Appearance
English Springer Spaniels are broken into working and show breed lines. While they are registered together, the gene pools have been kept completely separate for near 80 years. In fact, to the casual observer the field-bred Springer and the show-bred Springer appear to be different breeds. A field-bred Springer would not be competitive in a modern dog show, while a show-dog would be unable to display the requisite speed or stamina to succeed in a field trial.
Field-bred English Springer Spaniels have shorter, coarser coats than the show-bred dogs. Their ears are less pendulous, and they are wiry and have more of a feral look than a show-bred dog. The tail of the field-bred dog maybe be docked but it is left longer so it can be easily spotted in the field.
Coat and Color
The Springer's coat comes in three different color combinations: black-and-white, liver-and-white, or either of these combinations with tan markings that are usually on the cheeks and above the eyes. Dogs bred for show are generally more color than white, whereas sporting dogs tend to have more white in their coats for visibility.
Size
Male English Springer Spaniel show dogs average approximately 18 to 20 inches at the withers and weigh on average between 50 and 55 pounds. Females are generally smaller, averaging closer to 40 pounds. According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI, World Canine Federation) breed Standard, the English Springer Spaniel should be 20 inches at the withers.