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Spaniels have long been the sportsman’s favourite gundogs and they are one of, if not the oldest breeds of gundogs. The origins of these spirited little dogs go well beyond the advent of the firearm. The first record of spaniel like dogs come from a report on the wild tribes of Britain, around 150 AD. We know this because of the writings of a Roman poet named Oppian who record a valiant breed of tracking dog called “agasseus”. Excavations on the site of a Roman villa in Dorset revealed ceramic tiles depicting a spaniel like dog hunting a stag. Oppian’s dog is likely to be of this breed. Much later, spaniels appeared on the Bayeux Tapestry that illustrated the conquest of England by William I. If you have the chance of visiting the tapestry do look out for this. It is not in the main illustration, rather on the supplementary illustrations on the bottom edge of the tapestry, somewhere around the halfway mark in this amazing work of art. The 14th century English writer, Geoffrey Chaucer, in a poem of 1387 records the earliest use of the word “spaniel” in English literature. Derived from the French “espaignol” it simply meant Spanish dog. Indeed, the breed originated in Spain and made its way to Britain, probably with the migrating Roman legions. Undoubtedly spaniels are one of the world’s most popular gundog breeds and their temperament has much to comment the breed to shooting people. Obedient, hard working, tender mouth and an excellent nose are the ingredients for the all-round shooting man’s dog.
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