English Toy Spaniel: Your Complete Guide

English toy spaniels are one of the smallest dog breeds around. They don’t weigh much, don’t have a lot of height, and love to snuggle up to their owners. The breed comes from England, hence the name and you can recognize them from their bright colors, short nose, and domed head.

Their appearance aside, English toy spaniels are a popular breed. They’re known for their gentle and friendly temperament, which makes them popular in homes that have multiple pets, children, and other dogs. Furthermore, English toy spaniels are known for loving to please their humans. This makes them easy to train and fun to play with.

English toy spaniels are great dogs, but that doesn’t mean they’re for everyone. It’s important to understand the nuances of this breed to determine if they’re the right fit for you and your family. Read on to learn everything you need about English toy spaniels below.

Quick Look at the

Below is a quick glance at the English toy spaniel regarding their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of English Toy Spaniels?

Small spaniel breeds like the English toy spaniel have been popular in Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world for centuries. Their lineage can be traced back to the 15th century from regions of the world like Asia.

While these dogs became popular in Europe, that doesn’t mean the breed originated from Europe. In fact, most historians believe that toy spaniel breeds originated in China or Japan.

That said, some of the world’s most powerful people, like Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Victoria, adored their English Spaniel companions. However, the dog didn’t become the English toy spaniel you know and love today until much later.

Based on breeding history, the English toy spaniel came to be when toy spaniels from Britain, and toy breeds from Japan were mixed during the 1800s.

Since they hit the scene in the early 1800s, they’ve been a popular dog breed. They’ve been a part of the American Kennel Club (AKC) since 1886 and remain to be a common breed across the world. Unfortunately, they’re still not too common in the United States. Therefore, you might have to look for international breeders if you want an English toy spaniel.

What Do English Toy Spaniels Look Like?

English toy spaniels have been around for a long time, so they have a distinct appearance. In the past, they used to have all black or all tan hair, but as they were bred more over the years, specific colors have been added to their roster. Today, English toy spaniels can be black, tan, red, white, or a combination of these colors.

Hair aside, English Toy spaniels are still easy to recognize. They have long, hairy, and droopy ears that hang down to their shoulders. Their head is dome-shaped, with a short nose and tiny eyes. Typically, their eye color is black or a dark brown that almost looks more black than anything.

Some other notable features include their small height, lightweight, and tiny legs. English toy spaniels are a toy breed, so they’re one of the smallest dog breeds you can find. This makes them lightweight, short, and stumpy. They don’t have a muscular build and a unique appearance that’s hard to miss in most cases.

What Size Is an English Spaniel?

English toy spaniels are some of the smallest dogs you can find. They’re only a few inches in height, typically less than 10, and often weigh less than 10 pounds. There also isn’t a lot of size variation between males and females. While males might have an extra inch or a pound or two, it’s hardly noticeable unless you measure them or place them on a scale.

What Is an English Toy Spaniel’s Coat Type and Length?

English toy spaniels have a slightly wavy or straight coat. It has long tufts of hair along its legs (close to the feet) and at the base of its tail. The average English toy spaniel has a medium-length coat.

The actual hair in the coat is soft and silky to the touch. This is why many people love to have the English toy spaniel as a lap dog; it’s like sitting with a tiny ball of puff in your lap.

What Is an English Toy Spaniel’s Temperament?

English toy spaniels have a gentle and mild temperament. Essentially, they get along well with families and don’t show too many signs of aggression. English toy spaniels are also known for being loyal, quiet, and easy to train. After all, there’s a reason that they’ve been bred consistently for hundreds of years.

Their temperament also makes them perfect for companionship. They’re small enough to relax on someone’s lap, and they’re quiet and hard to startle. So, you don’t have to worry about them springing into action at the first sign of something going wrong.

English toy spaniels are also calm, gentle, and not aggressive. You don’t have to worry about them being obnoxious with your children or other animals in the home. Still, they can become aggressive if you’re not giving them plenty of love and affection.

Are English Toy Spaniels Good With Kids?

English toy spaniels are great with kids! Their small size reduces the danger of letting your child and a dog interact, and they’re not known for being aggressive like some other toy breeds. Ultimately, once an English toy spaniel is comfortable with your family, you shouldn’t have any issues between them and any children in the house.

That said, watch how your English toy spaniel and child play with one another. These are small dogs, so if your child is playing too rough, you might want to separate them.

Are English Toy Spaniels Good With Other Animals?

Yes, English toy spaniels are great with other dogs. They don’t have a prey instinct like some larger dog breeds, so they’re less likely to bolt out the door and chase small animals. Additionally, English toy spaniels get along well with other dogs in the house, even larger breeds.

While English toy spaniels are usually great with dogs and other animals, this isn’t guaranteed. Therefore, ensure you take them through early socialization training for the best results.

Are English Toy Spaniels Aggressive?

No, English toy spaniels are not aggressive. They’re not aggressive and won’t act out against their owner. That said, they can be standoffish with strangers until they open up to them. Keep this in mind when introducing new people to your English toy spaniel.

Do English Toy Spaniels Bark?

English toy spaniels don’t bark often. They will only bark to alert you to something that’s important. Depending on the spaniel, this could be a squirrel outside your home or a stranger approaching. Therefore, it’s best to spend time with English toy spaniels before adopting.

Are English Toy Spaniels Affectionate?

English toy spaniels are affectionate dogs that love to sit on their owner’s lap and sleep in their beds. They’re also loyal and love to follow you all around the house, so be prepared to have them accompany you to every room. English toy spaniels will also lick you often as a sign of their affection.

Are English Toy Spaniels Intelligent?

English toy spaniels are intelligent dogs that can learn complex commands, solve puzzles, and even perform service dog tasks with the right training. Their high intelligence also makes them easy to train, as long as you can overcome their stubbornness.

Are English Toy Spaniels Energetic?

English toy spaniels don’t have too much energy, but they do love to play outside and should be walked daily. This will tire them out and ensure that both of you can enjoy a good night’s sleep. Some great ways to expend some energy include playing fetch, walking, and even jogging if they can keep up.

Are English Toys Spaniels Easy to Train?

English toy spaniels are easy to train because of their high intelligence. While they’re smart dogs, that doesn’t mean they’re always easy to train. This is because they can become stubborn if they’re not getting lots of treats or praise during the training process.

That said, they can learn tricks for agility, solve complex problems, and learn as many commands as the smartest breeds like German shepherds.

Are English Toy Spaniels Good Watchdogs?

English toy spaniels are not the best watchdogs, but their standoffish attitude towards strangers can help them alert you to danger if strangers are approaching.

While alert and good at getting your attention, they tend to bark at anything that walks past the door. They’re also not the bravest dogs, so they might not act to protect your family if they feel threatened. However, they are loyal and will alert you to strangers approaching your home. You can also focus on training if you want them to become better watchdogs.

Are English Toy Spaniels Good Service Dogs?

English toy spaniels aren’t the best service dogs for physical disabilities, but they can be effective for psychiatric work because of their loving personality. While they’re not big enough to push wheelchairs or guide people through crowds, they can apply deep pressure therapy (DPT) to help someone get through a panic attack.

English toy spaniels are also easy to train, so they can be trained to fetch medications, get help, and prevent people from encountering triggers. For these reasons, English toy spaniels are great service dogs for people with mental health disabilities.

It’s also important to note that they’re a good fit for emotional support. As an emotional support animal (ESA), they’re small enough to fit in most apartments, and they love being affectionate and sitting on laps. This makes them great candidates for therapy dog work as well.

How to Care for an English Toy Spaniel?

English toy spaniels are healthy dogs that are easy to care for. While they need regular grooming and exercise, they’re not any harder to care for than most other breeds. Plus, they’re one of the easier toy breeds to watch for if you have the time to spend with them.

Speaking of time, it’s important to brush their coats often to prevent matting and ensure you trim their nails once a month. Their hair should also be trimmed monthly around the feet, ears, and neck. If possible, clean their ears monthly and give them a good wash once a month with your favorite dog shampoo.

Don’t have the time to do this all manually? Thankfully, professional groomers can help you care for your English toy spaniel. Monthly visits can help you get this all done at once.

Do You Need to Groom an English Toy Spaniel

Yes, English toy spaniels need to be groomed. Their hair needs to be brushed often, daily if possible, which should be easy because they love to sit in your lap. Aside from brushing their hair, bathing and trimming their coat is necessary every month.

Also, keep an eye on their dental health and nails. Trim their nails when they get long and give them treats that improve their dental health.

Do English Toy Spaniels Shed?

English toy spaniels shed often, but not as much as some extreme shedding breeds. These dogs have thick, silky, double coats that will shed and cause hair to pile up around your house.

Make sure you brush it often to reduce shedding. Shedding can also be maintained through bathing. A good bath here and there can reduce the amount of hair that turns up around the house.

What Health Problems Do English Toy Spaniels Have?

English toy spaniels are healthy dogs, especially if you get them from the right dog breeder. Unfortunately, sometimes dogs get sick or have allergies that are out of your control. The good news is that you can be prepared to treat these conditions if you know what they are.

Some common health problems English toy spaniels face include:

• Eye Problems: Later in life, conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and entropion are common.
• Heart Problems: Mitral valve disease is common in English toy spaniels, along with other cardiovascular illnesses later in life.
• Luxating Patellas: Dislocation of the knee or multiple knees.
• Dental Problems: In some cases, English toy spaniels may lose their teeth before the age of ten.
• Lazy Tongue: A condition that develops later in life, which causes the tongue to hang from the mouth.
• Diabetes: This can be inherited but commonly develops as type 2 diabetes due to poor diet and age.
• Hernias: Caused by muscle strain, more common as English toy spaniels age.
• Epilepsy: You can notice symptoms of epilepsy, like seizures, from a young age in English toy spaniels.

These are the most common health problems that English toy spaniels face. Other conditions like syringomyelia are also common and can lead to mental health and mental degeneration as they get older.

Always take your English toy spaniel to the vet to catch these conditions early and prevent them from worsening as they age.

How Long Do English Toy Spaniels Live?

English toy spaniels have a shorter lifespan than most toy breeds. On average, toy spaniels will last for around 10 to 12 years. To help them live a long life, avoid overfeeding them and catch obesity early before it turns into severe health problems. Overall, feeding them a healthy diet and helping them exercise is the best thing you can do for longevity.

What Should English Toy Spaniels Eat?

English toy spaniels need a diet that consists of high-quality food. Focus on food that’s specifically made for small or toy breeds, and check to see if it comes with healthy fats, fiber, and protein. You can choose between kibble, wet food, or a combination of kibble and wet food.

If you’re starting with an English toy spaniel puppy, make sure they get plenty of food and feed them at least four times per day. On the other hand, older dogs only need two main meals. Watch their food intake and avoid overfeeding them to prevent conditions like obesity.

Is an English Spaniel the Right Dog for Me?

Are you looking for a lapdog? Or perhaps a companion that follows you around the house? Then an English toy spaniel is perfect for you. They’re also great dogs if you live in a small apartment with small animals or children.

English toy spaniels are awesome at adapting to new environments and getting comfortable with small animals and people; just make sure you keep an eye on them to ensure everyone behaves.

The only time an English toy spaniel isn’t right for you is if you’re not okay with their intensive attention and grooming needs. These dogs need to be brushed often to prevent matting, so if you plan on giving them a good brush while they’re comfortable in your lap, it might not work out. Also, their bark can be loud if they’re untrained and barking in your home often.