About Cocker Spaniels

By MacDonald

Instructions

History

Step 1:
Cocker Spaniels were developed and refined in their native England from the 1400s. Used primarily for hunting game birds, the term "Cocker" originated from its proficiency in hunting woodcock. They were brought to the United States in the 1860s, and recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1878. The breed surged in popularity in the post-war 1940s, and American bred Cocker Spaniels were bred to a slightly different standard. In 1946, the English Cocker Spaniel was officially recognized by AKC as a breed different from the American Cocker Spaniel.

Identification

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Cocker Spaniels are small dogs, weighing from 25 to 35 lbs and standing between 13 ½ inches to 15 ½ inches at the shoulder, with a sturdy, athletic build. Their long silky coat is flat or slightly wavy, close on the body, with feathering on the legs and the long, pendulous ears. The have an intelligent, friendly expression, dark eyes and a well balanced, high domed head. The coat may be slightly trimmed for showing but is essentially left natural. Tails are usually docked. Cocker Spaniels come in several colors, from pale cream, liver and black to parti-colored. The full breed standard is listed below in Resources.

Types

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There are two main types of Cocker Spaniel. The American Cocker Spaniel, as described above, is about two inches shorter, and with a sturdier build, than the taller and more fine boned English Cocker Spaniel. The colors, temperament and coat standards are identical for both types. Within the two types, coat color is broken into three sub-categories. Solid color black dogs may be completely jet black, or have small tan or rust points on the feet, face and below the tail. Any Solid Color Other than Black (ASCOB) Cockers are any solid color from pale cream, buff or gold to deep brown. Finally, the parti-color variety has two or more coat colors, one of which must be white.

Function

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Like all spaniels, the Cocker is a bird dog, primarily bred for hunting lowland and woodland game birds. While no longer used much for hunting in the United States, the Cocker Spaniel has excelled in many dog sports, like obedience, agility, tracking, flyball and rally. It remains a popular choice as a family dog, because of its sweet temperament and easy trainability

Considerations

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Cocker Spaniels have relatively few health problems, as a rule. Like any dog that becomes popular and over bred, some genetic defects are possible in carelessly bred dogs. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA.), other eye problems like glaucoma and cataracts, and skin allergies are largely avoidable if a breeder tests the sire and dam to make sure they are not carriers for these conditions. Cocker Spaniels require regular brushing to make sure their coat stays tangle-free. Alternately, their fur can be clipped to a short puppy-cut, which eliminates the need for lengthy grooming sessions.

Warning

Step 1:
If any dog could be a poster child for ear infections, it would be the Cocker Spaniel. Their pendulous, heavily furred ears do not allow air to circulate, and the fur traps dirt and moisture, creating a prime breeding ground for bacteria and infections. The fur on the inside of the ear flap and around the ear canal should be kept trimmed very short, and the ears checked and cleaned regularly. See the article below in Resources for ear cleaning and maintenance advice.

Resources

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