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This guide covers 14 spaniel breeds and spaniel-type breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The AKC’s broader spaniel-type list also includes the Papillon, but it is excluded here because its official name does not contain “Spaniel.” Two naming details matter: the AKC uses Cocker Spaniel, rather than “American Cocker Spaniel,” and officially calls the breed Brittany, not “Brittany Spaniel.”
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Spaniel breeds at a glance
The table is a useful first filter, but it cannot replace meeting an individual dog. Exercise needs, sociability, noise level, grooming tolerance, and health can vary within every breed.
| Breed | AKC group | Activity level | Coat and care | Best household fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Water Spaniel | Sporting | High | Curly or wavy; regular brushing | Active household with outdoor interests |
| Boykin Spaniel | Sporting | Moderate to high | Medium-length, wavy or curly; routine grooming | Active family or hunting home |
| Brittany | Sporting | High | Short, feathered coat; relatively manageable | Very active owner |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Toy | Moderate | Silky, feathered coat; regular brushing | Companion-oriented home that still provides walks and play |
| Clumber Spaniel | Sporting | Moderate | Heavy, shedding coat; frequent cleanup | Roomier, quieter household |
| Cocker Spaniel | Sporting | Moderate to high | Long, silky coat; substantial grooming | Engaged family or companion home |
| English Cocker Spaniel | Sporting | Moderate to high | Feathered coat; regular brushing and ear checks | Active but home-oriented household |
| English Springer Spaniel | Sporting | High | Double, feathered coat; regular grooming | Active home able to train daily |
| English Toy Spaniel | Toy | Moderate | Long, silky coat; routine brushing | Quieter companion household |
| Field Spaniel | Sporting | Moderate to high | Moderate feathering; regular brushing | Patient owner who enjoys outdoor activity |
| Irish Water Spaniel | Sporting | High | Tight curls; regular coat maintenance | Active, experienced household |
| Nederlandse Kooikerhondje | Sporting | High | Medium feathered coat; routine grooming | Active home that enjoys training |
| Sussex Spaniel | Sporting | Moderate | Dense, feathered coat; regular grooming | Moderate-activity or quieter household |
| Welsh Springer Spaniel | Sporting | High | Red-and-white feathered coat; regular brushing | Active household with space and structure |
14 spaniel dog breeds to know
1. American Water Spaniel
Profile: A compact American field and water dog developed in the upper Midwest. The AKC lists the breed at 15–18 inches tall and 25–45 pounds.
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What living with one is like: This athletic, eager breed generally needs more than a couple of casual walks. Swimming, retrieving, scent games, hiking, and structured training suit its working background. It can adapt to suburban life when its activity and companionship needs are met, but a bored American Water Spaniel may invent its own entertainment.
Coat and care: The coat may be wavy or curly and needs regular brushing, particularly after outdoor activity. Check the ears after swimming or bathing and dry them carefully.
Training and health: Early socialization, recall work, and positive training are important. A prospective owner should ask a responsible breeder for the current parent-club and OFA/CHIC screening recommendations, including any applicable eye, hip, or other evaluations. This is a better approach than relying on a generic “healthy breed” label.
Best match: An active household that wants a versatile companion for water work, field activities, or dog sports.
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2. Boykin Spaniel
Profile: This brown-coated Southern hunting companion was developed in South Carolina as a flushing and retrieving dog. It is medium-sized, eager, merry, and generally trainable.
What living with one is like: Boykins often enjoy being involved in family activities and may be happiest when they have a job, whether that means retrieving, hiking, nose work, or obedience practice. They can live in the suburbs, but their sporting instincts still need an outlet.
Coat and care: The wavy or curly coat requires routine brushing and inspection for burrs. The pendulous ears deserve regular checks, especially after swimming.
Training and health: Use consistent, reward-based training and expose the dog gradually to people, dogs, water, vehicles, and new environments. Ask breeders to document the health testing recommended by the Boykin Spaniel parent club and relevant registries rather than accepting verbal assurances.
Best match: An active family, outdoor enthusiast, or hunting home that wants an affectionate working dog.
3. Brittany
Profile: The AKC’s official name is Brittany, not Brittany Spaniel. It is a versatile, agile pointing dog with a notably high activity level.
What living with one is like: Brittanys are built for movement and engagement. Running, hiking, field training, retrieving, scent work, and advanced obedience can all be appropriate outlets. A large yard by itself is not a substitute for interaction and training, and this is not a low-maintenance family dog.
Coat and care: The relatively short, lightly feathered coat is easier to maintain than the profuse coat of some show-bred spaniels. Brushing still helps remove dirt and loose hair.
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Best match: A very active household prepared to provide daily physical work and mental challenges.
4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Profile: A Toy Group breed with genuine sporting-spaniel ancestry. Its companion-oriented temperament makes it gentler and more adaptable than many field spaniels, but it is not merely a sedentary lapdog.
What living with one is like: Cavaliers often fit apartments or suburbs well when they receive daily walks, play, training, and close human company. Many enjoy rally, agility, scent games, and longer outings. They generally do poorly with prolonged isolation.
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Coat and care: The silky, feathered coat needs regular brushing, with extra attention behind the ears, legs, and tail. Inspect the long ears routinely and seek veterinary advice for redness, odor, discharge, or repeated scratching.
Training and health: Gentle, reward-based training and early socialization suit this sensitive companion. Health screening is especially important: ask breeders for documented, current breed-club recommendations, including cardiac, eye, hip, and patella evaluations where applicable. Screening does not guarantee an individual dog’s future health, but absent or vague records are a serious warning sign.
Best match: A companion-focused home that wants a small, affectionate dog and can provide regular activity and company.
5. Clumber Spaniel
Profile: The Clumber is the largest of the AKC’s flushing spaniels. It is heavyset, mellow, and generally more deliberate than the high-drive field breeds.
What living with one is like: Clumbers can suit a calmer household, but “calm” does not mean inactive. Regular walks, exploratory sniffing, and manageable training sessions help maintain fitness and good manners. Their size and slower style make them less suited to cramped spaces than their quiet temperament might suggest.
Coat and care: Expect substantial shedding, regular brushing, and possible drooling. Keep the feathering clean and check the ears, skin folds, and feet after walks.
Training and health: Patient, food-motivated training usually works better than pressure. Ask about the breed’s current recommended orthopedic, eye, and other health screening before buying a puppy; the breeder should provide actual results from recognized programs.
Best match: A quieter household with room for a large dog and tolerance for hair, dirt, and occasional drool.
6. Cocker Spaniel
Profile: The AKC-recognized Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Sporting Group and was recognized by the AKC in 1878. It is a separate breed from the English Cocker Spaniel.
What living with one is like: Cockers can be cheerful, affectionate companions when their exercise, training, and social needs are met. They often enjoy walks, retrieving, trick training, and dog sports, while many are content to relax with the family afterward.
Coat and care: The long, silky coat requires a real grooming commitment: frequent brushing, careful trimming, and professional grooming for many pet dogs. The heavily feathered ears need routine inspection and should be checked after moisture or muddy walks.
Training and health: Early socialization and reward-based training help channel enthusiasm and prevent overexcitement. Ask breeders about current eye, hip, and breed-specific screening recommendations, and request written results rather than relying on a health-tested claim.
Best match: A family or companion home willing to budget for grooming and provide daily interaction.
7. English Cocker Spaniel
Profile: The English Cocker is a distinct British gun dog, not another name for the AKC’s Cocker Spaniel. It is compact, merry, and capable of being lively outdoors and mellow at home.
What living with one is like: Field-bred dogs may have considerably more drive than some show-line examples. Walking, retrieving, scent games, and training are useful outlets. A suburban home can work if the dog is not left to become bored.
Coat and care: The feathered coat needs regular brushing and checks for tangles, burrs, and debris. Pay particular attention to the pendulous ears and keep them dry after water exposure.
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Training and health: English Cockers generally respond well to upbeat, consistent training. Socialization should include handling and grooming practice. Ask the breeder which current English Cocker health screens have been completed and verify the results through recognized testing databases where available.
Best match: An active but home-oriented household that can accommodate either a sporting partner or a moderately energetic companion, depending on the line.
8. English Springer Spaniel
Profile: English Springers were bred to “spring” game for hunters and remain energetic flushing and retrieving specialists.
What living with one is like: This breed typically needs significant daily exercise, training, and mental stimulation. Hiking, retrieving, scent work, field activities, and dog sports can be excellent outlets. Without a plan, an English Springer may become noisy, destructive, overexcited, or difficult to settle.
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Coat and care: The double, feathered coat needs regular brushing and periodic trimming. Inspect the ears, armpits, feet, and feathering after outdoor adventures.
Training and health: Begin recall, impulse control, calm settling, and socialization early. Ask breeders for current parent-club screening records, including relevant orthopedic, eye, and other evaluations, and ask whether the parents’ temperaments and working drives suit your household.
Best match: An active owner who wants a trainable sporting dog rather than a low-effort family pet.
9. English Toy Spaniel
Profile: The English Toy Spaniel was bred primarily as a royal companion and belongs to the Toy Group. It is separate from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat living with one is like: Its small size and companion history can make it suitable for apartment living, but it is still intelligent and active enough to need walks, play, training, and social contact. It may prefer a quieter household to one filled with rough play or constant commotion.
Coat and care: The long, silky coat needs regular brushing, especially around the ears, chest, and legs. Handle grooming gently and make coat care part of early socialization.
Training and health: Short, positive sessions are preferable to repetitive or forceful training. Discuss current breed-club recommendations for cardiac, eye, patella, and other relevant screenings with breeders, and request documentation.
Best match: A quieter companion home looking for a small dog that still enjoys activity and engagement.
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Profile: A relatively rare, sensitive all-purpose spaniel and close relative of the Cocker and Springer Spaniels. The AKC describes it as docile but vigorous and game for activity.
What living with one is like: Field Spaniels often need a balance of exercise and emotional steadiness. Long walks, scent games, retrieving, and training can meet their working instincts, while harsh or chaotic handling may undermine confidence. They can live in the suburbs with sufficient activity and companionship.
Coat and care: The moderate feathering requires regular brushing and inspection after woodland or field walks.
Training and health: Use patient, reward-based methods and socialize carefully rather than flooding a sensitive dog with unfamiliar experiences. Ask breeders for current orthopedic, eye, and other screening records recommended by the Field Spaniel parent club.
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11. Irish Water Spaniel
Profile: The Irish Water Spaniel is the tallest of the AKC’s spaniel-type breeds. Its tightly curled coat and distinctive tapering “rat tail” make it immediately recognizable.
What living with one is like: This is an active working breed and swimming specialist, not a low-exercise companion. It needs substantial physical and mental engagement, plus training that gives its intelligence a constructive direction. A home with access to safe exercise and owners comfortable with a larger, energetic dog is preferable.
Coat and care: The curls need regular maintenance to prevent matting. Dry the coat thoroughly after swimming and inspect the ears and skin rather than assuming the coat is self-cleaning. Although it may shed less visibly than many feather-coated breeds, it is not hypoallergenic or allergen-free.
Training and health: Early socialization and confident, positive training are essential. Ask breeders for documented current recommendations for hip, eye, and other relevant health screening.
Best match: An active, experienced household that welcomes water work, grooming, and training.
12. Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
Profile: This small Dutch sporting and decoy dog is agile, alert, energetic, and affectionate. It may be easygoing at home while remaining demanding outdoors.
What living with one is like: Kooikerhondjes benefit from structured activity, training, scent work, and opportunities to use their brains. They can adapt to an apartment or suburban home if their exercise and social needs are met, but their small size should not be mistaken for low drive.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsCoat and care: The medium-length, feathered coat needs routine brushing and inspection for tangles and debris. Include calm handling of the ears, feet, and tail in puppy training.
Training and health: Sensitive, intelligent dogs generally respond best to positive methods and careful socialization. Ask the breeder for current parent-club recommendations and documented screening for relevant orthopedic, eye, and inherited conditions.
Best match: An active owner who enjoys training and wants a smaller sporting dog.
13. Sussex Spaniel
Profile: The Sussex Spaniel is known for a placid, affectionate, even-tempered profile and a deliberate hunting style.
What living with one is like: Its slower pace may suit a moderate-activity or quieter household better than an English Springer or Brittany. It still needs regular walks, sniffing opportunities, training, and healthy weight management. A calm temperament is not a reason to skip exercise.
Coat and care: The dense, feathered coat needs regular brushing and inspection for mats, especially after wet or muddy outings. Check the long ears routinely.
Training and health: Use patient, consistent training and reward calm cooperation. Ask breeders about current hip, eye, and other screening recommendations and examine the actual records before committing to a puppy.
Best match: A steady household wanting an affectionate spaniel with a lower-key working style.
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14. Welsh Springer Spaniel
Profile: The Welsh Springer is a vigorous, medium-sized bird dog with a happy disposition and a distinctive red-and-white coat. It is a separate breed from the English Springer Spaniel.
What living with one is like: Welsh Springers generally need regular outdoor activity, training, and family involvement. They can live in a suburban setting, but daily walks alone may not satisfy a dog with strong sporting instincts. Recall and reliable response around wildlife deserve particular attention.
Coat and care: The feathered red-and-white coat needs routine brushing and checks for burrs and tangles. Ear inspection should be part of normal care.
Training and health: Positive, consistent training and early socialization help produce a confident, manageable adult. Ask breeders for current Welsh Springer screening records and clarify which orthopedic, eye, and other evaluations apply to the parents.
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Best match: An active household that wants a distinctive British sporting dog and can provide structure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose the right spaniel for your household
Start with activity, not appearance
Flowing ears and expressive eyes can make every spaniel look approachable, but the most important question is what the dog was bred to do. Brittanys, English Springer Spaniels, Irish Water Spaniels, Welsh Springers, and many working-line Cockers need owners who genuinely enjoy daily activity and training. Cavaliers, English Toy Spaniels, and Sussex Spaniels may fit quieter homes more readily, but none should be treated as a decorative accessory.
Consider grooming honestly
Long feathering means brushing, drying, mat removal, and sometimes professional grooming. Clumbers add heavy shedding and possible drool. Curly-coated breeds such as the Irish Water Spaniel need a different kind of maintenance, with regular attention to coat condition and drying. If you do not want a grooming routine, choose neither by coat color nor by puppy size.
Apartment living can work—but only for the right dog and owner
Square footage is only one factor. A well-exercised Cavalier, English Toy Spaniel, or Kooikerhondje may manage an apartment better than an understimulated Springer in a large house. Consider stairs, neighbors, barking, access to safe exercise, time alone, and whether you can provide mental work every day.
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Individual temperament, early socialization, training, supervision, and the child’s behavior all matter. Children should be taught not to disturb a dog while it is eating, sleeping, hiding, or trying to leave. Even a friendly spaniel needs an adult supervising interactions with young children.
Ask for health records, not promises
Before buying or adopting, ask what health problems are relevant to the specific breed and what screening the parents or adult dog has received. Responsible breeders should identify the current recommendations of the breed’s parent club and recognized screening programs, such as OFA/CHIC where applicable, and provide verifiable results. A test result lowers risk; it does not guarantee a puppy will never become ill.
Spaniel care issues owners should expect
Ear care
Long, pendulous ears can reduce airflow and retain moisture, which may make ear problems more likely. They do not guarantee an infection, and there is no universal cleaning schedule that prevents every problem. Inspect the ears routinely, dry them after swimming or bathing, and ask a veterinarian what cleaning product and frequency are appropriate. Odor, redness, discharge, pain, head shaking, or persistent scratching warrants veterinary advice.
Exercise and mental work
Spaniels were developed to work closely with people. Physical exercise is only part of the equation: retrieving, scent games, obedience, trick training, swimming where safe, and controlled exposure to new environments can also help. Avoid promising a fixed number of minutes for every breed. Age, health, weather, individual drive, and whether the dog comes from working or show lines all change the answer.
Allergies
There is no genuinely hypoallergenic spaniel. The Irish Water Spaniel may shed less visibly than many feather-coated breeds, but all dogs produce allergens. Spend time with adult dogs before bringing one home, and discuss allergy management with a medical professional if someone in the household reacts to dogs.
Important name distinctions
- Cocker Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel: These are separate AKC breeds. “American Cocker Spaniel” is an informal term sometimes used to distinguish the AKC’s Cocker Spaniel from the English breed, but it is not the AKC’s current official name.
- Brittany: The AKC lists the breed as Brittany. “Brittany Spaniel” remains common in conversation because of the breed’s history, but it is not the current official AKC name.
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and English Toy Spaniel: These are separate breeds with different standards and histories. Their similar names do not make them interchangeable.
Breed descriptions and naming details in this guide follow the American Kennel Club’s spaniel and breed resources. For a specific dog, use your veterinarian and the relevant breed parent club for current health and care advice.
FAQ
Which spaniel is best for a first-time dog owner?
There is no universal answer. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Sussex Spaniel may suit a moderate-activity owner better than a Brittany or English Springer Spaniel, but grooming, health screening, training ability, and time alone still matter. Meet adult dogs and assess the individual rather than choosing from a breed label alone.
Are spaniels good apartment dogs?
Some are. Small companion breeds such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and English Toy Spaniel can adapt to apartments with daily walks, play, training, and companionship. A Kooikerhondje or sporting spaniel may also manage apartment life with a committed owner, while inadequate exercise can make any spaniel noisy or destructive.
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Which spaniel sheds the least?
No spaniel is truly hypoallergenic. The Irish Water Spaniel may shed less visibly than many feather-coated breeds, but it still produces allergens and requires regular curly-coat maintenance. Coat and allergy tolerance should be evaluated by spending time with adult dogs before adoption.
Do spaniels need their ears cleaned every week?
Not necessarily. Pendulous ears can retain moisture and may be more prone to problems, but cleaning frequency depends on the individual dog, ear health, lifestyle, and veterinary advice. Inspect the ears routinely, dry them after water exposure, and contact a veterinarian for odor, redness, discharge, pain, or persistent scratching.
The Bottom Line
The right spaniel is the one whose working history, energy, grooming needs, and temperament fit your actual routine—not simply the one with the prettiest ears. Choose among active field dogs, moderate sporting companions, and smaller toy breeds with a realistic plan for exercise, training, grooming, socialization, and veterinary care.
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