The Russian Spaniel is a type of spaniel first standardised in 1951 in the Soviet Union after World War II by cross breeding English Cocker Spaniels English Springer Spaniels and other spaniel breeds. Physically it is similar to a Cocker Spaniel but has a shorter tighter coat and a longer body. Developed and used as hunting dogs this breed does not suffer from any major health complaints other than those normally associated with spaniels.