Post by DogGoneGood on Jan 2, 2009 16:12:27 GMT -5
Group: 1 - Sporting
Origin: Great Britain
Purpose: The English Cocker Spaniel is the original Cocker Spaniel developed in Wales and Southwest England as a gundog. Cocker Spaniels were named for their ability to flush and retrieve game from dense undergrowth. The breed was imported to North America in the 1880s.
Breed Standards
General Appearance: The English Cocker Spaniel is an attractive, active, merry sporting dog; with short body and short limbs, standing well up at the withers. His movements are alive with energy; his gait powerful and frictionless. He is alert at all times, and the carriage of head and incessant action of his tail while at work give the impression that here is a dog that is not only bred for hunting but really enjoys it. He is well balanced. Strongly built, full of quality and is capable of top speed combined with stamina. His head imparts an individual stamp peculiar to him alone and has that brainy appearance expressive of the highest intelligence, and is in perfect proportion to his body. His muzzle is a most distinctive feature, being of correct conformation and in proportion to his skull.
Coat and Colour: Coat on head short and fine; on body flat or slightly wavy and silky in texture. Should be of medium length with enough undercoating to give protection. The English Cocker should be well feathered but not so profusely as to hide the true lines or interfere with his field work. Colour various. In self-colours a white shirt frill is undesirable. In particolours, the colouring must be broken on the body and be evenly distributed. No larger portion of any colour should exist. In roans it is desirable that the white hair should be distributed over the body, the more evenly the better. Roans come in various colours: blue, liver, red, orange and lemon. In black and tans the coat should black; tan spots over the eyes, tan on the sides of the muzzle, on the throat and chest, on forelegs from the knees to the toes and on the hind legs on the side of the legs, also on the stifle and extending from hock to the toes.
Head: The skull and forehead should be well developed with no suggestion of coarseness, arched and slightly flattened on top when viewed both from the stop to the end of the skull as well as from ear to ear, and cleanly chiseled under the eyes. The desirable proportion of the head is approximately one-half for the muzzle and one-half for the skull. The muzzle should be square with a definite stop where it blends into the skull and in proportion to the width of the skull. As the English Cocker is primarely a sporting dog, the muzzle and jaw must be of sufficient strength and size to cary game; and the length of the muzzle should provide room for the development of the olfactory to ensure good scenting qualities, which require that the nose be wide and well developed. Nostrils black in colour except in reds, livers, particolours, and roans of the lighter shades where brown is permissible, but black preferred. Lips should be square, full and free from flews. Teeth should be even and set sqaurely. The eyes should be of medium size, full and slightly oval shaped, set squarely in skull and wide apart. Eyes must be dark brown except in livers and light particolours where hazel is permissible, but the darker the better. The general expression should be intelligent, alert, bright and merry. Ears lobular; set low and close to the head; leather fine and extending at least to the nose, well covered with long, silky straight or slightly wavy hair.
Neck: Long, clean and muscular; arched towards the head; set cleanly into sloping shoulders.
Forequarters: Shoulders sloping and fine. Forelegs straight and strong with bone nearly equal in size from elbow to heel; elbows set closely to the body with free action from shoulders; pasterns short, straight and strong.
Hindquarters: The hips should be rounded; thighs broad, well developed and muscular, giving abundance of propelling power. Stifles strong and well bent. Hock to pad moderately short, strong and well let down. Size of feet in porportion to the legs; firm, round and cat-like with thick pads and strong toes.
Body: Back short and strong. Length of back from withers to tail-set should approximate height from ground to withers. Height of the dog at the withers should be greater than the height at the hip joint, providing a gradual slope between these points. Close coupled, compact and firmly knit, giving the impression of great stength, without heaviness. Chest deep and well developed, but not too wide, and round to interfere with the free action of the forelegs. Depth of brisket should reach to the elbow, sloping gradually upward to the loin. Ribs should spring gradually to middle of body, taper to back ribs which should be of good depth and extend well back. Loin short and powerful, slightly arched.
Tail: Set on to conform with the topline of the back. Merry in action.
Faults:
[2] Jaw overshot or undershot.
[3] Lips snipey or pendulous.
[4] Skull too flat or too rounded, cheeky or coarse.
[5] Stop insufficient or exaggerated.
[6] Light, round or protruding eyes.
[7] Conspicuous haw.
[8] Ears set or carried too high, too wide at the top, insufficient feathering, positive curles or ringlets.
[9] Neck short, thick, with dewlap or excessive throatiness.
[10] Straight or loaded shoulders.
[11] Shoulders loose; elbows turned in or out; legs bowed or set too close or too wide apart; knees knuckled over; light bone.
[12] Too long and lacking depth; insufficient spring of rib; barrel rib.
[13] Too low at withers; long, sway back, or roach back; flat or narrow loin; exaggerated tuck-up.
[14] Excessive angulation; lightness of bone; stiffle too short; hocks too long or turned in or out.
[15] Feet too large, too small, spreading or splayed.
[16] tail-set too low, habitually carried too high, too short or too long.
[17] White feet are undesirable in any specimine of self-colour. Lack of coat, too soft, curly, or wiry.
[18] Excessive trimming to change the natural appearance and coat should be discouraged.
[19] Deviations from ideal heights to be severely penalized but not disqualified.
[/ul]
Size:
Height: 15 to 17 inches (38-43 cm)
Weight: 26 to 34 lbs (12-14 kg)
Temperament: The character of the English Cocker is of extreme importance. His love and faithfulness to his master and household, his alertness and courage and characteristic. He is noted for his intelligence and merry disposition; not quarrelsome; and is a responsive and willing both in field and as a companion.
Health:
Common health issues with English Cockers are bite problems, skin allergies, shyness, cataracts, deafness, aggression towards other dogs, and benign tumours
Some uncommon health issues that can also have an effect on English Cocker Spaniels include canine hip dysplasia, patellar lunation, canine dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart murmurs. Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip joint. Patellar Lunation, also known as luxating patella, refers to the dislocation of the kneecap. Canine dilated cardiomyopathy involves heart failure.
Average Lifespan:
English Cocker Spaniels in UK and USA/Canada have an average lifespan of 11 to 12 years.
History:
Spaniel type dogs have been found in art and literature for almost 500 years. Initially, spaniels in England were divided among land spaniels and water spaniels. The differentiation among the spaniels that led to the breeds that we see today did not begin until the mid 1800s. During this time, the land spaniels became a bit more specialized and divisions among the types were made based upon weight. According to the 1840 Encyclopedia of Rural Sports, Cockers were 12–20 lb (5.5–9 kg). At this time it was not uncommon for Cockers and Springers to come from the same litter. Even a puppy from a “Toy” sized lineage could grow to be a springer.
There is no indication from these early sources that spaniels were used to retrieve game. Rather they were used to drive the game toward the guns.
During the 1850s and 1860s other dogs types of Cockers were recorded. There were Welsh Cockers and Devonshire Cockers. Additionally, small dogs from Sussex Spaniel litters were called Cockers. In 1874 the first stud books were published by the newly formed kennel club. Any spaniel under 25 lb (11 kg) was placed in the Cocker breeding pool, however the Welsh Cocker was reclassified as a Springer in 1903 due to its larger size and shorter ear.
The sport of conformation showing began in earnest among spaniels after the Spaniel Club was formed in 1885. When showing, the new Springer and Cocker, both were in the same class until The Spaniel Club created breed standards for each of the types. The Kennel Club separated the two types eight years later. Since then, the Springer and Cocker enthusiasts have bred in the separate traits that they desired. Today, the breed differ in more ways than weight alone.
Sources:
CKC English Cocker Spaniel Breed Standard
Canada's Guide to Dogs: ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL — BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION
Wikipedia
Origin: Great Britain
Purpose: The English Cocker Spaniel is the original Cocker Spaniel developed in Wales and Southwest England as a gundog. Cocker Spaniels were named for their ability to flush and retrieve game from dense undergrowth. The breed was imported to North America in the 1880s.
Breed Standards
General Appearance: The English Cocker Spaniel is an attractive, active, merry sporting dog; with short body and short limbs, standing well up at the withers. His movements are alive with energy; his gait powerful and frictionless. He is alert at all times, and the carriage of head and incessant action of his tail while at work give the impression that here is a dog that is not only bred for hunting but really enjoys it. He is well balanced. Strongly built, full of quality and is capable of top speed combined with stamina. His head imparts an individual stamp peculiar to him alone and has that brainy appearance expressive of the highest intelligence, and is in perfect proportion to his body. His muzzle is a most distinctive feature, being of correct conformation and in proportion to his skull.
Coat and Colour: Coat on head short and fine; on body flat or slightly wavy and silky in texture. Should be of medium length with enough undercoating to give protection. The English Cocker should be well feathered but not so profusely as to hide the true lines or interfere with his field work. Colour various. In self-colours a white shirt frill is undesirable. In particolours, the colouring must be broken on the body and be evenly distributed. No larger portion of any colour should exist. In roans it is desirable that the white hair should be distributed over the body, the more evenly the better. Roans come in various colours: blue, liver, red, orange and lemon. In black and tans the coat should black; tan spots over the eyes, tan on the sides of the muzzle, on the throat and chest, on forelegs from the knees to the toes and on the hind legs on the side of the legs, also on the stifle and extending from hock to the toes.
Head: The skull and forehead should be well developed with no suggestion of coarseness, arched and slightly flattened on top when viewed both from the stop to the end of the skull as well as from ear to ear, and cleanly chiseled under the eyes. The desirable proportion of the head is approximately one-half for the muzzle and one-half for the skull. The muzzle should be square with a definite stop where it blends into the skull and in proportion to the width of the skull. As the English Cocker is primarely a sporting dog, the muzzle and jaw must be of sufficient strength and size to cary game; and the length of the muzzle should provide room for the development of the olfactory to ensure good scenting qualities, which require that the nose be wide and well developed. Nostrils black in colour except in reds, livers, particolours, and roans of the lighter shades where brown is permissible, but black preferred. Lips should be square, full and free from flews. Teeth should be even and set sqaurely. The eyes should be of medium size, full and slightly oval shaped, set squarely in skull and wide apart. Eyes must be dark brown except in livers and light particolours where hazel is permissible, but the darker the better. The general expression should be intelligent, alert, bright and merry. Ears lobular; set low and close to the head; leather fine and extending at least to the nose, well covered with long, silky straight or slightly wavy hair.
Neck: Long, clean and muscular; arched towards the head; set cleanly into sloping shoulders.
Forequarters: Shoulders sloping and fine. Forelegs straight and strong with bone nearly equal in size from elbow to heel; elbows set closely to the body with free action from shoulders; pasterns short, straight and strong.
Hindquarters: The hips should be rounded; thighs broad, well developed and muscular, giving abundance of propelling power. Stifles strong and well bent. Hock to pad moderately short, strong and well let down. Size of feet in porportion to the legs; firm, round and cat-like with thick pads and strong toes.
Body: Back short and strong. Length of back from withers to tail-set should approximate height from ground to withers. Height of the dog at the withers should be greater than the height at the hip joint, providing a gradual slope between these points. Close coupled, compact and firmly knit, giving the impression of great stength, without heaviness. Chest deep and well developed, but not too wide, and round to interfere with the free action of the forelegs. Depth of brisket should reach to the elbow, sloping gradually upward to the loin. Ribs should spring gradually to middle of body, taper to back ribs which should be of good depth and extend well back. Loin short and powerful, slightly arched.
Tail: Set on to conform with the topline of the back. Merry in action.
Faults:
[2] Jaw overshot or undershot.
[3] Lips snipey or pendulous.
[4] Skull too flat or too rounded, cheeky or coarse.
[5] Stop insufficient or exaggerated.
[6] Light, round or protruding eyes.
[7] Conspicuous haw.
[8] Ears set or carried too high, too wide at the top, insufficient feathering, positive curles or ringlets.
[9] Neck short, thick, with dewlap or excessive throatiness.
[10] Straight or loaded shoulders.
[11] Shoulders loose; elbows turned in or out; legs bowed or set too close or too wide apart; knees knuckled over; light bone.
[12] Too long and lacking depth; insufficient spring of rib; barrel rib.
[13] Too low at withers; long, sway back, or roach back; flat or narrow loin; exaggerated tuck-up.
[14] Excessive angulation; lightness of bone; stiffle too short; hocks too long or turned in or out.
[15] Feet too large, too small, spreading or splayed.
[16] tail-set too low, habitually carried too high, too short or too long.
[17] White feet are undesirable in any specimine of self-colour. Lack of coat, too soft, curly, or wiry.
[18] Excessive trimming to change the natural appearance and coat should be discouraged.
[19] Deviations from ideal heights to be severely penalized but not disqualified.
[/ul]
Size:
Height: 15 to 17 inches (38-43 cm)
Weight: 26 to 34 lbs (12-14 kg)
Temperament: The character of the English Cocker is of extreme importance. His love and faithfulness to his master and household, his alertness and courage and characteristic. He is noted for his intelligence and merry disposition; not quarrelsome; and is a responsive and willing both in field and as a companion.
Health:
Common health issues with English Cockers are bite problems, skin allergies, shyness, cataracts, deafness, aggression towards other dogs, and benign tumours
Some uncommon health issues that can also have an effect on English Cocker Spaniels include canine hip dysplasia, patellar lunation, canine dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart murmurs. Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip joint. Patellar Lunation, also known as luxating patella, refers to the dislocation of the kneecap. Canine dilated cardiomyopathy involves heart failure.
Average Lifespan:
English Cocker Spaniels in UK and USA/Canada have an average lifespan of 11 to 12 years.
History:
Spaniel type dogs have been found in art and literature for almost 500 years. Initially, spaniels in England were divided among land spaniels and water spaniels. The differentiation among the spaniels that led to the breeds that we see today did not begin until the mid 1800s. During this time, the land spaniels became a bit more specialized and divisions among the types were made based upon weight. According to the 1840 Encyclopedia of Rural Sports, Cockers were 12–20 lb (5.5–9 kg). At this time it was not uncommon for Cockers and Springers to come from the same litter. Even a puppy from a “Toy” sized lineage could grow to be a springer.
There is no indication from these early sources that spaniels were used to retrieve game. Rather they were used to drive the game toward the guns.
During the 1850s and 1860s other dogs types of Cockers were recorded. There were Welsh Cockers and Devonshire Cockers. Additionally, small dogs from Sussex Spaniel litters were called Cockers. In 1874 the first stud books were published by the newly formed kennel club. Any spaniel under 25 lb (11 kg) was placed in the Cocker breeding pool, however the Welsh Cocker was reclassified as a Springer in 1903 due to its larger size and shorter ear.
The sport of conformation showing began in earnest among spaniels after the Spaniel Club was formed in 1885. When showing, the new Springer and Cocker, both were in the same class until The Spaniel Club created breed standards for each of the types. The Kennel Club separated the two types eight years later. Since then, the Springer and Cocker enthusiasts have bred in the separate traits that they desired. Today, the breed differ in more ways than weight alone.
Sources:
CKC English Cocker Spaniel Breed Standard
Canada's Guide to Dogs: ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL — BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION
Wikipedia
