General Appearance: Symmetrically built, compact, strong, merry, active. Highest on leg and raciest in build of all British land Spaniels
Characteristics: Breed is of ancient and pure origin, oldest of sporting Gundogs: original purpose was finding and springing game for net, falcon or greyhound. Now used to find, flush and retrieve game for the gun.
Temperament: Friendly, happy disposition, biddable. Timidity or aggression highly undesirable
Head and Skull: Skull of medium length, fairly broad, slightly rounded, rising from foreface, making a brow or stop, divided by fluting between eyes, dying away along forehead towards occipital bone which should not be prominent. Cheeks flat. Foreface of proportionate length to skull, fairly broad and deep, well chiselled below eyes, fairly deep and square in flew. Nostrils well developed.
Eyes: Medium size, almond shape, not prominent nor sunken, well set in (not showing haw) alert, kind expression. Dark hazel. Light eyes undesirable
Ears: Lobular, good length and width, fairly close to head, set in line with eye. Nicely feathered
Mouth: Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular & complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck: Good length, strong muscular. Free from throatiness, slightly arched, tapering towards head.
Forequarters: Forelegs straight and well boned. Shoulders sloping and well laid. Elbows set well to body. Strong flexible pasterns.
Body: Strong, neither too long nor too short. Chest deep, well developed. Well sprung ribs. Loin muscular, strong with slight arch and well coupled.
Hindquarters: Hindlegs well let down. Stifles and hocks moderately bent. Thighs broad muscular, well developed. Coarse hocks undesirable
Feet: Tight, compact, well rounded with strong full pads.
Tail: Set low, never carried above level of back. Well feathered with lively action. Customarily docked.
Gait/Movement: Strictly his own, forelegs swing straight forward from shoulder, throwing feet well forward in an easy free manner. Hocks driving well under body, following in line with forelegs. At slow movement may have a pacing stride typical of this breed.
Coat: Close straight and weather resisting, never coarse. Moderate feathering on ears, forelegs, body and hindquarters
Colour: Liver and white, black and white, or either of these colours with tan markings
Size: Approximate height 51cm (20 inches)
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree
Note: Male Animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum
