A recent article by Country Living highlighted something we see every single day in rescue:
many people love spaniels — but don’t always understand them.

The article, “Things People Get Wrong About Spaniel Breeds”, tackles some of the most common misconceptions around spaniels, particularly around exercise, behaviour, and suitability for everyday homes. And while it’s reassuring to see these myths being challenged in mainstream media, it also raises an important question:

If spaniels are so loved, why do they make up such a high percentage of dogs in rescue?

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Spaniels in Rescue: A Disproportionate Reality

Across UK rescues, spaniels (including Cockers, Springers, and crosses such as Sprockers) are consistently over-represented. Many arrive not because they are “bad dogs”, but because:

• Expectations didn’t match reality
• Normal spaniel behaviours were misunderstood
• Owners felt overwhelmed, unsupported, or unprepared

In our experience, rehoming is rarely about lack of love — it’s about lack of understanding and realistic preparation.

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What the Country Living Article Gets Right

The Country Living piece challenges several long-standing myths, including the idea that:

❌ “Spaniels need hours and hours of exercise every day”

This belief often leads owners to:

• Over-exercise young or sensitive dogs
• Underestimate the importance of rest and calm
• Miss the role of mental stimulation and emotional regulation

The article rightly points out that exercise alone does not create a settled dog — especially for intelligent, sensitive breeds like spaniels.

👉 This is something we repeatedly see in rescue: dogs who are physically exhausted, but mentally overstimulated and unable to switch off.

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Where Misconceptions Lead to Rehoming

When spaniel behaviour is misunderstood, it’s often labelled as:

• “Too hyper”
• “Too needy”
• “Too full-on”
• “Doesn’t calm down”

In reality, many of these dogs are:

• Lacking structure and clarity
• Over-aroused rather than under-exercised
• Struggling with unrealistic expectations

Without the right guidance, families may feel they’ve failed — and dogs end up paying the price by entering rescue.

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What Spaniels Actually Need (and It’s Not Just More Walking)

Spaniels generally thrive when they have:

• Balanced exercise – appropriate for age, health, and temperament
• Mental enrichment – scent work, problem-solving, training games
• Clear routines – predictability builds security
• Support to learn calm – rest is a skill, not an accident
• Understanding humans – who recognise that spaniels are individuals

This balance is crucial — and it’s exactly where many homes struggle without support.

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How Education Keeps Spaniels Out of Rescue

Every spaniel that doesn’t enter rescue usually has one thing in common:
their people understood what they were taking on — or got help early.

That’s why we focus so heavily on education, resources, and realistic conversations, not just rehoming.

Helpful resources you may find useful:

• Our breed information and “is a spaniel right for me?” guides
• Previous blog posts on:
  • Mental enrichment vs physical exercise
  • Helping spaniels learn to settle
  • Understanding arousal, overstimulation, and behaviour
• Practical advice from behaviour-led, welfare-first perspectives

All are designed to support owners before things reach crisis point.

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If You’re Struggling – You’re Not Failing

One of the most important messages we want to share is this:

Needing help does not mean you’ve failed your dog.

Many spaniels end up in rescue because owners waited too long to ask for support — often out of guilt or fear of judgement. Early guidance can make the difference between a temporary wobble and a permanent rehoming.

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Final Thoughts

The Country Living article is a welcome reminder that spaniels are often misunderstood, not unsuitable.
But changing outcomes requires more than awareness — it requires ongoing education, honest conversations, and accessible support.

If we want to reduce the number of spaniels entering rescue, we must:

• Challenge outdated myths
• Share realistic expectations
• Support owners, not shame them

Because when spaniels are understood, they don’t just cope — they thrive.