When standardizing the English Springer Spaniel, what functional trait was prioritized over purely aesthetic features?

Answer

The drive and springing action

A crucial element in the development of the modern English Springer Spaniel was the dedication of early breeders to preserving functional merit. When breed clubs began efforts to define the Springer, they intentionally prioritized maintaining the energetic drive and the essential springing action—the very purpose for which the ancestors were valued in the field. This focus meant that the dog's inherent ability to be an all-day worker, inherited from its utility-driven ancestors, was placed above purely aesthetic traits or conformation standards. This emphasis on maintaining working heritage is why the modern ESS retains such strong working characteristics compared to spaniel lines where conformation may have taken precedence earlier in their standardization.

When standardizing the English Springer Spaniel, what functional trait was prioritized over purely aesthetic features?

Related Questions

Where do the earliest ancestors of the English Springer Spaniel primarily trace their origins?What term was used to categorize the ancestors of the Springer Spaniel based on their environment before breed specialization occurred?Which now extinct breed is widely regarded as the direct progenitor of the modern English Springer Spaniel?What specific weight threshold was instrumental in formally distinguishing Springer Spaniels from Cocker Spaniels?In what year did the Kennel Club officially recognize the Springer Spaniel as a distinct breed separate from other spaniels?What unique characteristic defines the Welsh Springer Spaniel lineage that sets it apart from the English Springer ancestral line?What was the primary function that dictated the early working characteristics of the ancestors of the ESS?Which specialized game species did the smaller Land Spaniels, leading to the Cocker Spaniel, focus on flushing?When standardizing the English Springer Spaniel, what functional trait was prioritized over purely aesthetic features?What did the initial shared ancestry of the English Springer and Cocker Spaniel mean regarding their litters before formal separation?
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