Russian Spaniel

The Russian Spaniel is a relatively new breed of dog that was developed after the end of World War II in Russia. The initial beginnings of the breed, prior to the war, were attempts to lengthen the legs of Spaniels such as Cocker Spaniels by introducing dogs like Springer Spaniel into the mix. This led to a variety of Spaniels referred to as Russian Spaniels, particularly in cities like Moscow, Leningrad, and Sverdlovsk, but no real set standards as to what a Russian Spaniel should be. World War II was devastating to the populations of the Russian Spaniel type dogs as well as  most other types and breeds of dog native to the Soviet Union. It was after the war, in 1951, that purposeful efforts in breeding led to the first breed standards. The Russian Spaniel was bred to be a gun dog that could handle both flushing and retrieving responsibilities, with priorities on a strong, athletic build and on greater stamina, while reducing the focus on decorativeness and the breed still seems to be developing. As of this printing, the Russian Spaniel is recognized by a few of the lesser-known kennel organizations, such as the Continental Kennel Club, the North American Kennel Club, and the Federation of International Canines and the standard has been changed twice, once in 1966 and again in the year 2000. The breed has grown in popularity, particularly since the 1990s, and there are breed clubs both in the Soviet Union and in the United States.