|
History
The Cocker and Springer Spaniels developed together, with only size differentiating them, until 1892 when the Kennel Club of England recognized them as separate breeds. Later, in the 1940's the American and Canadian Kennel Clubs recognized the English Cocker Spaniel as a separate breed from the American Cocker Spaniel. The name Cocker comes from the woodcock, a bird this spaniel was originally bred to hunt. Cockers are also good at hunting other birds. They are excellent retrievers with delicate mouths. The English Cocker hunts well in difficult terrain. These days, the English Cocker is more often a companion dog due to his good-natured disposition.
Description
An alert, compactly built, medium sized dog with long ears, reaching at least to the nose when pulled forward. Solid, but not bulky. Strong and well-balanced, but not coarse. The upper plane of the skull is almost parallel to the upper plane of the muzzle, and the muzzle is about the same length as the skull. The dark, oval eyes should have a soft, melting, yet intelligent expression. The hair is medium length. The legs and underside of the body are well feathered. The nose is black or brown depending on coat color (black preferred). The teeth should meet in a scissors bite. The topline is almost level, with only a slight slope down from the withers to root of the tail. The chest is very deep and well developed, but not wide enough to interfere with efficient movement. The tail is generally docked. The feet are round and cat-like with tight, arched toes. The coat comes in either solid black, liver or red or parti-color combinations of white with black, liver or red markings or ticking. Tan markings may appear on black, liver or parti-color dogs. There are two types of English Cocker, Field and Show. The Field types have a shorter coat.
Talents
Hunting, tracking, retrieving, watchdog, agility, and competitive obedience.
Personality
Hardy, energetic, merry and lovable, sweet and affectionate. Lively. Great dog for kids, gentle and playful, but does not tolerate teasing well. Superior companion dog. Generally an outgoing breed, but some individuals can be reserved. Temperament varies widely; research individual lines. Some bitches are fairly dominant and should not be placed with a non-dominant owner. Males tend to be more cooperative. Field lines may be too active to make good pets.
Behavior
Children: Excellent with children.
Friendliness: Loves everyone.
Trainability: Easy to train.
Independence: Needs people a lot.
Dominance: Low.
Other Pets: Generally good with other dogs; do not trust with non-canine pets.
Combativeness: Not generally dog-aggressive.
Noise: Average barker.
Notes
The English Cocker is recommended over the American Cocker Spaniel as a pet because breeding has been less indiscriminate. Cockers should be trained very gently, but firmly, as they are sensitive but also independant and intelligent. Can do well with cats in the household. The breed is somewhat prone to ear infections. Clean out excess wax regularly. The coat needs attention. Some coats are particularly profuse, cottony and prone to matting; others are more silky and flat-lying. Coat type varies substantially within the breed. Be careful not to overfeed, as the English Cocker puts on weight easily. Buy only from OFA and CERF certified stock. Require BAER(hearing) test for all puppies.
Grooming
Grooming: Regular grooming needed.
Trimming & Stripping: Skilled trimming or stripping needed.
Coat: Feathered coat.
Shedding: Average shedder.
Docking: The tail is customarily docked.
Exercise: Moderate exercise needed.
Jogging: A good jogging companion.
Indoors: Relatively inactive indoors.
Apartments: Will be OK in an apartment if sufficiently exercised.
Outdoor Space: Best with at least an average-size yard.
Climate: Does well in most climates.
Owner: Good for novice owners.
Longevity: Moderately long lived (12 to 15 years).
|
