Updated 1/6/2008

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Today, in Australia, the English Springer is one of the countries most glamorous and consistently successful showdogs. 

However, as previously mentioned he was developed as a working dog and is still the most popular and versatile of the spaniels with both the field trial competitor and the rough shooter.  The springer in the field is basically required to hunt through cover, with the guns behind them and flush out the game, which is then shot and retrieved.   In trials, the rules vary slightly in different countries and the standard is generally extremely high.  When the first breed standard was drawn up it was the Springers use in the Field that was the main consideration and factors such as weatherproof coat

A typical English Shoot

were deemed important and functionality was all.

A few dogs, in the early days, did manage to achieve a show and a Field Trial title.  Today, with the standard in both bench and field being highly competitive, it would be a utopian ideal to attempt to breed a dual Champion.   In the UK some show breeders do work their dogs on local shoots and there is a special basic working test for show springers which can make a Show Champion into a Champion if completed successfully.  In general, however breeders now would prefer to have a dog that is not a jack of all trades, but the master of one!

Springers from the Mompesson Kennels, UK demonstrate the "Dual Purpose English Springer"