For running pheasant, I would want an experienced pointing dog. Sometimes these pheasants will want to run, so after sniffing around a bit, my dog will take off at full speed trying to pin it down. But more often she will disappear in the high grass (1/2 of the field is thigh high the other half is chest high. The birds usually are chased into the chest high grass) After calling and calling her, a bird will pop up way too far ahead. Its a pain. Area is too small and expensive to get a beeper/gps but the dog gets lost in 20-30 yards out.
Spaniels are wonderful dogs. They will get into some of the roughest stuff most dogs wouldn't consider entering. But they are flushers. When on scent of a running bird, I'm too old and rickity too try to keep up.