How were Spaniels categorized geographically in England before specialized standards emerged?
Answer
As land spaniels or water spaniels
In the early days of Spaniels in England, dating back to at least the 14th century, the primary method of classification was functional and geographical based on the environment where they were utilized for hunting. Dogs were broadly divided into two categories: those operating on solid ground, termed land spaniels, and those specializing in retrieving from aquatic environments, termed water spaniels. The ancestors of the modern English Springer Spaniel firmly belonged to the land spaniel group.
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