breed of sporting dog known for its poise and tractability; used to spring (flush) game from under thick cover; coat is moderately long, thick, wavy, and feathery; it may be black tricolored, liver tricolored, black and white, or liver and white; ears may be fringed and widen out at ends and hang loosely at side of skull; tail is docked to about one third of its natural length and is carried slightly lower than parallel from ground; eyes are round and deep-set and usually quite dark brown; adult stands 17–20 in. (43–51 cm) tall at shoulders and weighs 35–55 lbs (16–25 kg); called Norfolk spaniel until about 1900; friendly and eager-to-please demeanor; springers and spaniels were often born in the same litter, size alone determining which of the two they eventually came to be called; in 1902 the English springer spaniel became its own breed; Thomas Boughey is generally credited with setting the standards for the modern breed,