Breed: Gun dog
Height: 15-17¾ inches
Weight: 28-35 pounds
Coat Type: Short, tight and silky
The youngest among all Russian gun dogs, the Russian Spaniel was the first spaniel to be standardized in the Soviet Union, after World War II. The dog is a highly energetic and free-spirited breed. It’s easy going nature and devotion towards its masters makes it a good companion dog. A cheerful and active canine, the Russian Spaniel is easily trainable and hence, makes a good watchdog. The dog gets along well with children and other pets. The best characteristic about the Russian Spaniel is that it can live for as long as 14 to 15 years with very few health concerns. An alert, athletic and pleasant pal, the dog is charming and welcoming to its guests. Read on further to know more about Russian Spaniel dogs.
The Russian Spaniel is known to originate from the cross breeding of English Cocker Spaniels and English Springer Spaniels. There have been evidences of the breed existing in New Zealand in 1891. However, the first recorded Russian Spaniel was a black Cocker Spaniel owned by Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, at the end of the 19th century. Various spaniel breeds were exported to St. Petersburg and Moscow, where some of them were used for hunting games. The beginning of the 20th century saw selective breeding of the spaniels to produce long-legged breeds. Hence, by 1930, a number of different spaniels were found in Moscow, Leningrad and Sverdlovsk, but none of them fitted any specific spaniel breed standard. After World War II, purposeful breeding took place and thus, the original Russian Spaniel was standardized in 1951. The breed gained popularity after the early 1990s. The Russian Spaniel club was set up in 2002 in the Unites States to increase the knowledge of the breed outside Russia.
The Russian Spaniel is a small, sturdy dog with a strong, well built and slightly elongated croup. The short skinny legs of the dog enable it to work rigorously in the fields. It has a small square head with a long square muzzle and big impressive eyes, which makes the dog noticeable. The ears are larger than the head and covered in wavy fur. The tail is normally docked to half length. The dog has a skintight coat with wavy fringes on the ears and back of the legs. The color of the coat is usually white with dark (brown, black or red) spots, piebald and speckled. The dog can also be found in colors varying from solids to tricolors. The head and ears of the dog are mostly dark.
Playful, loyal and friendly, the Russian Spaniel makes a great companion with adults and children alike. Being a gun dog, it has all the qualities required in a hunting dog like stamina, great sense of smell, persistence, energy during the search and inborn willingness to retrieve. Intelligent and easy to train, this dog is always eager to please its masters. The breed is capable of working from a young age and is well-equipped for hunting arid land birds, waterfowl, rabbits and other small games in marshes, fields and woodlands. With plenty of regular exercise, the dog can adjust well in an apartment with a small yard. The dog makes a good companion on long daily walks and jogs.
Russian Spaniel is a healthy dog, but is prone to overeating, thereby gaining weight easily. Hence, the dog must be kept under a strict diet. Also, the long ears of the dog must be cleaned regularly, which can otherwise lead to ear infections. The breed is also subject to food allergies, which can be easily identified between 1 and 5 months of age, the most common being chicken and carrots.
The Russian Spaniel is easy to groom just like other spaniel breeds. The dog should be occasionally brushed and bathed to keep the coat clean and shining. However, the long fringy ears require special care. They should be cleaned and trimmed frequently with regular combing. The ear canals should also be cleaned quite often.