At a Glance
Cocker Spaniel
Smallest sporting spaniel, silky coat, gentle temperament.
English Springer Spaniel
Larger, high-energy, a versatile bird-flushing gun dog.
Brittany Spaniel
Points rather than flushes; often simply called "the Brittany" today.
Irish Water Spaniel
Tallest spaniel, curly waterproof coat, built for cold-water retrieving.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Toy breed, purely a companion, never developed for fieldwork.
Did You Know?
The word "spaniel" is believed to derive from an old term referencing Spain, reflecting the group’s likely origins on the Iberian Peninsula before spreading across Europe.
The spaniel family covers a surprisingly wide range — from the tiny, purely companion Cavalier to the water-loving Irish Water Spaniel — united mostly by soft, feathered coats and a generally gentle temperament.
Working Style Sets Them Apart
Most spaniels flush birds into the air for a hunter, but the Brittany points and holds instead — a key working difference that also shapes each breed’s general energy level and trainability.
Size Ranges Widely
From the toy-sized, purely companion Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to the much larger, athletic Irish Water Spaniel, the spaniel group spans a wider size range than most breed families on this site.
Coat Care Varies by Type
Silky-coated breeds like the Cocker need regular brushing to prevent matting, while the Irish Water Spaniel’s dense curls require a different grooming approach entirely — worth researching the specific breed’s coat before adoption.
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