English Springer Spaniel
We have bred English Springer Spaniel's of working type. They are a breed with a wonderful temperament (and energy to match!), but require a lot of time training and socialising when young to focus their energy and intelligence. We use every walk as a training opportunity (as you should view everything you do with your dog!) and spend time reinforcing retrieves, commands, heel work, etc. throughout the dog's life. Find more information on the Breed Profile on The KC website. Breed clubs and groups are a great way to get involved and learn more! Related club links: |
Health Tests & Genetic Screening
Starting with physically healthy animals is important to reduce risk of health conditions or occurrence of known genetic diseases in the next generation. Below is some information about the health testing done for our English Springer Spaniels. Follow the highlighted links to learn more.
Starting with physically healthy animals is important to reduce risk of health conditions or occurrence of known genetic diseases in the next generation. Below is some information about the health testing done for our English Springer Spaniels. Follow the highlighted links to learn more.
Relevant Health Screens - English Springer Spaniels
- Fucosiodiosis (DNA Test) - Canine Fucosidosis (Fuco) is a disease which is severe, progressive and ultimately fatal. It is characterised by deteriorating signs of the nervous system progressing over a period of months, sometimes from an early age. Symptoms include un-coordination, ataxia (loss of control of movement), change in temperament, loss of learned behaviour, loss of balance, apparent deafness, visual impairment and varying degrees of depression. The disease, which usually affects animals between 18 months and 4 years of age, is caused by a recessive mutation in the gene for the enzyme alpha-L-fucosidase. This enzyme is one of many required to break down complex compounds into simple molecules that the body can use. In affected dogs, those carrying two copies of the mutated gene, this enzyme is absent, the pathway is blocked and toxic compounds build up in the cells of the affected animal. The cells of the nervous system are particularly sensitive to these toxic intermediates.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy cord-1 (DNA Test)- Generalised progressive retinal atrophy (gPRA) is a disease of the retina. This tissue, located inside the back of the eye, contains specialized cells called photoreceptors that absorb light focused on them by the eye’s lens, and converts this light into electrical nerve signals which are interpreted by the brain as vision. These photoreceptors are divided into two groups; the cones, which aid bright light and colour vision, and the rods, which facilitate low light or night vision. The cord-1 mutation is recessive mutation which causes both cone and rod degeneration resulting in initial night blindness, but usually progressing to total blindness in affected dogs. The effects of this mutation were initially believed to result in an early onset form of PRA, typically with an age of onset around two years of age, but more recent results show that some dogs with two copies of this mutation are not diagnosed until much later in life, sometimes as late as 10 years of age.
- Phosphofructokinase (DNA Test) - Phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency is an inherited disease which leads to a lack of the enzyme phosphofructokinase. Without this enzyme, muscle cells and erythrocytes (a type of blood cell) are not able to produce enough adequate energy for their needs. Therefore affected dogs display the following intermittent, clinical signs: weakness, lethargy, exercise intolerance, poor performance, muscle cramps, anaemia, jaundice and dark-coloured urine. Dark-coloured urine usually appears after strenuous exercise or after excessive barking, panting or heat exposure, and is caused by the destruction of the erythrocytes. Dogs with at least one clear copy of the gene will not develop the condition.
- Hip Dysplasia (BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme) - Dysplasia means abnormal development, and the degree of hip dysplasia present is indicated by a score assigned to each hip. The hip score is the sum of the points awarded for each on nine aspects of a radiograph (X-ray) of both hip joints. The minimum hip score is 0 and the maximum is 106 (53 for each hip). The lower the score the less the degree of hip dysplasia present. An average (or mean) score is calculated for all breeds scored under the scheme and advice for breeders is to use only breeding stock with scores below the breed mean score. In Spaniels the overall incidence of dysplasia is lower than some breeds. A Score of 10 or less indicates a sound and healthy dog. A 15 year breed average for English Springer Spaniels (2001-2016), shows a Median score of 10 (Range of 0 - 92).
- Elbow Dysplasia (BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme) - As described above, points of the elbow joint are evaluated from radiographs of each elbow and scored from 0 to 3 with 0 being ideal.
- Eye Examination (BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme) - The BVA/KC/International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) Eye Scheme offers eye testing to screen for inherited eye disease. The aim of screening breeding stock, is so breeders can eliminate or reduce the frequency of eye disease being passed on to puppies. Under the scheme a specialist canine ophthalmologists examines a dog to look for clinical signs of inherited disease known to affect the breed in question. If no clinical signs are noted for these diseases, then the dog is declared ‘Unaffected’. If signs consistent with one or more conditions are detected, then the dog will be declared ‘Affected’ for the relevant disease. In English Springer Spaniels, conditions examined for includes Goniodysgenesis/Primary Glaucoma, Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Generalized Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Multifocal Retinal Dysplasia. It is recommended that eyes are examined annually (except for glaucoma predisposition which is only done once by gonioscopy), with the advice given to only breed from dogs that are found to be unaffected (or clear) of all known conditions in the breed.
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