GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 38-41cm (15”-16”).
Colour: Black, Black/tan, Gold, Liver or Orange with or without white.
Roans which are the above colours with white hairs mingled evenly in the colour.
Coat: Flat, silky but never wiry, wavy, profuse or too curly. The forelegs, body and hindlegs above the hocks should be well feathered.
Gait: Sound ground covering movement and the tail wagging incessantly.
These merry little spaniels emanate activity and happiness. The gentle but wide awake eyes with their melting expressions, are set midway in the cleanly chiselled heads. The muscular neck flows into a compact body, with a level topline which then slopes slightly to the customary docked tail. The well angulated muscular fore and hindquarters provide the required concentrated power.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Bred originally for retrieving and hunting, these spaniels have fine noses for scenting and are untiring in their work flushing out game or retrieving a shot bird for their master. Being amenable to training, they make excellent house dogs and can adapt to either city or country life, however, they do need plenty of exercise and have a tendency to bark enthusiastically. The flat silky coats do not hold dirt and are easily maintained with periodic brushing. Like many of the drop eared breeds, the ears should be regularly checked for cleanliness and to be free of things like grass seeds.
HISTORY
This breed is one of the earliest known land spaniels and derives its name from the Spanish word ‘Espanol’ - Spain being the country where they were evolved in the 14th century. In England these dogs were bred down in size from the English Springer Spaniel to get the Cocker as we know him today.
This new strain earned their name through their skill in flushing out and retrieving woodcocks for the hunters. In turn, when this Cocker was bred down in size, the result was the English Toy Spaniel and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.