English Springer Spaniel vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Side-by-side comparison of two popular breeds — temperament, exercise, grooming, lifespan and common health issues. Use it to decide which breed fits your home.

	🐕 English Springer Spaniel	🐕 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Group	Sporting	Sporting
Origin	England	Canada (Nova Scotia)
Weight	18–25 kg	16–23 kg
Height	46–53 cm	43–53 cm
Lifespan	12–14 years	12–14 years
Energy level
Trainability
Grooming needs
Good with kids
Good with other pets
Hypoallergenic
Watchdog instinct
Novice-owner OK

🐕 English Springer Spaniel

Temperament

Cheerful, friendly, eager-to-please, sociable. Springers are excellent with children and other dogs.

Exercise

90+ minutes of daily exercise. They love retrieving, scent work and water.

Grooming

Medium-length coat with feathering. Brush 3× weekly. Long ears need weekly cleaning.

Health

Hip dysplasia. Eye conditions (PRA, retinal dysplasia). Ear infections. Phosphofructokinase deficiency (DNA test). "Rage syndrome" historically, mostly bred out.

Full English Springer Spaniel profile →