The Merry Cocker has been sharing man’s hearth for centuries, helping to provide food for the table and filling the life of those who love him with joy and happiness. The breed’s cheerful disposition is infectious. From its ever-wagging tail and big shimmering pool eyes, to its easy-going nature, it’s no wonder the breed was the most popular dog in England in the first half of the 20th Century for two decades.
The Cocker Spaniel is still one of the top-ranked breeds in popularity. The breed has been sharing its affection and love of life for over seven hundred years. Chaucer (1328) records mention of Spaniels in “The Wife of Bathes Prologue”.
A breed of gun dog, the Cocker Spaniel is believed to have originated in Spain. However, it was in England, where the breed that we know today as the Cocker Spaniel was developed and was used extensively as a hunting companion. The original Spaniels were classified according to size, with the smaller Toy Spaniels kept as companions and larger “Cocking” Spaniels used for hunting.
Today, most Cockers still retain their instinctive hunting abilities and are very good when it comes to agility and field work, but they are predominantly companion dogs and thrive most when taken in as part of the pack.
Named for its talent for hunting woodcock, the Cocker Spaniel is fiercely loyal to it’s companion. These dogs just love to love you.
General appearance
Merry, sturdy, sporting; well balance; compact; measuring approximately same from withers to ground as from withers to root of tail.
Characteristics
Merry nature with ever-wagging tail shows a typical bustling movement, particularly when following scent; fearless of heavy cover.
Temperament
Gentle and affectionate, yet full of life and exuberance.
This breed is loyal, lovable and devoted. They are cheerful, easygoing dogs that love to please their owners.
Suitability & Care
The breed is rarely aggressive, so is well-suited to families. In addition to their playful personality and ever-wagging tail, the breed’s gentle and tolerant temperament will bode well with children.
Cockers are also appropriate for energetic singles who spend a lot of time at home. Cockers will sound a warning bark when strangers are around; however, they are more likely to cover people with kisses than anything else.
Most Cockers still retain their instinctive hunting abilities and are very good when it comes to obedience, agility and field work, but they are predominantly companion dogs and thrive most when taken in as part of the pack.
A daily check of the coat for any mats is highly suggested paying particular attention to the area under the front legs and elbow, if knots are found gently brush them out.
A full groom and bath is required weekly to keep your Cocker in tip top condition. Remove any dead hair, make sure that ears are cleaned and dried and trim any excess hair from around the feet. Always speak to your breeder regarding your dog’s grooming needs, as breeders are only too happy to help in any way that they can, even where to go if you decide to have you Cocker “pet Clipped”.
As with all dogs, heart worming and flea control is required monthly and in summer you will also need to treat your dog against ticks.
Health
Bought from reputable breeders Cockers are very sturdy, healthy little dogs. Over the years some cases of the following hereditary diseases have been recorded, including Progressive Retinal Atrophy and hip dysplasia. Dedicated reputable breeders are now able to utilise DNA testing for many of these diseases, epilepsy, auto-immune diseases and deafness have also on occasions been recorded in the breed.
Information: Cocker Spaniel Society of NSW, QLD Cocker Club, Cocker Spaniel Club of Victoria Image supplied by Kingsway Kennels. Wombledog Photography
In Conclusion
Now you know a little about the Cocker Spaniel, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Cocker Spaniel and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.
Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 09 Oct 2012)
A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.
General Appearance
Merry, sturdy, sporting; well balanced; compact; measuring approximately same from withers to ground as from withers to root of tail.
Characteristics
Merry nature with ever-wagging tail shows a typical bustling movement, particularly when following scent, fearless of heavy cover.
Temperament
Gentle and affectionate, yet full of life and exuberance.
Physical Standards
Head and Skull
Square muzzle, with distinct stop set midway between tip of nose and occiput. Skull well developed, cleanly chiselled, neither too fine nor too coarse. Cheek bones not prominent. Nose sufficiently wide for acute scenting power.
Eyes
Full, but not prominent. Dark brown or brown, never light, but in the case of liver, liver roan, and liver and white, dark hazel to harmonise with coat; with expression of intelligence and gentleness but wide awake, bright and merry; rims tight.
Ears
Lobular, set low on a level with eyes. Fine leathers extending to nose tip. Well clothed with long straight silky hair.
Mouth
Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck
Moderate in length, muscular. Set neatly into fine sloping shoulders. Clean throat.
Forequarters
Shoulders sloping and fine. Legs well boned, straight, sufficiently short for concentrated power. Not too short to interfere with tremendous exertions expected from this grand, sporting dog.
Body
Strong, compact. Chest well developed and brisket deep; neither too wide not too narrow in front. Ribs well sprung. Loin short, wide with firm, level topline gently sloping downwards to tail from end of loin to set on of tail.
Hindquarters
Wide, well rounded, very muscular. Legs well boned, good bend of stifle, short below hock allowing for plenty of drive.
Feet
Firm, thickly padded, cat-like.
Tail
Docked: Set on slightly lower than line of back. Must be merry in action and carried level, never cocked up. Never too short to hide, nor too long to interfere with, the incessant merry action when working.Undocked: Set on slightly lower than line of back. Must be merry in action and carried level, never cocked up. Slightly curved, of moderate length, proportionate to size of body giving an overall balanced appearance; ideally not reaching below the hock. Strong at the root and tapering to a fine tip; well feathered in keeping with the coat. Lively in action, carried on a plane not higher than level of back and never so low as to indicate timidity.
Gait/Movement
True through action with great drive covering ground well.
Coat
Flat, silky in texture, never wiry or wavy, not too profuse and never curly. Well feathered forelegs, body and hindlegs above hocks.
Colour
Solid coloursBlack; red; golden; liver (chocolate); black and tan; liver and tan. No white allowed except a small amount on chest.ParticoloursBicolours: Black and white; orange and white; liver and white; lemon and white. All with or without ticking.Tricolours: Black, white and tan; liver, white and tan.Roans: Blue roan; orange roan; lemon roan; liver roan; blue roan and tan; liver roan and tan.Any colour or marking other than the above is undesirable.
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog, and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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