Cocker spaniel
Cocker spaniels were originally bred as hunting dogs in the UK, with the term 'cocker' deriving from their use to hunt the Eurasian woodcock.
The breed was first recognized by The Kennel Club (KC) in 1892. In the United Kingdom, two distinct strains of the cocker spaniel have developed, the show strain and the working strain. While both strains share the same breed ancestry, selective breeding for different purposes has resulted in notable physical and behavioural differences.
According to the KC, the size of a show cocker is 15.5 to 16 in. (394 to 406 mm) at the shoulder for males, and 15 to 15.5 in. (381 to 394 mm) for females. The weight of a show dog should be 28 to 32 lb. (12.7 to 14.5 kg). Show cockers are bred to meet the breed standard, and typically have more domed skulls, longer and more luxuriant ears, and a thicker, silkier coat with prominent feathering on the legs, chest, and tail.
In contrast, working cockers are bred primarily for field performance and hunting ability, particularly for flushing game birds into the air to be shot, and then using their eyes and nose to locate the downed bird and retrieve it with a soft mouth. As a result, they are often slightly taller and leaner, with flatter skulls, shorter ears, and shorter, finer coats that require less maintenance. Their feathering is minimal, reducing the risk of debris getting caught during field work. Additionally, working cockers tend to have higher stamina, quicker reflexes, and a more intense drive to work, which makes them highly suitable for active environments or gundog roles. Their high energy levels and focus can make them more demanding as household pets without proper training and mental stimulation.
Despite these differences, both strains remain part of the same breed and share many of the friendly and affectionate traits characteristic of cocker spaniels.
Cocker spaniels are the second most popular dog breed in the UK according to statistics released by the KC with 22,211 registrations in 2009, beaten only by the Labrador retriever with 40,943. In third place was the English springer spaniel with 12,700.
Cocker spaniel
Cocker spaniels were originally bred as hunting dogs in the UK, with the term 'cocker' deriving from their use to hunt the Eurasian woodcock.
The breed was first recognized by The Kennel Club (KC) in 1892. In the United Kingdom, two distinct strains of the cocker spaniel have developed, the show strain and the working strain. While both strains share the same breed ancestry, selective breeding for different purposes has resulted in notable physical and behavioural differences.
According to the KC, the size of a show cocker is 15.5 to 16 in. (394 to 406 mm) at the shoulder for males, and 15 to 15.5 in. (381 to 394 mm) for females. The weight of a show dog should be 28 to 32 lb. (12.7 to 14.5 kg). Show cockers are bred to meet the breed standard, and typically have more domed skulls, longer and more luxuriant ears, and a thicker, silkier coat with prominent feathering on the legs, chest, and tail.
In contrast, working cockers are bred primarily for field performance and hunting ability, particularly for flushing game birds into the air to be shot, and then using their eyes and nose to locate the downed bird and retrieve it with a soft mouth. As a result, they are often slightly taller and leaner, with flatter skulls, shorter ears, and shorter, finer coats that require less maintenance. Their feathering is minimal, reducing the risk of debris getting caught during field work. Additionally, working cockers tend to have higher stamina, quicker reflexes, and a more intense drive to work, which makes them highly suitable for active environments or gundog roles. Their high energy levels and focus can make them more demanding as household pets without proper training and mental stimulation.
Despite these differences, both strains remain part of the same breed and share many of the friendly and affectionate traits characteristic of cocker spaniels.
Cocker spaniels are the second most popular dog breed in the UK according to statistics released by the KC with 22,211 registrations in 2009, beaten only by the Labrador retriever with 40,943. In third place was the English springer spaniel with 12,700.