2nd International ESS Symposium

Dr. Tarja Hovila Finland

It was David Swank, USA, who had the original splendid idea of organising a real ESS
event for all breed enthusiasts. His patience and deep commitment to organising
the 1st International ESS symposium held in Ohio, Toledo at summer 2003 was the begining of a tradition of annual ESS symposiums around the world.
Harald Ulltveit-Moe of 'Whisborne' fame took the lead in organising the 2nd.Symposium in Sweden 11.7.2004, and the event took place in wonderful, beautiful surroundings at Tammsvik Manor.

On Saturday 10.7.04 the unforgettable ESS weekend begun with the Annual ESS Club Show, where well known breed specialists Marie Merchant, Australia, and Glenn Miller, England, judged the total entry of 172 ESS, entries were from 5 different countries. Though the morning was cloudy and rainy as is usual this summer, the sun did come through after few morning hours and was shining so beautifully, when the beautiful winners, Stardom Star Traveller (BIS) and Mompesson Sky View (BOS) were crowned as best exhibits of the show later in the afternoon.

Immediately after the show a meeting was held to establish the symposium committee, which has the aim to plan and help organise future symposiums around the world.
Honoury chairman of this committee is David Swank (USA), honoury secretary Harald Ulltveit-Moe (Sweden) and other members Marie Merchant (Australia), Bob Jackson (UK) and Tarja Hovila (Finland).

Later on Saturday night was held a great international party with an excellent, delicious menu as a dinner. The atmosphere was very international, since participants were from very many different countries around the world, New-Zealand, Australia and United Kingdom included. Time passed so quickly and the night continued with dancing in to the small hours for anyone who still had a lot of energy after a long hard show day concentrating in trying to have a look at every entry of the show.

On Sunday morning everyone was up again early to be fresh and ready to participate in the symposium, which gathered lots of breeders and very many judges from different countries. All the auditorium was filled with people, who wanted to learn even more about our beloved breed. Moderator of the event was Göran Bodegård from Sweden, well-known allrounder judge. His way to lead the panel and keep the panelists and public in order, trying at same time to get the audience in to an interactive discussion was really professional and highly appreciated by everyone.

Bengt Norrving, the club chairman, at the beginning of symposium, wished everyone
a big and heartfelt welcome. Then David Swank continued and told about the 1st. symposium in USA 2003 and it's background . The 'soul ' of 2nd symposium, Harald Ulltveit-Moe, presented himself as well and wished everyone a nice day there together.
Göran Bodegård presented the international breed specialist judge panel, which consisted of Marie Merchant (Australia, Clanach kennel), Glenn Miller (UK,'Graftonbury' kennel), Jessie Borregaard-Madsen (Denmark, 'Sieger's' kennel), Annika Ulltveit-Moe (Sweden, 'Whisborne' kennel), Wenche Farstad (Norway, 'Streamside's' kennel) and Tarja Hovila (Finalnd, 'Adamant's' kennel). Also Dr Cynthia Wheeler, participated actively in panel discussions and gave a really interesting and professional lecture about hereditary eye diseases in our breed. Other interesting and professional lectures were those of Wenche Farstad's: about temperament and skin disorders, which also both were held later on the afternoon. 
PRA and DNA test development made a lot of discussion and questions to answer for Cynthia Wheeler.

Panel discussion begun with thinking together, what makes ESS belong to Gun dog family; to Spaniel breed family and on the other hand what are the characteristics which make it different from other Spaniel breeds, and then from other Gun dog breeds. 
There were breeder judges of some other Gun dog breeds among the public, and the moderator gave them the opportunity to explain differences in their breeds/ ESS. 
ESS origin, the original working purpose, correct type and breed standard were widely discussed from many points of view. 
Before lunch break there was a lot of talk about correct topline of ESS, and it was noticed, that breed standard doesnt directly say, how it should be like, but you can find that in different details of it though and draw conclusions of how should it be like. 
Neck should be slightly arched, sloping well into wellplaced shoulders, withers little bit over the back, which was agreed to be level, then a slightly arched well muscled loin, and low tailset with a croup typical for the working breed, in 30 degree angle.

After lunch break the breed standard was taken as a main subject of discussion, and
with the help of a power point presentation Marie Merchant was leading in a professional way the discussion of every specific part of the standard with excellent pictures.
Discussion begun with a talk about 'classic type', and it was a very interesting part of the discussion when all panelists had to explain their thoughts about it. 
Type was understood as main thing in judging ESS, along with balance, correct proportions and breed typical movement; which all are included in correct type ESS. 
You should be able to paint an ESS silhouete with any colour and still be able to see it is an English Springer Spaniel, without checking the details closer. 
Discussion was largely based on what is the original job of this breed meant to be and how should an ESS be built to be able to do it's job, which needs endurance, as well as agility and activity, since originally the breed was bred for finding and springing game for net, falcon or greyhound, and it has to be able to work all day long working on rough cover. 
Kynologically ESS belongs to 'enduride' type dogs, which have a specific construction & proportions allover for it to be able to work a long day in hard circumstances.

General appearance of the breed was understood like standard says it is, an active and merry dog. Todays FCI standard doesnt describe it is an upstanding dog, but it was noticed must be included in it's character: merry and active dog usually does have a good carriage.

Symmetrically built is also a very important description of how ESS looks like.
It is moderate and symmetrical every way. It is standing well and easily on all its legs and looks balanced.

Breed standard's words 'highest on legs and raciest on build of all land spaniels' gave a lot of discussion, since it is a very important point of ESS standard giving many basic ideas of how ESS should look. 
Proportions for this kind of working dog are slightly longer than the height is; not too long , not too short. 
Racy built dog is an elegant one, all details joint smoothly into each other; it is not stocky in appearance. 
Specific head characteristics and details were found very important to the breed and there was talk about which makes ESS head different of other Spaniel breeds. 
Melting true expression consists of many details around the eyes, typical fluting between the eyes , correct muzzle, typical shape of skull and chiselling on the head. Planes were explained to be quite parallel, and also in this part like in some other parts too, it was discussion about AKC standard and FCI standards differences.

ESS is a strong dog, but on the other hand it must have enough agility for it's job as well, so it should be moderate strong, not too heavy, as it makes it less capable for endurance trotting.

Neck length was considered to be about the lenght of head, and neck is slightly arched,
strong, slightly tapering towards head and has good reach. It is essential the neck is like this, since it makes picking the game much easier. Some discussion was also about subject how should throatiness be judged, and it was noticed that usually when ESS has got a correct typical muzzle, there is some throatiness and it is accetable, but when it is so much that it disturbs the overall picture and might be difficult in working duties, it is a fault among others.

Marie Merchant continued her great way to lead the panel discussion with breed standard points by explaining extremely well the correct shape of ESS ribcage, which is also essential to a working dog. It should have well sprung ribs, which are slightly tapering towards end of ribcage and down, and as most wide they are behind elbows, but not so wide that it could disturb the effortless moving. Plenty of heartroom is a great bonus for this breed, as it makes it more capable in endurance. 
Good forechest is a part of correct body too. 
Loin should be strong, muscular, slightly arched and well coupled.

Forequarters should be well angulated, but still giving the possibility for the unique movement of this breed. Shoulders should be sloping and well laid. There was discussion about a common problem in the breed: not enough angulated front. 
Too short and straight upperarm often spoils the breed's typical frontmovement, and front legs drop too early and too sharply down. 
So called 'hackney' movement is highly undesirable for the breed. Short upperarm also makes dog's step too short, so that movement looks too busy. 
Pasterns should be strong and flexible giving the possibility to put front leg smoothly down.

Hindquarters should be in balance with frontquarters; if angulations are not balanced, springers can not move effortless and typically. Stifles and hocks moderately bent, thighs broad, muscular and well developed. Rear part should be strong and powerful enough to give the movement real power. 
Discussion was also about the common problem of a too long second thigh, which gives unbalanced angulation. 
Hans Lehtinen gave a lot of very useful and clever comments, one among them being about funny fashions in showing ESS nowadays. So often the poor dog is stacked in an unnatural position, rear legs way too behind and far away from each other, front lifted up so that all the dog looks way too sloping in topline. ESS should be able to stand easily, naturally on all its legs, when it has got a correct construction and balance.

Feet should be thight, compact, well rounded with strong full pads.

Tailset should be low and tail never carried above the level of back. It was talk about
undocked tails and Hans Lehtinen explained that FCI recommendation as far as standard doesnt describe it's carriage, it should be judged just that part of it , which would have remained after docking.

Movement was explained with picture examples too. ESS has got strictly his own movement and it is a very important breed character. Forelegs should swing easily straight forward from the shoulder, throwing feet well forward in an easy free manner. Hocks driving well under body, following in line with forelegs. ESS has got an unique 'delaytime' in it's frontmovement, it can hold front leg when it is in most distant extension, without having any sign of being busy while moving. The really typical ESS movement is not so often seen in showring today.

Then discussion continued with coat and colour illustrating pictures of different markings, which all are accetable, there should not be penalizing because of certain markings. 
Coat quality is important in thinking of working all day in water and field; it should be water resistant. ESS coat should not be coarse. 
Feathering should be moderate. Too much feathering is not desirable, since it makes difficulties in the forest. ESS coat should have natural look, and it should not be spoilt by too heavy grooming.

About size, panelists were also of same opinion, that when it is in standard 'approximate height 51 cm', there is no certain limits of penalizing, if dog is not exactly 51 cm . Common problem is that males are little or much higher, but when the size doesnt disturb the balance of dog, it is not such a bad fault but acceptable.

Through discussion some notes were given about in which parts AKC standard is different than FCI, and there was also discussion about correct translation of the Standard to different languages.

After standard discussion and small coffee break the symposium continued with those excellent lectures which were mentioned earlier, about healthy, temperament and about possibilities and limitations of artificial insemination in dogs. Cynthia Wheeler and Wenche Farstad gave extremely interesting and professional views about theses subjects and we all could get some new thoughts in to the future of breeding.
Cynthia Wheeler was hopeful that there will be dna test availabele for ESS PRA some day in the future and her way of giving the facts of eye diseases was truly professional.

Time passed so quickly and suddenly we noticed that it was time to thank everyone who participated, time to thank all who organised this wonderful opportunity for us all, and time for panelists to say few last words. 
In general all panelists seemed to agree that there were shown a lot of high quality ESS of correct type in Club Show.
Finnish panelist was little bit worried about that not many Finnish breeders attended in this symposium and that the tendency is more likely to go travel to Baltic countries, where you see only very few ESS; it would be much more educational to come where the quality is higher in general than in own country.

Let's hope the tradition of symposiums will go on over years and with it even more international co operation for our lovely breeds most bright future will be done!