Why an English Springer Spaniel?

 

My parents thought for a long time, which breed to choose. As my father was a hunter – he obviously needed a hunting companion; whereas my mom wanted a gentle, patient dog – good playmate for the children (I was ten months, and my sister nine years old). And of course – last but not least - he had to be “beautiful”. They were turning over the pages of dozens of books about different breeds, talking to friends, calling Kennel Clubs...

When they found a picture of an English Springer Spaniel in one of those books (I think it was a portrait of GREIF vom Techernsee), the decision was taken.

There were not a lot of Springers in Poland at that time, but they successfully found a kennel, and on a frosty Sunday morning (11th of March 1979) my father went for a puppy - by train… I was too small to remember it, but mom told me, that when she had seen that small, freezing, unhappy pup, her heart was broken. It was love from the first sight.


Me (Justyna), my sister Anna, Jaga, Bella - owned by my aunti
(white dog) and kitten which name I don't remember.
This photo was taken on my holiday in Kashube.

Jaga, still wet after hunting....

"Jaga" IZYDA z M³ocińskiego Lasku was a wonderful hunting dog. Tireless in water, irrespective of any weather conditions. I remember that after returning from hunting, she used to fall under a kitchen - table and sleep there for two days..., but my father would always say that in the woods she would never show signs of being tiered.

She left tragically. It was spring, and she had a litter at that moment. Mom took her for a walk, and when they returned, Jaga went to her children, laid down and started to die.... I was only five years old, but I still remember that day as if it were yesterday. Her eyes full of love and pain...

There was only one girl puppy in this litter, "Kora" KORA Jaga z Szemreyc (AKI z Kogutkowa x IZYDA z M³ocińskiego Lasku), and she naturally stayed with us. She took over a huge passion after her mother. Even today, among our hunting circle, you can hear stories about Kora… While she was swimming for a duck, she noticed another one on the way and.... we all thought she would only bring the first one and after that - return for the second. But no... She swam up, with the first duck in mouth, for the second one, she caught it, and then swam back gently to the shore, retrieving both animals to my father.

 

Kora had more luck than her mother, she lived with us to a hoary age. She left, leaving us her daughter – Fara (FARA Jaga z Szemreyc) – which was with us for thirteen years... unfortunately – she died 31 July 2002...

 

Kora and my sister Anna with Diploma I degree from Tests of the pointers and hunting-dog's work small breed.

When I was setting up my own family, I knew that there had to be ESS in it. Unfortunately, this bred was at that time not very popular in Poland, so it was not easy to find an ESS puppy. However, I finally managed to find one...