English Cocker Spaniel

Gun Dog Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following 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.

History

The English Cocker Spaniel was developed from the field spaniels, a subcategory of the "land" spaniels developed to work the field (as opposed to the "water" spaniels that worked over water). Land spaniels were divided into "springing" and "field" spaniels. These were smaller spaniels, which worked the hedgerows and gorse of rural England to flush the woodcock for the hunters.

The English Cocker Spaniel was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1914.

General Appearance

The English Cocker Spaniel is solidly-built, short-coupled and moderately angulated. It has as much bone and substance as possible without being cloddy or coarse. The height, measured at the withers, is slightly greater than the distance measured from the withers to the set-on of the tail.

Characteristics

The English Cocker Spaniel is merry, affectionate and even-tempered. They are easily-trained, are willing workers and excellent companions. They exhibit enthusiasm in the field, accompanied by an incessant action of the tail. Dogs exhibiting sluggish or hyper-active temperaments are to be faulted.

They exhibit balance, both in motion and while standing. The head is especially characteristic of the breed, having a brainy appearance indicating high intelligence. The muzzle is also distinctive.

The whole is always to be of primary consideration rather than any of the parts. Exaggeration of any of the parts is to be faulted.

Head & Skull

The head appears strong and free from coarseness, and softly contoured, without sharp angles. As a whole, the parts that make up the head combine to produce the distinctive expression of the breed, that being soft and melting, yet dignified, alert and intelligent.

When viewed from either the front or the side, the skull is arched and slightly flattened. When viewed in profile, the brow appears to be not appreciably higher than the backskull. When viewed from above, the sides of the skull maintain the approximate planes of the muzzle. The length of the muzzle is equal to the length of the skull, but is narrower, as is consistent with a full eye placement. The head is in proportion to the body, and the muzzle is in proportion to to the head. The skull is cleanly chiseled under the eyes. The stop is not moderate, but is defined and slightly grooved. The jaws are strong, indicative that the dog is capable of carrying game.

TEETH

A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite.

Fault: Even (level) bite.
Serious faults: Overshot or undershot bites.

EYES

The eyes are essential to the overall characteristics of the head. The full, slightly oval-shaped eyes are of medium size and set well apart. The eyelids are tight. The haws are inconspicuous; may be pigmented or not pigmented. The eye color is dark brown, except in livers and liver parti-colors, where they are hazel, the darker hazel being preferred.

NOSE

The nostrils are wide, indicative of room for the proper development of olfactory nerve to ensure good scenting ability. Acceptable colors include: black; and brown in liver and liver parti-colored dogs. Red and red parti-colors may have brown noses, but black is preferred.

EARS

The ear leather is fine and extends to the nose. The ears are covered with long, silky, straight or slightly wavy hair. They are set low and lie close to the head.

Faults: Ears set or carried too high. Too wide at the top. Insufficient feathering.

Neck

The neck is graceful and muscular. It arches toward the head and blends cleanly into sloping shoulders. It is moderate in length and is in balance with the length and height of the dog.

Faults: Short, thick, with dewlap or excessive throatiness.

Forequarters

The shoulders are sloping, with the blades flat and smoothly fitting. The shoulder blade and upper arm are approximately equal in length.

FORELEGS

The forelegs are straight, with bone that is nearly uniform in size from the elbow to the heel. The elbows are set close to the body. The upper arm is set well back and joins the shoulder with sufficient angulation so that the elbow is placed beneath the highest point of the shoulder blade when the dog is in a natural stance. The pasterns are nearly straight, with some flexibility.

Faults: Straight shoulders. Loaded shoulders. Loose shoulders. Elbows turned in or out. Knees knuckled over. Bowed legs. Light bone.

Body

The compact, well-knit body gives the impression of strength without heaviness. The neckline blends into the shoulder and backline in a smooth curve. The topline slopes very slightly toward the gently rounded croup. The back is short and strong. The short, broad loin is very slightly arched, not enough to significantly affect the topline. The croup is gently rounded, without the tendency to fall away sharply.

The chest is deep, but not so wide as to interfere with foreleg action nor so narrow as to cause the front to appear narrow or pinched. The brisket reaches to the elbow, sloping gradually to a moderate tuck-up. The forechest is well developed, the prosternum projecting moderately beyond the point of the shoulder.

The well-sprung ribs spring gradually to mid-body tapering to the back ribs, which are of good depth and extend well back.

Faults: Insufficient spring of rib. Barrel ribbed. Withers too low. Flat or narrow loin. Exaggerated tuck-up.

Serious Faults: Sway back. Roach back.

Hindquarters

The angulation of the hindquarters is in balance with that of the forequarters. The hips are relatively broad and well rounded.

HIND LEGS

The muscular upper thigh is broad and well rounded, providing adequate propelling power. The muscular lower thigh is broad and thick, approximately equal in length to the upper thigh. The stifle is strong and well bent. The hocks are well let down.

Faults: Excessive angulation. Short stifle. Hocks too long. Cowhocks. Weak hocks.

Feet

The feet are proportionate in size to the legs. They are firm, round and catlike. The toes are arched and tight. The pads are thick.

Faults: Feet too large or too small. Splayed feet.

Tail

The tail may be docked or natural, and is set on to conform to the croup. While the dog is in motion, the tail is carried horizontally, an extension of the croup, and is in constant motion. When the dog is excited, the tail may be carried somewhat higher, but not gaily. Faults: Tail set too low. Carried habitually too high.

Coat

The coat is short and fine on the head, and of medium length on the body, where it may be flat or slightly wavy and is silky in texture, with enough undercoat to provide protection. It is well feathered but not so much as to interfere with field work. Trimming is permitted only to remove overabundant hair. The dog should always appear as natural as possible.

Faults: Coat too soft, wiry or curly. Lack of coat.

Color

Various colors, which include black, liver and shades of red, are acceptable.

PARTI-COLORS

Parti-colors may be clearly marked, ticked or roaned. The white appears in combination with the black, liver or shades of red (roaned). It is preferable that, on the body, the solid markings are broken and more or less evenly distributed. The absence of body markings is acceptable.

SOLID COLORS

Solid-colored (also known as self-colored) dogs (black, liver or shades of red) may have a little white on the throat, but white feet are undesirable. These white markings do not make the dog a parti-color.

TAN MARKINGS

Clearly defined, richly shaded tan markings may appear on solid colored or parti-colored dogs. Tan markings are found over the eyes, on the sides of the muzzle, on the throat, on the chest, on the forelegs from the knees to the toes, on the hind legs, on the inside of the legs and on the stifle extending from the hock to the toes. Black and Tans and Liver and Tans are considered Solid Colors.

Size & Weight

Height, at the withers, for males: 16 to 17 inches. Height, at the withers, for females: 15 to 16 inches. Desirable weights for males: 28 to 34 pounds. Desirable weights for females: 26 to 32 pounds. Quality is not to be sacrificed in favor of weight.

Serious Faults: Any deviations from the height.

Gait

The English Cocker Spaniel’s gait is characterized by drive and the appearance of power, rather than speed, indicative of the breed’s use as a hunter in dense cover and upland terrain. Correct angulation enables the dog to cover the ground effortlessly with extension in the front and rear. The head is carried proudly while in motion. The topline remains much the same whether in motion or standing still. They move in a straight line with width between the front and rear legs that is appropriate to build and gait.

Serious Faults: Crabbing. Rolling.

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.

The docking of tails and cropping of ears in America is legal and remains a personal choice. However, as an international registry, the United Kennel Club is aware that the practices of cropping and docking have been forbidden in some countries. In light of these developments, the United Kennel Club feels that no dog in any UKC event, including conformation, shall be penalized for a full tail or natural ears.