What two functionally diverged strains of the English Springer Spaniel are prevalent in the UK?
Show Line and Field Line
The English Springer Spaniel breed, although recognized universally as one breed by major kennel clubs, has functionally split into two distinct strains, particularly within the United Kingdom: the Show Line, also referred to as Bench-bred, and the Field Line, also known as Working-bred. This divergence is a result of breeders focusing on entirely different selection pressures over several decades. The Show Line is optimized for appearance in conformation shows, adhering strictly to the written breed standard regarding physical structure and symmetry. In contrast, the Field Line is optimized for hunting performance, prioritizing traits like exceptional scenting ability, speed, agility, and responsiveness to training commands, often resulting in significant physical differences even though their registration papers appear identical.
