ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL
HISTORY AND STANDARD
BREED ORIGIN
Spaniels
The breed type “Spaniel” was first referred to in the XIV century.
In the year 1389 "Le livre de chasse" is published, this is the first text that we can define as a hunt handbook; this book was written by Foix count, Gaston Phoebus, he thought that Spaniels had Spanish origin, where they were considered to be good dogs to hunt between bushes. Later on the Spaniel arrived in France, before finally arriving in England. Continuing his evolution, the Spaniel crossed itself with local dogs.
The writer Geoffrey Chaucer in his work "The Wife of Bathes Prologue" made reference to Spaniels, and some centuries after that, William Shakespeare made the same.
There are also references to Spaniels in Italy, not in books but in pictures, for example in "St. Eustachio miracle" of Pisanello, there are two dogs that resemble spaniels and the same happens in Spain too. Later, in the second middle of the XVII century, in a Ribera picture, representing St Rock, in the act to receive bread by a dog, according to history, it was the spaniel of a nobleman that fed him when he was in the wood ill with plague.
In England, Cox in his text "the Gentleman's Recreation", in which he describes sporting activities, he describes a dog with spaniel qualities that was used in Falconry, and he gives an exhaustive portrayal, not too far from our current conception of a spaniel. Cox describes the dog as little, strong and active, with a nimble body, built to make hunting easier, tail always active and nostril ready to find a trail. He also describes the Spaniel as a dog inclined to listen to his owner and to follow his orders.
The hypothesis of Spaniel or Epagneul in the French provenance is not too different from the Phoebus theory that brings Spaniels back to a far Spanish origin and from this the History and meaning of the word. However many other theories remain, one of these claims that Spaniels arrived on Great Britain’s coasts
By Phoenicians and that the word "spaniel" derives from Punic language and in any case from "span"à"rabbit". This thesis has not been confirmed, in fact Spaniels were already present in European territory’s before they arrived in Great Britain. This brings us back to another hypothesis that suggests they originate from the Orient and then arrive in Europe during the crusade period; crusaders then introduced Falconry that foresaw the use of these dogs.
In history there are other references to the Spaniels presence in other environments, for example Henry VIII and the Duke of Norfolk court were famous in breeding for sport and for the hunt.
The XVII century marks a change for ground Spaniels and water Spaniels, in 1870 there was a split between subjects less than 25lb and 25lb upwards.
Cocker
The word “Cocker” is derived from the word “Woodcock” which describes the Spaniel as a dog used to hunt small game such as the “Woodcock”
Cockers in the beginning were bigger than today’s Cockers, but their weight was reduced by crossing them with little Japanese spaniels. In the XVII century; these toy spaniels were introduced into England to James I court and donated from the same Japanese emperor. Others were imported by a Portuguese missionary that donated them to Charles II wife.
The purpose of these crosses other than the reduction of weight was to establish particular colours.
Japanese Spaniels are part of the Cockers genetic history, this connection between the smaller spaniels and hunt spaniels is in particular seen in Blenheim castle and the name of the colour “orange and white” is still used in some breeds. In the first of '900 Dauriac wrote in a cocker essay that the union between toy spaniels and hunt spaniels gave the cocker anatomy and in particular the head shape.
The 1879 marks the start of true cocker selection, an important cinophily the studious Mr James Farrow, mated a black and white bitch, named Betty, and a black tan dog, named Frank, from this mating Obo was born, he was the first progenitor of today’s Cockers; Obo is the father of many champions and one of his sons mated to a different colour bitch is the father of the first blue roan cocker. Even if Obo mainly reproduced black cockers, other cockers produced other colours but they didn't transmit the quality of genetic heritage of Obo.
Until 1892 Cockers and Springer’s were devised only by size, until the Kennel Club recognized them as two separate breeds, like between the English Cocker Spaniel and American Cocker Spaniel in 1940 when the American and Canadian Kennel Club separated them.
The year 1893 marks the recognition by the Kennel Club of the breed "English cocker spaniel" however the standard still had to be edited, the selection was only about the weight, the limit was of 25lb (approx 12 kg), dogs were weighed at shows and any dogs that weighed more were disqualified.
In 1885 the Spaniel Club was born, it tried to enlarge cocker conception, not only selecting for weight, but more importantly in 1901, dogs were selected for their quality. In 1902 the first standard was edited, it didn’t change again until 1986 that much valued Cocker like hunt dog."
Specially Thanks to Lorraine Burton "Dreamist Kennel" for English review
STANDARD F.C.I N°5
General appearance: merry and sturdy hunting dog, well balanced and compact. Measuring approximately same from withers to ground as from withers to root of tail.
Characteristics/ Temperament: merry nature with tail always in movement, particularly when cocker is following a scent, fearless of heavy cover. Gentle and affectionate, full of life and exuberance.
HEAD
Skull Area
Skull: well developed, cleanly chiselled, neither too fine or too coarse.
Stop: well distinct set midway between tip of nose and occiput.
Facial Area
Nose: sufficiently wide for acute scenting power.
Muzzle: well square.
Jaws/ Teeth: jawn strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, so upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Cheek bone: not prominent
Eyes: full, not prominent. Dark brown or brown. never light, in case of liver, liver roan and liver and white, dark hazel to harmonise with coat. Eyes must express intelligence and gentleness; always wide awake, bright and merry, rims tight.
Ears: Lobular, set low on a level with eyes. Fine leathers extending to nose tip. Well clothed with long, straight silky hair.
NECK: moderate lenght and muscular. Seat into sloping shoulders. Without throat.
BODY: strong and compact
Level Topline: firm and straight, gently sloping downwards to tail from end of loin to set on of tail.
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. Carried level, never cocked up. Customarily docked. Never too short to hide, nor too long to interfere with, the incessant merry action when working.
Undocked: slightly curved, 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. Never so low as to indicate timidity.
FOREQUARTERS: legs well boned. Straight and sufficiently short for concentrated power, not too short to interfere with tremendous exertions expected from this grand, huntingdog.
Shoulder: sloping and fine.
HINDQUARTERS: wide, well rounded, muscular. Legs well boned, good bend of stifle, short below hock allowing plenty of drive.
Feet: firm with thickly padded, round like "cat feet".
Movement: forequarters and hindquarters matched action, great drive covering ground well.
COAT: flat. Silky in texture, never wiry or wavy, not too profuse and never curly. Well feathered forelegs, body and hindlegs above hocks.
Colours: various. In solid colours no white allowed except on chest.
SIZES AND WEIGHTS
Height: Dogs 39-41cm
Bithces 38-39cm
Weight: 12,5 - 14,5kg (about 25lbs)
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.
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
