradually to the middle of the body, then tapering as they approach the end of the ribbed section. The back is straight and essentially level. Loins are strong, short and slightly arched. The tail is carried horizontally or slightly elevated in a way that suggests liveliness and a merry nature, particularly when the dog is working. The shoulder blades are flat and fairly close together at the tips. Elbows likewise lie close to the body. Forelegs are strong-boned and straight with the same degree of size continuing to the foot. The English Springer Spaniel breed of dog has well-developed hips and thighs, suggesting strength and driving power. His thighs are broad and muscular. Dewclaws are usually removed. Feet are round or slightly oval, compact and well-arched with thick pads, and well-feathered between the toes. Rear feet are generally more compact than front feet. The English Springer Spaniel breed of dog has an outer coat and an undercoat, making him essentially waterproof, weatherproof and thornproof. On the body, the glossy outer coat is of medium length, flat or wavy, and is easily distinguishable from the short, soft and dense undercoat. The quantity of undercoat is affected by climate and season. On his ears, chest, legs and belly, the English Springer Spaniel has a fringe of feathering of moderate length and heaviness. On the head, front of the forelegs, and below the hock joints on the front of the hind legs, the hair is short and fine. His hair can be trimmed around the head, ears, neck, tail and feet, to remove dead undercoat, and to thin and shorten excess feathering. The color of the English Springer Spaniel breed of dog may be (1) Black or liver with white markings or predominantly white with black or liver markings; (2) Blue or liver roan; (3) Tricolor: black and white or liver and white with tan markings, usually found on eyebrows, cheeks, inside of ears and under the tail. White portions of the coat may be flecked with ticking. In order to have the proper gait, the English Springer Spaniel breed of dog must be balanced in terms of front and back assemblies' angulation and muscle development. The gait should be smooth and effortless. Well laid-back shoulders permit a long stride, which is just as essential as the driving power that comes from strong hindquarters.