14 Spaniel Dog Breeds for Canine Lovers

American Cocker Spaniel

The American cocker spaniel is one of the most popular spaniels. It is the smallest breed in the American Kennel Club Sporting Group. Their compact size, lively personalities, and sweet expression endear them to dog lovers worldwide. Smart, athletic, and eager to please, this people-oriented and playful breed enjoys the company of respectful children. They usually get on well with other dogs too. Their coat is high-maintenance and will require regular grooming unless kept clipped short.

American Water Spaniel

This rare medium-sized breed originated from the Great Lakes region of the United States during the 19th century from several other breeds, including the Irish and English water spaniels. They are known for their strong water retrieval skills. They make excellent family pets, although they require plenty of exercise to meet their high energy levels. These spaniels are intelligent and lively, developing strong bonds with their family members.

Boykin Spaniel

Another spaniel native to the United States, the Boykin is the official dog of South Carolina. Its athletic physique and webbed-toes were developed to retrieve fowl from swamps, lakes, and rivers. If you live near a lake or the ocean, this water-loving breed could be a good match. The Boykin is known for being gentle, friendly, and enthusiastic. They respond well to positive training methods, tend to be very sociable, and love being active. If they get enough exercise and enrichment, then they're usually mellow and snuggly.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Despite only being recognized officially by the AKC in 1995, the Cavalier King Charles has a long and noble heritage. They're the most popular spaniel in the United States today. Their popularity can be attributed to their typically affectionate, sociable, happy-go-lucky, and eager-to-please personality.

Although they're an active breed, their energy is more subdued. They were originally bred as companions for British nobility. They will not need as much exercise as the average spaniel and are a popular choice for apartment living. Cavaliers are a member of the AKC Toy Group and are smaller than most spaniels.

Clumber Spaniel

One of the biggest spaniels on our list, the Clumber is calmer than many of their other working relatives. Clumbers tend to be mellow around the home. Although they can be determined once they get a scent, they aren't as fast or active as cockers or springers. They can be wary around strangers, but they respond well to positive training and socialization. Clumbers are notoriously jowly. You'll need to be prepared to clean up a fair amount of drool. Relatively rare in the United States, you might need to go on a waiting list to secure a Clumber pup from a reputable breeder.

English Cocker Spaniel

Compact, enthusiastic, and agile, cocker spaniels were once prized as woodcock hunting companions, likely the source of the breed's name. Nowadays, English cockers are a popular, active companion breed. They have a silky coat and soft eyes that will melt the heart. They also love spending time with their human family. Often described as Velcro dogs, they're best suited to a household where they'll have company for most of the day.

They share similar characteristics to the American cocker, although their hunting drive tends to be more pronounced. You might need to work harder on recall training, and you'll have to ensure they get plenty of exercise and stimulation around the home.

English Springer Spaniel

English springers are another famous spaniel. One of the busiest, driven, and active spaniels, they aren't suited to a sedentary household. They thrive when given the opportunity to use their fantastic scenting abilities, and they love having a job to do. English springers often work as drug and bomb detection dogs for the police and military. Affectionate, sociable, eager to please, and very trainable, these dogs are exuberant and easily over-aroused. Reward-based training methods work well with this breed.

Papillon

You might be surprised to learn that the papillon has spaniel ancestry. This toy breed used to have dropped ears before it was selectively bred to have ears that form the upright butterfly-like shape they have now. Papillons are also known as continental toy spaniels. They are one of the smallest spaniels but are far from just a lapdog.

One of the toy breeds' smartest, these feisty little characters are known for being friendly, alert, and active. Intelligent dogs are highly trainable and are often masters at performing tricks. They can have a stubborn streak, though, so keep things interesting to motivate them. These little dogs can have a big voice. You'll want to work on rewarding quiet behavior and avoid leaving them on their own for long periods.

Welsh Springer Spaniel

The Welsh springer spaniel is closely related to its English counterpart, although a little smaller. They only have red and white markings. The Welshie is affectionate, active, and happy. They're also known for being a bit more laid back around the home and a little less busy outdoors. This breed develops strong bonds with its families. They need a household with people around for most of the day to prevent them from becoming distressed. They can also be a little warier around strangers and are more prone to alert barking.

English Toy Spaniel

The English toy spaniel is known for its sunny personality and cuddly nature. It looks a lot like the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and like that breed, it is a beautiful companion dog. It is devoted and very much attached to its family and will gladly shadow you wherever you go. They are fantastic cuddlers, happy to occupy your lap. This breed cannot be left alone for too long. Its small size makes it easily portable. They only need moderate exercise—a couple of walks a day will suffice.

Field Spaniel

Closely related to cocker and springer spaniels, field spaniels hunted game in England's vast fields. They have abundant energy and are playful, loyal, and intelligent. They bond tightly with their family and make an excellent fit for an active household. They need plenty of space to run around and aren't recommended for people living in apartments, condos, or homes without backyards. Without proper exercise, they can become bored, mischievous, or even destructive.

Irish Water Spaniel

The Irish water spaniel—also called the rat tail spaniel for its distinctive, smooth tail—is a medium to a larger-sized gun dog used for retrieving waterfowl like ducks and geese and flushing and retrieving upland game like quail and pheasant. They are solidly built, athletic dogs that are loving, devoted, and affectionate with their families, but they can be standoffish with people they don’t know. They are alert and curious. They have a unique and charming appearance with loose cascading curls on the head.

Kooikerhondje (Kooiker)

The Dutch kooikerhondje, or kooiker for short, is a petite spaniel with an easygoing temperament. This dog's compact size and friendly nature accompanied duck hunters for centuries, but today they’re masters of canine competition, such as flyball and agility. The kooiker is a low-maintenance, alert family companion but can be wary of strangers. Their distinctive white and orange (or red) coat is eye-catching, but one of the kooiker’s most notable features is the long black hair feathering or "earrings" on its ears.

Sussex Spaniel

The Sussex spaniel is less commonly seen than its other spaniel relatives. During the late 18th to early 19th century in England, the breed was developed to be built low to the ground to navigate thick underbrush and for barking to mark its location. Around World War II, they nearly went extinct. They're affectionate, happy, intelligent, and have lots of stamina. They aren't as energetic or fast as some other spaniels, but they are typically loyal family companions, craving attention and a deep bond with their family.