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The origin and history
of the American Cocker Spaniel is the same as that of the
English Cocker up to the time when a dog called Obo II was
exported from Britain to the United States. This dog, whelped
in 1880 and known then simply as a Cocker Spaniel, is considered
to be the foundation sire of the American Cocker Spaniel.
As a show dog, Obo was great.
The origin and history of the American Cocker Spaniel is
the same as that of the English Cocker up to the time when
a dog called Obo II was exported from Britain to the United
States. This dog, whelped in 1880 and known then simply
as a Cocker Spaniel, is considered to be the foundation
sire of the American Cocker Spaniel. As a show dog, Obo
was a great success and attracted many breed fanciers who,
in 1883, founded the American Spaniel Club. That year, too,
the Cocker Spaniel was granted official breed status in
the United States.
But after Obo's reign a gradual change occurred within the
breed. Two distinct varieties of Cocker Spaniel began to
emerge. One retained the longer bodied, longer muzzled,
heavier lines of the original sporting cocker. The other
was lighter in weight, higher on leg, shorter backed, had
a sloping topline, a short muzzle, domed skull, and heavy
coat and leg furnishings. Although the two competed against
each other in the show ring and were inter-bred, by the
1930s the differences between them became so obvious that
efforts were begun to grant each its own breed classification.
When this was finally achieved in 1947 in the United States,
the original cocker breed was named the English cocker while
the smaller American version retained the original name
of Cocker Spaniel. To the rest of the world this breed is
known as the American Cocker Spaniel.
The most illustrious Cocker Spaniel of them all was Ch.
My Own Brucie who topped the entry at the Westminster Kennel
Club shows in New York in 1940 and 1941. More than any other
dog My Own Brucie is responsible for the rise of the cocker
to the top of the popularity poll, a position the breed
held for some fifteen years.
Official Breed Standard
for the Spaniel
(American Cocker)
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Origin and Purpose:
The Cocker Spaniel evolved from a very old type of dog classified
generally as Spaniels. The name ÒSpanielÓ is mentioned in
various literatures and pictured in woodcuts as early as
1328. The English literature and letters of the day always
accepted that Spaniels originated in Spain. The partridge
and quail hunters of the early 1800s wanted a smaller-sized
dog who would simply find the game without disturbing it.
Finally in 1892, The Kennel Club (England) recognized the
ÒCockerÓ as a classification and being a Spaniel that was
less than 25 lb. (11-12 kg) and one that worked. The first
Cocker was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1879.
The Cockers at this time ware long and low-bodied and were
generally around 20 lb. (9-10 kg). In the early 1900s, the
American Spaniel Club, striving to maintain the Cocker in
its sporting dog classification, made the standard call
for a dog not less than 28 lb. (13 kg). It was during this
time that the American Cocker Spaniel as we know it today
really started to evolve into a separate and distinct breed
of its own.
General Appearance:
The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Sporting
Group. He has a sturdy, compact body and a cleanly chiselled
and refined head, with the over-all 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, 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; equable in temperament
with no suggestion of timidity.
Size:
The ideal height at the withers for an adult dog is 15 in.
(38 cm) and for an adult bitch 14 in. (25.5 cm). Height
may vary one-half inch (1 cm) above or below this ideal.
A dog whose height exceeds 15 1Ú2 in. (39 cm) or bitch whose
height exceeds 14 1Ú2 in. (37 cm) shall be disqualified.
An adult dog whose height is less than 14 1Ú2 in. (37 cm)
or an adult bitch whose height is less than 13 1Ú2 in. (34
cm) shall be penalized.
NOTE: 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 the lower hind legs parallel
to the line of measurement.
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 American Cocker SpanielÕs true lines and
movement or affect his appearance and function as a sporting
dog. The texture is most important. The coat is silky, flat
or slightly wavy, and of a texture which permits easy care.
Excessive or curly or cottony textured coat is to be penalized.
Colour:
Black VarietyÑSolid colour black, to include black with
tan points. The black should be jet; shadings of brown or
liver in the sheen of 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 Colour Other Than Black and any such colour with
tan points. The colour shall be of a uniform shade, but
lighter coloruing of the feather is permissible. A small
amount of white on the chest and/or throat is allowed; white
in any other location shall disqualify.
Particolour VarietyÑTwo or more definite, well-broken colours,
one of which must be white, including those 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 particolours, and may
be of any of the usual roaning patterns. Primary colour
which is ninety per cent or more shall disqualify.
Tan Points: The
colour of the tan may be from the lightest cream to the
darkest red colour and should be restricted to ten per cent
of less of the colour 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:
a) A clear tan spot over each eye
b) On the sides of the muzzle and on the cheeks
c) On the undersides of the ears
d) On all feet and/or legs
e) Under the tail
f) On the chest, optionalÑpresence or absence not 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 each of the specified locations in an otherwise tan-pointed
dog shall disqualify.
Head:
To attain a well-proportioned head, which must be in balance
with the rest of the dog, it embodies the following: 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 chiselled with
no prominence in the cheeks. Muzzle broad and deep, with
square, even jaws. The upper lip is full and of sufficient
depth to cover the lower jaw. To be in correct balance,
the distance from the stop to the tip of the nose is one-half
the distance form the stop up over the crown to the base
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 colour in the colour in the
blacks and black and tans. In other colours it may be brown,
liver or black, the darker the better. The colour of the
nose harmonizes with the colour of the eye rim. Mouth: the
teeth are strong and sound, not too small, and meet in a
scissors bite. 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 colour of the iris is dark brown and in general the
darker the better. The expression is intelligent, alert,
soft, and appealing. Ears lobular, long, of fine leather,
well feathered, and placed no higher than a line to the
lower part of the eye.
Neck and Shoulders:
The neck is sufficiently long to allow the nose to reach
the ground easily, muscular and free from pendulous Òthroatiness.Ó
It rises strongly from the shoulders and arches slightly
as it tapers to join the head. 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 considerable 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.
Body:
The body is short, compact, and firmly knit together, giving
an impression of strength. The distance from the highest
point of the shoulder blades to the ground is fifteen per
cent or approximately two inches (5 cm) more than the length
from this point to the set-on of the tail. Back is strong
and sloping evenly and slightly downward from the shoulder
to the set-on of the docked tail. Hips are wide and quarters
well rounded and muscular. 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. The American Cocker
Spaniel never appears long and low.
Legs and Feet:
Forelegs are parallel, straight, strongly boned and muscular
and set close to the body well under the scapulae. When
viewed from the side with the forelegs vertical, the elbow
is directly below the highest point of the shoulder blade.
The pasterns are short and strong. The hind legs are strongly
boned and muscled with good angulation at the stifle and
powerful, clearly defined thighs. The stifle joint is strong
and there is no slippage of it in motion or when standing.
The hocks are strong, well let down, and when viewed from
behind, the hind legs are parallel when in motion and at
rest.
Feet:
Compact, large, round, and firm with horny pads; they turn
neither in nor out. Dewclaws on hind legs and forelegs may
be removed.
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.
Gait:
The American Cocker Spaniel, though the smallest of the
sporting dogs, possesses a typical sporting dog gait. Prerequistite
to good movement is balance between the front and rear assemblies.
He drives with his 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 co-ordinated, smooth, and effortless. The
dog must cover ground with his action and excessive animation
should never be mistaken for proper gait.
Faults:
Dogs under 14 1Ú2 in. (37 cm), bitches under 13 1Ú2 in.
(34 cm) penalized. Excessive or curly or cottony textured
coat. Tan markings which are not readily visible or which
amount only to traces. Tan on muzzle which extends upward
and over.
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