Not usually kept as pets, the dogs are often owned by German foresters and professional hunters. In the 1960s and 70s, several German Spaniels were imported into the United States, and descendants of those dogs are now used in Canada to track down and flush out American black bear. A further pair of dogs was brought to the United States in 1994, and the United Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1996, placing it in the Gun dog group. There is thought to be about 100 German Spaniels in North America.