
FCI-Standard N° 123 / 28.10.2009 / GB
FIELD SPANIEL
ORIGIN : Great-Britain.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 28.07.2009.
UTILIZATION : Flushing and retrieving dog. Ideal for rough shooting or companion for
the country dweller. Not suitable for city.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 8 Retrievers, Flushing
Dogs, Water Dogs.
Section 2 Flushing Dogs.
With working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Well balanced, noble, upstanding sporting
Spaniel, built for
activity and endurance.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Unusually docile, active, sensitive, independent.
HEAD : Conveys the impression of high breeding, character and nobility.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Well chiselled, occiput well defined, lean beneath
eyes. A thickness here gives
coarseness to whole head. Slightly raised eyebrows.
Stop : Moderate.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Well developed with good open nostrils.
Muzzle : Long and lean, neither snipy nor squarely cut.
In profile curving gradually from
nose to throat.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete
scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth
closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Eyes : Wide open but almond-shaped with tight lids showing
no haw. Grave and gentle
expression. Dark hazel in colour.
Ears : Moderately long and wide, set low and well feathered.
NECK : Long, strong and muscular enabling dog to retrieve his game without undue
fatigue.
BODY :
Back and loin : Strong, level and muscular
Chest : Deep and well developed. Ribs moderately well sprung.
Length of rib cage is two-
thirds of the body length.
TAIL : Previously customarily docked. Set on low. Never carried above level of back. Nicely
feathered, with lively action
.
Docked: Docked by one third.
Undocked: Reaches approximately to the hocks. Of moderate
length in balance with the
rest of the dog.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Legs of moderate length. Straight, flat bone.
Shoulder : Long and sloping and well laid back.
Forefeet : Tight, round with strong pads and not too small.
HINDQUARTERS : Strong, muscular
.
Stifle : Moderately bent.
Hock : Well let down.
Hind feet : Tight, round with strong pads and not too small.
GAIT/MOVEMENT : Long, unhurried stride with great drive from the rear. Short
stumping action undesirable.
COAT
Hair : Long, flat, glossy and silky in texture. Never curly, short or wiry. Dense and
weatherproof. Abundant feathering on chest, under body and behind legs, but clean from
hock to ground.
COLOUR : Black, liver or roan. Any one of these with tan markings. In self-coloured dogs
white or roan on chest permissible. Clear black/ white or liver/ white unacceptable.
SIZE AND WEIGHT : Approximately 45.7 cm (18 ins ) at the withers.
Weight: between 18-25 kg (40-55 lbs).
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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on its ability to perform its
traditional work.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS :
• Aggressive or overly shy
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities
shall be disqualified.
N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the
scrotum.
STANDARD from www.fci.be
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