I am always intrigued to find out more information on English Springer Spaniels, field bred or show bred. It was to my delight that I stumbled upon the following website; www.birddogfoundation.com! The Bird Dog Foundation Inc, located in Grand Junction, Tennessee is the home to three facilities; the National Bird Dog Museum, the Field Trial Hall of Fame and the Wildlife Heritage Center. Due to the sporting heritage and geographical location, west Tennessee is known as the birthplace of America’s pointing dog field trials and home of the 100 year old National Field Trial Championship. Its proximity to the Mississippi River draws many waterfowl hunters, and is known to bird dog hunters all over the world.

The Bird Dog Foundation mission statement; “Dedicated to preserving the past and protecting the future for sporting dog fanciers the world over.”

The National Bird Dog Museum is home to the art and photos of more than 40 different breeds of bird dogs and memorabilia of the bird dogs and their breeders/ owners/ trainers. History’s most famous bird dogs are represented by notable works of artists and sculptors who have devoted their artistic abilities in the sporting dog world. The early history of the National Field Trials, which started at the Ames Plantation, as well as the history of Grand Junction are displayed. The National Field Trials continue to be held at the Ames Plantation every year just like the previous 100 years.

The Wildlife Heritage Center is an educational center for adults as well as children on upland game birds and waterfowl and the steps needs to protect them for the future.

The Field Trial Hall of Fame is a showcase for the bird dog superstars of the Field Trials and their human counterparts. In the 1930’s there was quite a bit of interest to honor the success of bird dogs and people who devoted their time and service to the sport. In 1953, rules were compiled by William F. Brown and on June 19, 1954 the Field Trial Hall of Fame nominations began. Nominations for outstanding bird dogs are based on their careers and for people dedicated to the field trials. This is where you can visit the website or the facility to see the outstanding Springers who have been selected for their distinguished abilities in the field!

There are several hundreds of purebred dogs that AKC does not recognize. At his current time there are ten breeds that are working on AKC recognition.

If you watch the Westminster Dog Show you will notice that they do accept new breeds and they do compete with other recognized breeds. The 2009 Westminster Dog Show introduced the Dogue de Bordeaux as a recognized breed. Most of us know this dog as “Hooch” from the movie “Turner and Hooch”. Although the Dogue de Bordeaux first came to the U.S. in the 1890’s, it was placed in the Miscellaneous Class in 2006. In July 2008, the breed was AKC recognized and finally eligible to compete in the Working Group.

The AKC has a list of requirements for development of a new breed. This includes an active parent club that is working to expand the breed over a geographic area. When all the criteria are met for the breed they are entered into the Miscellaneous Class. They may compete and earn titles in companion and performance events. The breed may also compete in Junior Showmanship. When the AKC Board of Directors feel that the breed is striving for healthy growth, it is then admitted into the Stud Book and may compete with other recognized breeds.

As of January 1, 2009, AKC has 161 recognized breeds. The breeds to gain recognition as of January 1, 2009 are the Irish Red & White Setter, Pyrenean Shepherd and the Norwegian Buhund.

The ten breeds that are currently in the Miscellaneous Class are Bluetick Coonhound, Boykin Spaniel, Cane Corso, Cesky Terrier, Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Icelandic Sheepdog, Leonberger, Norwegian Lundehund, Redbone Coonhound, and the Xoloitzcuintli. It will be interesting to see what breed will be recognized next!

I have lived in Pennsylvania all my life and I know that our official state dog is the Great Dane. I was wondering which state claimed the English Springer Spaniel as their state dog. In doing some research, I was surprised to find that only nine states have named state dogs. Although, Springers cannot by found in that list of dogs, they were used in the development of the Boykin Spaniel. Some of the reasons for the choice of state dog were obvious, and other choices left me wondering why that dog. Further research made the choices more clear.

In 1964, Maryland claimed the Chesapeake Bay Retriever as their official state dog. The “Chessie” can trace their origin to two Newfoundland dogs that were rescued in 1807 from a floundering ship off the coast of Maryland and bred with Irish Water Spaniels and different types of retrievers for hunting and retrieving fowl in the rough and icy waters of the bay. This breed was recognized by the AKC in 1878.

Pennsylvania claimed the Great Dane in 1965 as their official state dog. The Great Dane originated in Germany about 400 years ago. William Penn, the founder of the Keystone state, was the owner of a Great Dane. A portrait of William Penn and his Great Dane hangs in the Governor’s reception room. This breed was recognized by AKC in 1887.

In 1966, Virginia chose the American Foxhound as their state dog. The American Foxhound was developed in colonial times for fox hunting from Irish, English and French hounds. George Washington owned many hounds at Mount Vernon and made a big contribution to the development of the breed. The breed was recognized by AKC in 1894.

In 1979, Louisiana chose the Catahoula Leopard Dog as their state dog. This dog was breed to find livestock in any type of terrain and handle wild cattle and wild hogs in Louisiana. The Catahoula Leopard Dog is the only native domesticated North American breed developed by Native Americans and early settlers. The breed is currently not recognized by AKC.

Massachusetts chose the Boston Terrier as their state dog in 1979. The Boston Terrier originated in Boston, Massachusetts in 1869 from a cross of the English Bulldog and a white English Terrier and later bred with the French Bulldog and other similar breeds to produce the dog we know today. The Boston Terrier was recognized by AKC in 1893.

In 1985, South Carolina picks the Boykin Spaniel as their official state dog. The Boykin Spaniel was bred for hunting wild turkeys in the swamps in South Carolina in the early 1900’s. A stray dog with excellent hunting abilities was bred by Whit Boykin with other gun dogs including English Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Pointers, Setters, Labs, Beagles and American Water Spaniels. While the Boykin Spaniels do participate in the AKC Spaniel Hunt tests the Boykin Spaniel Club and Breeders Association of America (BSCBAA) is currently seeking AKC breed recognition.

Wisconsin picks the American Water Spaniel as their official state dog in 1985. The American Water Spaniel is the only native breed to Wisconsin. There is little documentation of their origin but the theory of cross breeding of the English Water Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Curly Coated Retriever, Irish Water Spaniel, Tweed Water Spaniel and maybe Chesapeake Bay Retriever is thought to be the development of this breed. AKC recognized this breed in 1940.

North Carolina claims the Plott Hound in 1989 as their state dog. The Plott Hound was developed in the mountains of North Carolina by a German immigrant Jonathan Plott around 1750 from the wild boar hounds that he brought into the country. He kept his strain pure and then passed his dogs to Henry Plott. A Georgia hunter, who was breeding a strain of “leopard spotted bear dogs”, heard of the famous Plott Hounds and convinced Henry to cross with one of his dogs. That single cross breeding is the only known time of new blood since the dogs were brought into this country. The breed was only recently recognized by AKC in 1998.

In 2005, Texas chose the Blue Lacy as their official state dog. The Blue Lacy is the only breed that originated in Texas. The Lacy brothers in the mid 1800’s developed the Blue Lacy by breeding of coyote or wolf, English Shepherd, Greyhound and possibly scent hounds to produce this herding dog. At this time the AKC does not recognize this breed.

Certainly there are enough breeds of dogs for the other 41 states to choose their official state dog!

Westminster Kennel Club will hold their 133rd annual dog show at Madison Square Garden Center in NY on February 5 through February 11, 2009. This is the Super Bowl for Dogs!! The dog show has been televised since 1948! USA Network will air part of the first night of the live show of judging of the hound, terrier, non-sporting and herding groups on Monday, February 9, 2009 from 8 to 9 pm Eastern Standard Time and then CNBC will finish airing the rest of the judging from 9 to 11 pm (EST). On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, USA Network will air the second night of judging of the sporting, working and toy groups from 8 to 11 pm (EST) ending with the Best in Show finale!

Every year Westminster invites the top dogs in each breed to compete in the show. The English Springer Spaniels that were invited this year are CH Amilyn Fanfare, Ch Cerise Jesse James (call name Jesse), CH Cerise Signature of Telltale CD RN (call name Dustin), CH Crossroad Crownroyal Miracle (call name Bloomie), and CH Tara’s Master of D” Game. You can see the majority of these amazing Springers in the Volume 10 number 2 issue of The Springer Showcase or at www.springershowcase.com. You can also see some of them at www.essonlinemagazine.com, volume 3 issue 3.

Overall, there are 27 English Springer Spaniels entered to compete for Best of Breed and the winner will later compete in the Sporting Group. Dogs for all over United States are entered to compete and also several dogs from foreign countries. California has the most entries with 265, followed by New York with 235 and Pennsylvania with 180 entries. Canada has the most entries for a foreign country of 74.

I will be faithfully watching and rooting for the English Springer Spaniel that wins Best of Breed to go all the way!!!!! “Go Springers!”

The list of pets in the White House pets include lions, tigers and bears, oh my! Also elephants, zebra, hyena, badger, bobcat, wallaby, coyote, pigmy hippo, alligators, snakes, silkworms, turkeys, roosters, and a goose too! Other pets were horses, ponies, donkeys, sheep, cows, goats, pigs, raccoons, rabbits, lizards, an owl, parrots, a mockingbird, parakeets, lovebirds, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats and mice! Of course, there were cats and dogs as well!

Our 5th President of the US, James Monroe (1817 to 1825) had the first spaniel in the White House. The spaniel was owned by his daughter, Alice. Since the English Springer Spaniel was recognized in 1930 as a separate breed, the spaniel owned by Alice could have been any one of the spaniel breeds we know today.

Our 41st President, George H. W. Bush (1989 to 1993) had two English Springer Spaniels in the White House, Millie, being the most famous and her son, Ranger.

Our 43rd President, George W. Bush (2001 to present) had Spot, who was born in the White House, and a daughter of Millie. I am sad to learn that Spot at age 11 has recently passed away.

Will the new US President have an English Springer Spaniel? We all know how intelligent English Springer Spaniels are, and I think every US President can use intelligent people and dogs on his side!

My English Springer Spaniel’s call name is Eliot. His registered name is KayNDee Sir Thomas Stern Eliot. All this means is that the kennel was KayNDee and the rest is what was decided on for a name. My daughter picked Sir Thomas Stern Eliot after the poet T.S. Eliot. We decided that Eliot was a good call name for him.

Eliot was born in Canada to Ch KayNDee Let Me Be Your Wings (father – call name Comet) and Ch KayNDee Bunny Jolyroche (mother – call name Bunny). Therefore he is registered with the CKC (the Canadian Kennel Club). CKC was formed several years after the AKC.

Kennel names of prominent breeders were first used by the AKC in September 1887. This was to differentiate all the dogs of the same breed that were named “Spot”. It also protected the kennel name. Can you imagine the confusion at the first dog shows without using the kennel name!

In January 1903 the AKC allowed no entries under a kennel name unless the kennel had been registered. Then in February 1934 the rules were more defined. New rules were that the AKC would not “protect any person against the use by any other person of any kennel or trade name as part of the name of a dog or in connection with the sale or showing of dogs unless the permission to use that kennel or trade name has first been obtained from the AKC.” The rule also states that if a kennel does not register any dogs under their name for six years, the ownership of the kennel name shall become expired.

In 1949, the rules were changed to limit the kennel name ownership to five years. After that the kennel had to apply for renewal. These rules still remain unchanged. To read about more of the AKC regulations, see www.AKC.org.

Spaniels were native dogs to Spain and are thought to have made their way to Britain by migrating Roman legions. Excavations of a Roman Villa in Dorset, England show cave drawings of hunting spaniels around 150 AD. Spaniels appear in The Bayeux Tapestry which represents the conquest of England by William I in 1066. The 14th century English writer Geoffrey Chaucer, wrote a poem in 1387 first using the written word Spaniel in English literature.

The purpose of spaniels was to serve as hunting dogs. Before guns were used to shoot game, spaniels would flush the game and a trained falcon or hawk would capture the prey. After the flintlock gun was introduced in Britain in the late 17th century, sportsmen started training gundogs. In the next three hundred years, spaniels were trained to hunt within an area, flush the game for “fly shooting” and retrieve the game with his soft mouth for his master. Spaniels were also popular hunting dogs in America in the 1700’s.

Around 1800 the Boughey family of Aqualate in Shropshire, England began carefully breeding the first English Springer Spaniel and started keeping a stud book in 1813. It was here that Mop I whelped in 1812 was the first pure strain of the English Springer Spaniel.

In 1902 the Kennel Club (based in London, England) gave recognition to the English Springer Spaniel as a separate breed. Years later in 1930 Westminster (founded in New York, USA) also gave recognition to the English Springer Spaniel as a separate breed.

The English Springer Spaniel has became the most effective gundog with every desirable trait a hunter could want all wrapped up in one intelligent, friendly dog! The Springer has a natural ability to spring the game and hunt along with being a good swimmer and retriever as well as great family dog!

As a dog lover, February means The Westminster Dog Show! Every year I am excited to watch and cheer for the English Springer Spaniel who won best of breed and is competing with the rest of the Sporting Group to hopefully win the Best in Group award. Then on to the Best in Show!

Westminster’s first dog show was in 1907. Westminster has given out an award for Best in Show every year except in 1923. English Springer Spaniels were first entered at Westminster in 1916. As per Westminster web site the Norfolk Spaniel, which later became the English Springer Spaniel were first entered in 1916 and 1917 in the Miscellaneous Class. Then in 1921 an English Springer Spaniel is entered in the Miscellaneous Class. In 1923 a category is set up for Springer Spaniels and later becomes the English Springer Spaniel in 1930.

English Springer Spaniels have a record of fifteen Best in Group wins, the most of any breed. English Springer Spaniels also have a record of six Best in Show awards. That is quite an accomplishment! Only two other breeds exceed that record. The Scottish Terriers have seven Best in Show awards and the Wire Haired Fox Terriers have thirteen Best in Show awards.

In 1963, Ch Wakefield’s Black Knight was the first Springer to receive the coveted award!
In 1971, Ch Chinoe’s Adamant James won with handler, Clint Harris!
Then in 1972 Ch Chinoe’s Adamant James (handler Clint Harris again) was picked by a different judge for the second year in a row for Best in Show! He must have been quite handsome!

There are only seven dogs who won Best in Show twice at Westminster. Only one other dog, a Smooth Fox Terrier (Ch Warren Remedy) has won a Best in Show award three times (1907, 1908, and 1909).

In 1993 Ch Salilyn’s Condor (call name Robert, who is my dog’s great-grandfather) was the Best in Show winner!
In 2000, Ch Salilyn ‘N Erin’s Shameless (who is the daughter of Salilyn’s Condor) was the Best in Show!
Then in 2007, Ch Felicity’s Diamond Jim was the Best in Show! Both Ch Salilyn ‘N Erin’s Shameless and Ch Felicity’s Diamond Jim had the same handler, Kellie L. Fitzgerald to take them to the Best in Show!

Will there be an English Springer Spaniel who wins Best in Show next year? I hope so, I will be cheering for them!