___History:___
What is fascinating about the history of the spaniel family,
is that so many now individual breeds have a common root. Case
in point is the history of the English Cocker Spaniel and the
"American" Cocker Spaniel.
First of all, it should be noted that the American Cocker Spaniel
is known here in the USA as the Cocker Spaniel; the English
Cocker Spaniel in Great Britain is known there as the Cocker
Spaniel. So for the sake of clarity, I am going to use "American"
or "English" to keep the distinction simple. The English and
American Cocker Spaniel had identical histories up until around
the 1930's. They were considered one breed of spaniel. The English
Cocker Spaniel had been imported from Great Britain to North
America and Canada in the 1870's.
To begin a history of any of the spaniel breeds, it is important
to note that the word "spaniel", means a "dog of Spain". It
is generally accepted that Spaniels are traced back to Spain
for their development as a hunting and retrieving breed of dog.
From Spain the dogs were transported, traded, given away as
gifts, or simply traveled with their masters to England. Spaniels
were used in England for hunting on the estates of the wealthy
and were further developed and bred for specific purposes there.
Spaniels are found in art work, in mosaics, and in the writings
of such authors as Chaucer, Shakespeare and Elizabeth Barrett
Browning.
The spaniel was a generic term used to describe a type of dog.
When a litter was born the owner/breeder would decide what use
a particular dog or pup was to be put to. Much depended on the
size and how muscular the dog turned out to be, the stamina
he/she displayed, and the intelligence of the dog. What type
of game the dog was to hunt was also a factor. The spaniel could
possibly be used for hunting the forests, pointing in high brush,
flushing birds out of thickets, or used in marshes for retrieving
ducks, geese, etc. So to begin with there were no distinct breeds
of spaniel, only the generic description of the type of dog.
The professional breeding of dogs has always been with a purpose
in mind. The responsible breeder works on a bloodline for his/her
kennel in some instances an entire lifetime. When the English
Cocker Spaniel was introduced to North America, it originally
was for the purpose of hunting small birds, such as pheasant,
grouse, and woodcock.
The English Cocker Spaniel under went significant changes within
a number of kennels during the 1920's and 1930's, to achieve
a different type of dog. There were those breeders who were
breeding for conformation, or show purposes, and those who were
breeding for field work. The result was an "Americanized" Cocker
Spaniel, slightly smaller, 1 to 2 inches shorter at the withers,
a smaller head and muzzle, a more dramatic down-slope of the
top line, and a longer, silkier, more dense coat of hair.
The year 1935 brought about a dramatic change in that the breeders
who favored the English style, formed a separate club from the
original American Cocker Spaniel Club (established in 1881),
and agreed not to interbreed their lines with this new "Americanized"
variety. In 1936, the American Cocker Spaniel became the number
one A.K.C. breed, and stayed at the top for the next fifty years
as the most popular dog amongst the American public. Even in
the present day, the American Cocker Spaniel has a place in
the hearts and minds of many people as the ideal pet. The English
Cocker Spaniel people had to wait until 1946, before the A.K.C.
recognized their breed as separate from the American Cocker
Spaniel.
As with other breeds that have attained public fame and popularity,
the American Cocker Spaniel was then subjected to almost devastating
breeding practices by puppy mills, backyard breeders, and unscrupulous
dealers who saw the dog as only a means to make money.
The result of these unprincipled breedings was a change in the
temperament and the introduction of health problems that did
not exist before. The American Cocker Spaniel's personality
underwent dramatic changes, and in some instances, became unpredictable.
So for a number of years, the Cocker Spaniel was in danger of
being changed irreparably. In the last ten to fifteen years,
responsible breeders have been winning the battle to get the
personality and health of the American Cocker Spaniel back to
its original loving, predictable stableness.
This does not mean that problems do not exist, they do. The
purchaser of a new Amer. Cocker Spaniel still has to exercise
caution. Get to know the breeder, ask questions and ask to see
the parents, grandparents and/or the littermates of the puppy.
You can get a good idea about the future health and well being
of your dog, by checking the health of the close relatives.
___Standard:___
General Appearance
The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Sporting Group.
He has a sturdy, compact body and a cleanly chiseled and refined
head, with the overall dog in complete balance and of ideal
size. He stands well up at the shoulder on straight forelegs
with a topline sloping slightly toward strong, moderately bent,
muscular quarters. He is a dog capable of considerable speed,
combined with great endurance. Above all, he must be free and
merry, sound, well balanced throughout and in action show a
keen inclination to work. A dog well balanced in all parts is
more desirable than a dog with strongly contrasting good points
and faults.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size-The ideal height at the withers for an adult dog is 15
inches and for an adult bitch, 14 inches. Height may vary one-half
inch above or below this ideal. A dog whose height exceeds 15-1/2
inches or a bitch whose height exceeds 14-1/2 inches shall be
disqualified. An adult dog whose height is less than 14-1/2
inches and an adult bitch whose height is less than 13-1/2 inches
shall be penalized. Height is determined by a line perpendicular
to the ground from the top of the shoulder blades, the dog standing
naturally with its forelegs and lower hind legs parallel to
the line of measurement. Proportion-The measurement from the
breast bone to back of thigh is slightly longer than the measurement
from the highest point of withers to the ground. The body must
be of sufficient length to permit a straight and free stride;
the dog never appears long and low.
Head
To attain a well proportioned head, which must be in balance
with the rest of the dog, it embodies the following: Expression-The
expression is intelligent, alert, soft and appealing. Eyes-Eyeballs
are round and full and look directly forward. The shape of the
eye rims gives a slightly almond shaped appearance; the eye
is not weak or goggled. The color of the iris is dark brown
and in general the darker the better. Ears-Lobular, long, of
fine leather, well feathered, and placed no higher than a line
to the lower part of the eye. Skull-Rounded but not exaggerated
with no tendency toward flatness; the eyebrows are clearly defined
with a pronounced stop. The bony structure beneath the eyes
is well chiseled with no prominence in the cheeks. The muzzle
is broad and deep, with square even jaws. To be in correct balance,
the distance from the stop to the tip of the nose is one half
the distance from the stop up over the crown to the base of
the skull. Nose-of sufficient size to balance the muzzle and
foreface, with well developed nostrils typical of a sporting
dog. It is black in color in the blacks, black and tans, and
black and whites; in other colors it may be brown, liver or
black, the darker the better. The color of nose harmonizes with
the color of the eye rim. Lips-The upper lip is full and of
sufficient depth to cover the lower jaw. Teeth-Teeth strong
and sound, not too small and meet in a scissors bite.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck-The neck is sufficiently long to allow the nose to reach
the ground easily, muscular and free from pendulous "throatiness."
It rises strongly from the shoulders and arches slightly as
it tapers to join the head. Topline-sloping slightly toward
muscular quarters. Body-The chest is deep, its lowest point
no higher than the elbows, its front sufficiently wide for adequate
heart and lung space, yet not so wide as to interfere with the
straightforward movement of the forelegs. Ribs are deep and
well sprung. Back is strong and sloping evenly and slightly
downward from the shoulders to the set-on of the docked tail.
The docked tail is set on and carried on a line with the topline
of the back, or slightly higher; never straight up like a Terrier
and never so low as to indicate timidity. When the dog is in
motion the tail action is merry.
Forequarters
The shoulders are well laid back forming an angle with the upper
arm of approximately 90 degrees which permits the dog to move
his forelegs in an easy manner with forward reach. Shoulders
are clean-cut and sloping without protrusion and so set that
the upper points of the withers are at an angle which permits
a wide spring of rib. When viewed from the side with the forelegs
vertical, the elbow is directly below the highest point of the
shoulder blade. Forelegs are parallel, straight, strongly boned
and muscular and set close to the body well under the scapulae.
The pasterns are short and strong. Dewclaws on forelegs may
be removed. Feet compact, large, round and firm with horny pads;
they turn neither in nor out.
Hindquarters
Hips are wide and quarters well rounded and muscular. When viewed
from behind, the hind legs are parallel when in motion and at
rest. The hind legs are strongly boned, and muscled with moderate
angulation at the stifle and powerful, clearly defined thighs.
The stifle is strong and there is no slippage of it in motion
or when standing. The hocks are strong and well let down. Dewclaws
on hind legs may be removed.
Coat
On the head, short and fine; on the body, medium length, with
enough undercoating to give protection. The ears, chest, abdomen
and legs are well feathered, but not so excessively as to hide
the Cocker Spaniel's true lines and movement or affect his appearance
and function as a moderately coated sporting dog. The texture
is most important. The coat is silky, flat or slightly wavy
and of a texture which permits easy care. Excessive coat or
curly or cottony textured coat shall be severely penalized.
Use of electric clippers on the back coat is not desirable.
Trimming to enhance the dog's true lines should be done to appear
as natural as possible.
Color and Markings
Black Variety-Solid color black to include black with tan points.
The black should be jet; shadings of brown or liver in the coat
are not desirable. A small amount of white on the chest and/or
throat is allowed; white in any other location shall disqualify.
Any Solid Color Other than Black (ASCOB)-Any solid color other
than black, ranging from lightest cream to darkest red, including
brown and brown with tan points. The color shall be of a uniform
shade, but lighter color of the feathering is permissible. A
small amount of white on the chest and/or throat is allowed;
white in any other location shall disqualify. Parti-Color Variety-Two
or more solid, well broken colors, one of which must be white;
black and white, red and white (the red may range from lightest
cream to darkest red), brown and white, and roans, to include
any such color combination with tan points. It is preferable
that the tan markings be located in the same pattern as for
the tan points in the Black and ASCOB varieties. Roans are classified
as parti-colors and may be of any of the usual roaning patterns.
Primary color which is ninety percent (90%) or more shall disqualify.
Tan Points-The color of the tan may be from the lightest cream
to the darkest red and is restricted to ten percent (10%) or
less of the color of the specimen; tan markings in excess of
that amount shall disqualify. In the case of tan points in the
Black or ASCOB variety, the markings shall be located as follows:
1) A clear tan spot over each eye;
2) On the sides of the muzzle and on the cheeks;
3) On the underside of the ears;
4) On all feet and/or legs;
5) Under the tail;
6) On the chest, optional; presence or absence shall not be
penalized.
Tan markings which are not readily visible or which amount only
to traces, shall be penalized. Tan on the muzzle which extends
upward, over and joins shall also be penalized. The absence
of tan markings in the Black or ASCOB variety in any of the
specified locations in any otherwise tan-pointed dog shall disqualify.
Gait
The Cocker Spaniel, though the smallest of the sporting dogs,
possesses a typical sporting dog gait. Prerequisite to good
movement is balance between the front and rear assemblies. He
drives with strong, powerful rear quarters and is properly constructed
in the shoulders and forelegs so that he can reach forward without
constriction in a full stride to counterbalance the driving
force from the rear. Above all, his gait is coordinated, smooth
and effortless. The dog must cover ground with his action; excessive
animation should not be mistaken for proper gait.
Temperament
Equable in temperament with no suggestion of timidity.
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