The name "springing spaniel" included in one classification the ancestral stock from which many of our present day land spaniels emanated. In 1902 the Kennel Club of England recognized the English Springer Spaniel as a distinct breed

Though several individuals in America had these spaniels for their shooting, it was not until 1924, when the English Springer Spaniel Field Trail Association was formed, that they became better known. Field trials were inaugurated, and three years later (1927) the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association became the parent club of the breed.

This association has aimed to further the English Springer Spaniel both on the bench and in the field. A Standard was approved when the association was formed and later, in 1932, a committee representing the entire breed drew up a new and better Standard, which was adopted by the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association and approved by the American Kennel Club. This Standard was made as nearly as possible to foster the natural ability of the Springer Spaniel, a hunting dog that, with training, could do the work required of him.

The association has also conducted field trials every year, and it has endeavoured to demonstrate to the public just how good the dogs are as shooting dogs. As competittion becomes greater, they must of necessity be able to cover their ground rapidly and, if well trained, to obey signals or orders given to them.

Unquestionably the present Standard has helped to make the Springer more uniform as a breed, and as a result the dogs as individuals have become much more uniform at shows and in field trials. They are admittedly great sporting dogs, hence should not be allowed to lose any of their standard characteristics; that is, they must not become heavy boned and stocky in type and thus risk any loss of usefulness in the field. Their one purpose is to hunt and find game.