From akc.org:   

Spaniels are flushing breeds and their primary purpose

is to hunt, find, flush and return birds to hand as quickly as possible in a pleasing and obedient manner.

Judges evaluate the performance of each spaniel entered according to a specific scoring system based on their natural ability to hunt, find game, flush, and retrieve.

Judges also score a spaniel’s work in the field based on their learned abilities – range, pattern, gun response and response to commands.

Spaniels can be tested at three different levels: Junior, Senior and Master.

 *also open to Irish Water Spaniels, Airedale Terriers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Curly-coated Retrievers, Flat-coated Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, Poodles (Standard and Miniature).