A chocolate springer spaniel is properly called liver and white in color, though many people use the term 'chocolate' at first - they are definitely not for eating. This is one of the basic breed standard colors of the English Springer Spaniel. In England, the other pedigree coloring is black and white. Both the liver and white and the black and white may also have tan markings, which leads to the complete Breed Standard of fours colors (other colors are acceptable in other countries). English Springers with tan markings are known as Liver and White Tricolor or Black and white Tricolor.
The tan markings may be on the ends of the feathering, on the eyebrows and cheeks, the tail and the ticking on the legs. The feathering is the wispy hair found on the chest and belly, the rear of the legs, on the underside of the tail and between the toes. The 'ticking' is best described as small spots of colour blended with the background colour. In England, pure bred dogs without any ticking are rare.
In the USA, breed standards for the English Springer are slightly different:
* Black or liver with white markings
* Predominantly white with black or liver markings
* Blue or liver roan
* Tricolor - black and white or liver and white with tan markings
Tan markings are usually located as in the Breed Standard for England. Roan is usually defined as an evenly distributed mixture of white and colored hairs that does not grey or fade as the animal gets older.
Coloring is also important in the nose of the springer. The nose should be fully pigmented, either liver or black to match the coat. No pink areas are permissible - this would a fault in a show-dog. Under the Breed Standard in England, noses should only be black.
The coloring of the eyes is important in the Breed Standard - the appealing eyes are one reason why people love these dogs. The irises should harmonise with the colour of the coat - for a liver and white coat they should be dark hazel (the deeper the color the better), and black or deep brown for black and white dogs. Eyerims should be fully pigmented, matching the color of the coat. Yellow or brassy eyes are not desirable. For dogs under the Breed Standard in England, irises should be black or almost black for the dog with a black and white coat; hazel for a liver and white coat.
In comparison, the Welsh Springer Spaniel has only one accepted coloring, that of red and white. Indeed, coloring is one of the principal differences between English and Welsh Springers (physical conformation being the other main distinguishing feature). The red is a rich and golden gingery color, quite different to the liver and white of the English Springer. So, 'chocolate' never applies to a Welsh Springer. Any pattern of coloring is acceptable and any white areas may have red ticking.
Eyes should be brown, though yellow eyes do sometimes appear and would be penalised in a show-ring. Noses may be black or brown, and as with the English Springer, any pink on the nose is a show-fault in the USA.
