Wil-Orion Engligh Springer Spaniels came into existance in 1969 when Janice Johnson (then Janice Willms), who was not yet a teenager, persuaded her parents, Charles and Agnes Willms, to purchase their first Springer.  Wil-Orion Springers now spans three generations, with the entire family participating in the hobby.

Charles and Agnes Willms reside in central Minnesota, where it all started.  They now have 3 Springers living with them.  It must be nice to have so few!

Janice, Steve and Erica Johnson now reside in Gainesville, Georgia, where they have been since early in 2000.  The dogs seem to have made the adjustment from the cold tundra of Minnesota to the hot and humid environment in Georgia even better than the human members of the family.

Our dogs have become the foundation for several Springer kennels, including CrownRoyal, Cedarwood, Springbrook, Tagalong, McD's and Hirdler Hill.