English Cocker Spaniel

Dynamic and balanced, he is full of life and always happy

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12-14 years

Cocker Spaniels were recognized as a separate breed from Field and Springer Spaniels soon after the formation of the Kennel Club in 1873.He originated as the ‘cocking spaniel’, and derived this name from flushing woodcock. As with a number of gundog breeds there is nowadays a difference between those used for work and those used for show: the show Cocker is a sturdier, heavier version of his working counterpart.
Happy and always willing to please you, he is always moving around.Due to his active character he hardly settle with an inactive owner that doesn't allow him to express all his energy.Stubborn, he requires a constant training with no "exceptions".

GENERAL APEARANCE

Merry, sturdy, sporting; well balanced; compact.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS

Measuring approximately the same from withers to ground as from withers to root of tail.

BEHAVIOUR – TEMPERAMENT

Merry nature with ever wagging tail shows a typical bustling movement, particularly when following scent, fearless of heavy cover. Gentle and affectionate, yet full of life and exuberance.
  • Head - cranial region

    Skull: Well developed, cleanly chiselled, neither too fine nor too coarse.

    Stop: Distinct, set midway between tip of nose and occiput.
  • Head - Facial region

    Nose: Sufficiently wide for acute scenting power.

    Muzzle: Square.
    Jaws/Teeth: Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

    Cheek: Not prominent.

    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 harmonize with coat; with expression of intelligence and gentleness but wide awake, bright and merry; rims tight.

    Ears: Lobular, set low on level with eyes. Fine leathers extending to nose tip. Well clothed with long, straight silky hair.
  • Neck

    Moderate in length, muscular. Set neatly into fine sloping
    shoulders. Clean throat.
  • Body

    Strong, compact.

    Topline: Firm, level, gently sloping downwards to tail from end of loin to set on of tail.

    Loin: Short, wide.

    Chest: Well developed and brisket deep; neither too wide nor too narrow in front. Ribs well sprung.
  • Tail

    Set on slightly lower than line of back. Must be merry in
    action and carried level, never cocked up. Previously customarily docked.

    Docked: Never too short to hide, nor too long to interfere with, the incessant merry action when working.

    Undocked: 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.
  • Forequarters

    General appearance: Legs well boned, straight, sufficiently short for concentrated power. Not too short to interfere with tremendous exertions expected from this grand, sporting dog.

    Shoulder: Sloping and fine.

    Forefeet: Firm, thickly padded, cat-like.
  • Hindquarters

    General appearance: Wide, well rounded, very muscular; legs well boned.

    Stifle (Knee): Good bend.

    Hock joint: Short below the hock joint, allowing for plenty of drive.

    Hind feet: Firm, thickly padded, cat-like.
  • Gait / Movement

    True through action with great drive covering ground well.
  • Coat / Hair

    Flat, silky in texture, never wiry or wavy, not too profuse and
    never curly.

    Well feathered forelegs, body and hind legs above hocks.
  • Coat / Colour

    Solid colours:

    Black; red; golden; liver (chocolate); black and tan; liver and
    tan; No white allowed except a small amount on chest.

    Particolours:

    Bicolours; 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.
  • Size and weight

    Height approximately: Males 39 - 41 cm
    Females 38 - 39 cm

    Weight approximately 13 - 14, 5 kgs
  • Faults

    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 its ability to perform its traditional work.
  • Disqualifying faults

    • Aggressive or overly shy.
    • Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.

    N.B.:
    • Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
    • Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.
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