Instructions
Train the spaniel as a puppy. Proper obedience training is par for any dog, but especially for English Springer spaniels used to hunt rabbits. The dog must be obedient to be effective on a hunt. General obedience training starts when the puppy is about 10-weeks old. As a rule, give the puppy a treat when he performs well.
Teach the puppy to hold its position on command. English Springer spaniels usually flush game birds such as pheasant or quail. This is safe because the bird will ascend in flight out of the line of sight of the hunter. With rabbits, however, both animals are on the ground. Hunters use the word ̶0;Hup̶1; to mean sit and hold position. This is a field-training command.
Introduce the puppy to a tame rabbit. You can put the rabbit in an unsealed, cardboard box or just let loose. Allow the puppy to find the rabbit. This helps him hunt on sight because he knows what a rabbit looks like. It also helps him hunt by scent because of the same reason.
Take the spaniel to a field with wild rabbits. This is not a hunt but more of a progress report. See how many rabbits he finds. Gauge the effectiveness of how quickly he obeys commands.
Put the puppy with older, more experienced dogs on a real hunt. The puppy can run with most any other hunting dog breed. Beagles, however, were specifically bred to hunt rabbits in the field. Whatever the case, the older dogs will help the puppy identify its natural instinct. Repeat this until you feel like the dog can hunt on its own.
After following experienced dogs on a hunt, rehearse a hunting routine with your Springer spaniel to help prepare for the first solo hunt. At this point, your Springer spaniel should be able to "Hup" on command, and should show great interest in rabbits -- but still have the restraint to stay in place until released. Practice "Hup"
and release numerous times outdoors, preferably in a field area where the atmosphere is similar to that in which you plan to hunt. Additionally, your Springer spaniel should demonstrate that the primary focus is on you, the owner, so that they get commands and carry them out quickly and efficiently. With all of these newly learned behaviors in place, your Springer spaniel will be on their way to a successful rabbit hunting dog.
How to Hunt Rabbits With English Springer Spaniels
English Springer spaniels originated in England around the 1500s. They were bred specifically to lead a hunter to game, then flush the game from the brush. Their appearance in America is traced to the turn of the 18th century. English Springer spaniels became very popular after 1924 with the formation of the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association. Adults can reach the height of 21-inches and weigh about 55 lbs. They live 12 to 14 years.