In hindsight, the spaniel world was pretty complicated at one time. In one litter, a breeder could have Springer Spaniels (the largest pups in the litter), Cocker Spaniels (the smallest pups in the litter), and Field Spaniels, the medium sized pups in between.  Sporting dog authority and writer, Mrs. Bede Maxwell, recounted how one particular dog, Corrin of Gerwin, was initially registered as a Welsh Cocker Spaniel, then re-registered as a Welsh Springer Spaniel. One of his puppies was a registered English Springer Spaniel. Not to be outdone, the first British English Springer Spaniel champion sired a bitch puppy who was registered as a Field Spaniel.  Wow, right?

Breeders of the day were no less confused by this method of breed classification than we would find it today, and it’s finally what lead to a thorough separation of the breeds, and to the disallowance of interbreeding.

Image: Welsh Springer Spaniel by Karen Harding is available as wall art, home decor, and personal items here.