The
English Cocker Spaniel is a breed of gun dog. The English Cocker Spaniel is an
active, good-natured, sporting dog standing well up at the withers and
compactly built. There are "field" or "working" cockers
and "show" cockers. It is one of several varieties of spaniel and
somewhat resembles its American cousin, the American Cocker Spaniel, although
it is closer to the working-dog form of the Field Spaniel and the English
Springer Spaniel.
Outside
the US, the breed is usually known simply as the Cocker Spaniel, as is the
American Cocker Spaniel within the US. The word cocker is commonly held to stem
from their use to hunt woodcock.
The
American Cocker Spaniel was developed from the English Cocker Spaniel in the
19th century to retrieve quail and woodcock. They were originally divided from
the English Cocker solely on a size basis, but were bred over the years for
different specific traits. The two Cocker Spaniels were shown together in
America until 1936, when the English Cocker received status as a separate
breed. The American Kennel Club granted a separate breed designation for the English
Cocker Spaniel in 1946. The American breed has a shorter snout, is more likely
to get ear infections, and is groomed differently from the English Cocker.
Description
The
English Cocker Spaniel is a sturdy, compact, well-balanced dog. It has a
characteristic expression showing intelligence and alertness. Its eyes should
be dark and its lobular ears should reach "a bit past" the tip of the
nose when pulled forward. Today, a significant difference in appearance exists
between field-bred and conformation show-bred dogs. The Cocker's tail is
customarily docked in North America. In countries where docking is legal, the
tail is generally docked at about 4–5 inches (10–13 cm) in field-bred dogs
while show dogs are generally docked closer to the body. Docking is now illegal
in Australia and South Africa. In England and Wales, docking can only be
carried out on dogs where the owners have proved that the dogs will be used as
working or shooting dogs.
The
breed standard indicates that the males of the breed are on average between
15.5 and 16 inches (39 and 41 cm) at the withers with the females a little
smaller, growing to between 15 and 15.5 inches (38 and 39 cm). Both males and
females of the breed weigh approximately 13–14.5 kilograms (29–32 lb). American
Cocker Spaniels are smaller, with the males being on average between 14.25 and
15.5 inches (36.2 and 39.4 cm), and females again being smaller on average at
between 13.5 and 14.5 inches (34 and 37 cm), both weighing approximately 11–13
kilograms (24–29 lb). The closely related English Springer Spaniels are larger
than either types of cockers, growing to between 19 and 19.75 inches (48.3 and
50.2 cm) for the females, and 19.25 and 20 inches (48.9 and 50.8 cm) for the
males, and weighing between 23 and 25 kilograms (51 and 55 lb).
The
English Cocker Spaniel is similar to the English Springer Spaniel and at first
glance the only major difference is the larger size of the Springer. However
English Cockers also tend to have longer, and lower-set ears than English
Springers. In addition Springers also tend to have a longer muzzle, their eyes
are not as prominent and the coat is less abundant.
Colour
Breed
standards restrict dogs to certain colours for the purposes of conformation
showing (dependent on country), whereas working Cockers can be any of a wide
variety of colours. For instance, the breed standard of the United Kingdom's
Kennel Club states that in solid colours, no white is allowed except for on the
chest.
They
come in solid (or "self"), particoloured, and roan types of markings.
Roan is similar to merle, but consists of solid patches and white patches
speckled or "ticked" with the same colour as the solid patches.
The
colours themselves in the breed consist of black, liver with brown
pigmentation, red with black or brown pigmentation, golden with black or brown pigmentation,
sable, silver, ash, black and tan, liver and tan, blue roan, liver roan, orange
roan with black or brown pigmentation, lemon roan with black or brown
pigmentation, black and white ticked, liver and white ticked, orange and white
ticked with black or brown pigmentation, lemon and white ticked with black or
brown pigmentation, black and white, liver and white with brown pigmentation,
orange and white with black or brown pigmentation, lemon and white with black
or brown pigmentation.
Of
the solid colours, sable is considered rare, and is classified by some
countries as being a type of particolour on account of its mixed hair shafts.
White is black/brown pigmentation is also considered rare, and is also usually
classified as a particolour too. In addition a silver/ash colour, usually
associated with the Weimaraner breed of dog, is considered genetically possible
but is yet to be recorded by the United Kingdom's Kennel Club. Of the roan
varieties, lemon roan with a light brown pigmentation is the most recessive of
all the roans. Plain white Cockers are rarely born, and are thought to be more
prone to deafness than those with more pigmentation. As such they are generally
not encouraged in the breed.
Temperament
Cockers
are compassionate, determined, kind, intelligent, athletic, alert and resilient
and make great family pets. The breed does not like being alone, and will bond
strongly to an individual person in a family, usually the one who feeds it.
Known for optimism, intelligence and adaptability, the breed is extremely loyal
and affectionate. The English Cocker Spaniel has a cheerful nature. They rank
18th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, being of excellent working/obedience
intelligence. Due to the breed's happy disposition and continuously wagging
tail, it has been given the nickname "merry cocker". They can also be
dominant but loyal to their companion.
With
a good level of socialisation at an early age, Cocker Spaniels can get along
well with people, children, other dogs and other pets. This breed seems to have
a perpetually wagging tail and prefers to be around people; it is not best
suited to the backyard alone. Cockers can be easily stressed by loud noises and
by rough treatment or handling. When trained with a soft hand and with lots of
rewards, the Cocker Spaniel will be an obedient and loving companion with a happy,
cheerful nature.
Health
English
Cocker Spaniels in UK and USA/Canada have an average lifespan of 11 to 12
years, which is a typical longevity for purebred dogs, but a little less than
most other breeds of their size. The English Cocker Spaniel typically lives
about a year longer than the smaller American Cocker Spaniel.
In a
2004 UK Kennel Club survey, the most common causes of death were cancer (30%),
old age (17%), cardiac (9%), and "combinations" (7%).
In
1998 and 2002 USA/Canada Health Surveys, the leading causes of death were old age
(40%) and cancer (22%).
Common
health issues with English Cockers are bite problems, skin allergies, shyness,
cataracts, deafness (affecting 6.3% of the dogs of this breed), 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
which is the most common cause of canine arthritis in the hips. Patellar
Lunation, also known as luxating patella, refers to the dislocation of the
kneecap. Canine dilated cardiomyopathy is an adult onset condition which occurs
when the heart muscle is weak and does not contract properly. It can lead to
congestive heart failure, which is where fluid accumulates in the lungs, chest,
abdominal cavities, or under the skin. Dilated cardiomyopathy is often
accompanied by abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias which can complicate
treatment.
Rage Syndrome
Rage
syndrome is most often associated with the Show Cocker Spaniel breed, although
cases have been found in other breeds and cases are relatively rare even within
the Cocker Spaniel breed. Rage Syndrome is described as when a dog attacks
suddenly and often savagely, without any warning and during the attack the dog
often has a glazed look and appears to be unaware of its surroundings. Rage
Syndrome can affect any and all breeds. Though not a common ailment, studies
have found it is more common in solid coloured Cockers than in particolours and
also more common in darker coloured Cockers than lighter coloured Cockers,
being most common in solid gold and black coloured spaniels. Their health
issues are typical for a purebred dog breed; however they are closely
associated with rage syndrome even though cases are really quite rare. Rage
syndrome cannot be accurately predicted and can only be diagnosed by EEG or
genetic testing and these tests are not conclusive. A link between coat colour
and temperament has been proposed. This link could be the colour pigment
melanin, which is biochemically similar to chemicals that act as transmitters
in the brain. A study made by the University of Cambridge involving over 1,000
Cocker Spaniel households throughout Britain concluded that solid colour
Cockers were more likely to be aggressive in 12 out of 13 situations.
Red/golden Cockers were shown to be the most aggressive of all, in situations
involving strangers, family members, while being disciplined, and sometimes for
no apparent reason.[34][35] A study by Spanish researchers at the Autonomous
University of Barcelona revealed a similar link between golden Cockers and
aggression. Males were also more likely to be aggressive. The study found the
English Cocker Spaniel to have the highest level of owner- and stranger-
directed aggression compared to other breeds.
Working Cockers
This
breed, like many others with origins as working dogs, has some genetic lines
that focus on working-dog skills and other lines that focus on ensuring that
the dog's appearance conforms to a breed standard; these are referred to as the
"working" (or "field-bred") and "conformation"
strains, respectively. After World War II, Cocker Spaniels bred for pets and
for the sport of conformation showing increased enormously in popular appeal,
and, for a while, was the most numerous Kennel Club registered breed. This
popularity increased the view that all Cockers were useless as working dogs.
However, for most dogs this is untrue, as even some show-bred Cockers have retained
their working instinct.
Today,
this breed is experiencing a resurgence in usage as a working and hunting dog.
Dogs from working lines are noticeably distinct in appearance. As is the case
with the English Springer Spaniel, the working type has been bred exclusively
to perform in the field as a hunting companion. Their coat is shorter and ears
less pendulous than the show-bred type. Although registered as the same breed,
the two strains have diverged significantly enough that they are rarely
crossed. The dogs that have dominated the hunt test, field trial and hunting
scene in the United States are field-bred dogs from recently imported English
lines. Working-dog lines often have physical characteristics that would prevent
them from winning in the show ring. This is a result of selecting for different
traits than those selected by show breeders. The longer coat and ears, selected
for the show ring, are an impediment in the field. Cuban authorities train and
use English Cocker Spaniels as sniffer dogs to check for drugs or food products
in passengers' baggage at Cuban airports.
Skills
·
A field-bred cocker spaniel is first and
foremost an upland flushing dog. In performing this task there are some skills
the dog must be trained to perform.
·
Hup This is the traditional command to sit and
stay. To be an effective hunter the dog must comply with this command
absolutely. When hupped the dog can be given direction called to the handler.
The ability to hup a dog actively working a running bird allow the handler and
any gunners to keep up without having to run.
·
Retrieve to Hand The majority of hunters and all
hunt test or field trial judges require that a dog deliver a bird to hand,
meaning that a dog will hold the bird until told to give it to the hunter
directly.
·
Quarter Dogs must work in a pattern in front of
the hunter seeking upland game birds. The dog must be taught to stay within gun
range to avoid flushing a bird outside of shooting distance.
·
Follow Hand Signals Upland hunting involves
pursuing wild game in its native habitat. Gun dogs must investigate likely
covers for upland game birds. The dog must be responsive to hand signals in
order for the hunter to be able to direct the dog into areas of particular
interest.
·
Steady When hunting upland birds, a flushing dog
should be steady to wing and shot, meaning that he sits when a bird rises or a
gun is fired. He does this in order to mark the fall and to avoid flushing
other birds when pursuing a missed bird.
