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Cocker Spaniel

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Cocker Spaniel
An orange roan English Cocker Spaniel with docked tail at a conformation show.
Other namesUnited States American Cocker Spaniel
United Kingdom English Cocker Spaniel
Traits
Height Males ACS: 14.5–15.5 inches (37–39 cm)
ECS: 15.5–16 inches (39–41 cm)
Females ACS: 13.5–14.5 inches (34–37 cm)
ECS: 15–15.5 inches (38–39 cm)
NotesThe term Cocker Spaniel is a term used to describe two separately recognized dog breeds.
Dog (domestic dog)

Cocker Spaniel refers to two different breeds of dogs of the Spaniel dog type: the American Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel, both of which are commonly called simply Cocker Spaniels in their countries of origin. Cocker Spaniels were originally developed as a hunting dog in the United Kingdom, with the term "cocker" coming from their use to hunt the Eurasian Woodcock. When the breed was brought to the United States, changes were made to enable it to specialize in hunting the American Woodcock, creating size and physical shape differences in the breed compared to its English cousin.

Spaniels were first mentioned in the 14th century by Gaston III of Foix-Béarn in his work the Livre de Chasse. The "Cocking" or "Cocker Spaniel" was first used to refer to a type of field or land spaniel in the 19th century. Prior to 1901, Cocker Spaniels were only separated from Field Spaniels and Springer Spaniels by weight. Two dogs are considered to be the foundation sires of both modern breeds, the English variety are descended from Ch. Obo, while the American breed follows in the footsteps of Obo's son, Ch. Obo II. In America, the English variety was recognized as separate from the native breed in 1946; in the UK, the American type was recognized as a separate breed in 1970. In addition, there is a second strain of English Cocker Spaniel, a working strain which is not bred to a standard but by working ability.

Both breeds share similar coat colors and health issues with a some exceptions.

History

A drawing of English and Welsh Cockers, from John Henry Walsh aka Stonehenge's 1859 work The Dog in Health and Disease.

While its initial origins are unknown, "spaynels" are mentioned in writings dating from the 14th century.[1] It is commonly assumed that they originated in Spain and Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York in his 15th century work The Master of Game introduces them as "Another kind of hound there is that be called hounds for the hawk and spaniels, for their kind cometh from Spain, notwithstanding that there are many in other countries."[2] The Master of Game was mostly an English translation of an earlier 14th century Old French work by Gaston III of Foix-Béarn entitled Livre de Chasse.[3]

In 1801, Sydenham Edwards wrote in Cynographia Britannica that the "Land Spaniel" is divided into two types; the hawking, springing or springer and the cocking or cocker spaniel.[4] The term "cocker" came from the dog's use in hunting Woodcock, a game bird from Wales and South West England.[5] During the 19th century the term "cocker spaniel" was used to describe a type of small Field Spaniel, which at the time was also a general term to describe a number of different spaniel hunting breeds including the Norfolk Spaniel, Sussex Spaniel and Clumber Spaniel. While there were no Sussex Cockers or Clumber Cockers, there were dogs known as Welsh Cockers and Devonshire Cockers.[6] The Welsh or Devonshire were considered Cockers until 1903 when they were recognized by The Kennel Club as the Welsh Springer Spaniel.[7]

Ch. Obo II, foundation sire of the American Cocker Spaniel.

Prior to the 1870s, the only requirement for a dog to be classed as a Cocker Spaniel was that it needed to weigh less than 25 pounds (11 kg), although breeders separated the Cocker from the King Charles Spaniel which remains a smaller breed of spaniel.[8] The maximum weight limit on the Cocker Spaniel would remain until 1901.[9] The colors of the Devonshire and Welsh Cockers were described by John Henry Walsh under the pseudonym Stonehenge in his book The Dog in Health and Disease as being deeper a shade of liver than that of the Sussex Spaniel.[10] Following the formation of The Kennel Club in the UK in 1873, efforts were made by breeders to record the pedigrees of Cockers and Springers. In 1892, English Cocker Spaniels and English Springer Spaniels were recognized as separate breeds by The Kennel Club.[11]

There are two dogs which are thought to be the foundation sires of both modern breeds of Cocker Spaniels. Ch. Obo is considered to be the father of the modern English Cocker Spaniel, while his son, Ch. Obo II is considered to be the the progenitor of the American Cocker Spaniel.[12] Obo was born in 1879, at which point registration as a Cocker was still only by size and not by ancestry. He was the son of a Sussex Spaniel and a Field Spaniel.[7] Although Obo was an English dog, Obo II was born on American shores – his mother, Ch. Pitchers Chloe II,[13] was shipped to the United States while pregnant.[12] Even during his lifetime, it was stated that Obo II was the sire or grandsire of nearly every prize winning Cocker in America.[14]

Modern breeds

A graph showing the height and shape difference between the American and English Cocker.

There are two modern breeds of Cocker Spaniel, the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel.[15] They were bred as gun dogs; to use their sense of smell to cover low areas near the handler in order to flush birds into the air to be shot, and to use their eyes and nose to locate the bird once downed, and then to retrieve the bird with a soft mouth.[16] The major differences between the English and American varieties is that the American is smaller with a shorter back plus a domed head and a shorter muzzle, while the English variety is taller with a narrower head and chest.[15]

Cocker Spaniels coats can come in a variety of colors including black, liver, red and lemon in solids. There are also black and tan, and sometimes liver and tan as well as a variety of color mixtures of those solid colors including roans, roan and tans, tricolors and those solid colors with additional white markings. Some colors are genetically possible such as a lemon tricolor, and an orange shade also exists, but is considered to be red when appearing in a solid colored dog.[17]

Rare colors can appear unexpectedly in certain lines, for instance while an all-white Cocker is usually bred by selective breeding of very light golden strains, they can still appear very uncommonly to parents who are dark colored. A noted occurrence of this happened in 1943, when a grandson of My Own Brucie was born all-white. My Own Brucie had won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1940 and 1941.[18]

English Cocker Spaniel

Main article: English Cocker Spaniel
A golden English Cocker Spaniel of the show strain.

Called simply Cocker Spaniel in the UK,[19] this is the breed that was originally recognized by The Kennel Club in 1892.[11] The American Kennel Club recognized the English Cocker Spaniel as a separate breed in 1946.[15]

The size of the English Cocker Spaniel according to The Kennel Club is 15.5–16 inches (39–41 cm) at the withers for males, and 15–15.5 inches (38–39 cm) for females. The weight of a show dog should be 28–32 pounds (13–15 kg).[19]

The English Cocker Spaniel is the most successful breed at the most popular dog show in the UK, Crufts, with seven best-in-show wins since the prize was first awarded in 1928. This was mostly due to the success of dog breeder H.S. Lloyd's Ware Kennel, who won best-in-show on six occasions between 1930–1950.[20] They are the second most popular dog breed in the UK according to statistics released by The Kennel Club 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.[21] Their popularity has increased steadily since 1999 in the United States when they were ranked 76th in registrations by the American Kennel Club, to 2009 when they were ranked 66th.[22]

There is a split between the show strains and working strains in the UK. While the show strain is bred to the conformation standard, the working strain is bred for working ability and as such several physical differences have appeared. Working type dogs tend to be larger with flatter heads and shorter ears. The coat also tends to be finer than the show variety and have less feathering.[23]

American Cocker Spaniel

Main article: American Cocker Spaniel
A recently groomed American Cocker Spaniel.

Cocker Spaniels were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1878. Generally smaller than its English cousin, separate classes were created for the two types in America in 1935, with the Cocker Spaniel Club of America discouraging breeding between the two types in 1938.[15] The American Cocker Spaniel was recognized as a separate breed by The Kennel Club in the UK in 1970.[24] The American Cocker Spaniel is referred to as the Cocker Spaniel within the United States.[15]

The American Cocker Spaniel was bred smaller as American Woodcocks are smaller than their European cousins, and the breeds appearence changed slightly during the first part of the 20th century as the preference by American breeders was for a more stylized appearance.[7] The standard size according to the American Kennel Club is between 14.5–15.5 inches (37–39 cm) at the withers for males and 13.5–14.5 inches (34–37 cm) for females.[25] The weight of the breed is on average between 24–30 pounds (11–14 kg).[26]

At the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the most prestigious dog show in the United States,[27] the American Cocker Spaniel has won best-in-breed on four occasions since first awarded in 1907. The most successful breed is the Wire Fox Terrier with thirteen wins.[28] The American Cocker Spaniel is judged in three separate breed classes under American Kennel Club rules; "black", "parti-color", and "any solid color other than black" (ASCOB).[29]

In its native United States, the American Cocker Spaniel was ranked 23rd in 2009, a decrease in popularity since 1999 when it was ranked 13th.[22] For twenty five years the American Cocker Spaniel was the most popular dog in America. It was ranked number one first in 1936 prior to the English Cocker Spaniel being recognized as a separate breed, and held onto the spot until 1952 when Beagles became the most popular dog. It regained the spot in 1983 and held on at number one until 1990.[30] In the UK, the American Cocker Spaniel is far less popular than its English cousin with only 322 registrations compared to the English Cocker's 22,211 in 2009.[31]

Common health issues

Typical longevity for an American Cocker Spaniel is 10 to 11 years, with English Cockers living slightly longer, on average at 11 to 12 years.[32] The two modern breeds are susceptible to several health problems. Issues common to the two breeds include ear infections, and a variety of eye problems.[33] A large number of breeds are susceptible to hip dysplasia. In a survey conducted by Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the American Cocker Spaniel was ranked 115th worst affected out of 150 different breeds; the English Cocker was ranked 129th.[34]

Otitis externa

Severe otitis externa in a Cocker Spaniel. The ear canal is inflamed and swollen shut.

Cocker Spaniels and other dogs that have long, pendulous ears are more predisposed to ear problems than some other breeds. The fold of the ear can prevent air from entering, and it also creates a warm, moist environment where organisms can grow. Otitis externa is an inflammation of the ear canal which can be caused by a variety of factors including parasites, microorganisms, foreign bodies, tumors, and underlying dermatological disease. Ear mites can cause otitis externa; ticks and fleas can also live in dogs' ear canals.[35]

The most common canine ear problems are caused by microorganisms, especially yeast infections. The most common variety of this is Malassezia pachydermatitis. Symptoms can include the dog shaking its head or scratching at its ears more frequently. The ear canal will appear inflamed, a pus-like substance will be discharged in some cases, and the ear will smell quite pungent in most cases. Treatment for the more common causes of otitis externa in dogs often includes flushing the ears with an antibacterial solution. In some cases, anti-inflammatory medication is prescribed. Some conditions can increase the chance of ear infections, including living in a humid environment and frequent swimming or bathing without adequate drying of the ear afterwards.[35]

Eye conditions

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a term given to several diseases which affect a dog's eyesight and can lead to blindness. It has been documented in a large number of different dog breeds including both the American and English Cocker Spaniels. The two types of Cockers are susceptible to a specific type of PRA called Progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD), symptoms include night blindness leading to total blindness between the ages of 3 and 5.[36] PRCD is the most widespread heriditary retinal disease which may lead to blindness in dogs.[37]

Another leading cause of blindness is Canine glaucoma. This is an increase in the pressure of the fluid in the eye which, if left untreated, can cause visual impairment and eventual loss of sight. The condition can be inherited (Primary glaucoma) or a secondary condition to a variety of other eye issues including tumors or lens luxation.[38] Both breeds are affected by juvenile cataracts which can occur at up to four years of age. Symptoms can include discoloring of the pupil, and treatment may include surgery to remove the cataract.[39]

Notes

  1. ^ Sucher (1999): p. 7
  2. ^ 2nd Duke of York, Edward of Norwich (1413). "Full text of "The Master of Game : the oldest English book on hunting"". Archive.org. Retrieved 17 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "The master of game / by Edward, second Duke of York. the oldest English book on hunting / edited by Wm. A. and F. Baillie-Grohman; with a foreword by Theodore Roosevelt". National Library of Australia Catalogue. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  4. ^ Mymudes, Mindy (3 March 2002). "An English Springer History". Ariel English Springer Spaniels. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  5. ^ Case, Linda P. (20 May 2005). The Dog: Its Behavior, Nutrition, and Health (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. p. 32. ISBN 978-0813812540. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  6. ^ Walsh, John Henry (1906). The Dogs Of Great Britain, America, And Other Countries. Their Breeding, Training, and Management in Health and Disease. Orange Judd Company.
  7. ^ a b c "The Cocker Spaniel: Fine Feathered Friend". Dog & Kennel. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  8. ^ Sucher (1999): p. 8
  9. ^ Kolehouse, Bobbie. "Dusting Off History to Look at Cocker Hunting Tradition". Spaniel Journal. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  10. ^ Walsh (1887): p. 109
  11. ^ a b Palika (2009): p. 19
  12. ^ a b Palika (2009): p. 21
  13. ^ "Obo II (Cocker Spaniel) pedigree information". Pedigree Database.com. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  14. ^ "Obo II Stud Card" (PDF). American Spaniel Club. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  15. ^ a b c d e Riggsbee, Nikki (1 October 2008). Training Your Cocker Spaniel. Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 978-0764140358. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  16. ^ "Cocker Spaniel". National Gundog Association. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  17. ^ "English Cocker Spaniel Rainbow of Colors". Stirling English Cocker Spaniels. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  18. ^ "White Cocker: "Brucie" grandson is rare color". Life. 13 December 1943. p. 40. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  19. ^ a b "Spaniel (Cocker) Breed Standard". The Kennel Club. December 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  20. ^ "Besti hundur sýningar á Crufts, frá árunum 1928-2002" (in Icelandic). Hvuttar.net. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  21. ^ "Top Twenty Breeds in Registration Order for the Years 2008 and 2009" (PDF). The Kennel Club. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  22. ^ a b "AKC Dog Registration Statistics". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  23. ^ "Frequently Asked Cocker Questions". The Cocker Spaniel Club. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  24. ^ Quelch, John (1988). The Early Days of the American Cocker Spaniel in the United Kingdom. American Cocker Spaniel Club of Great Britain. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  25. ^ "AKC Meet the Breeds: Cocker Spaniel". American Cocker Spaniel. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  26. ^ Palika, Liz (31 August 2007). The Howell Book of Dogs: The Definitive Reference to 300 Breeds and Varieties. John Wiley & Sons. p. 206. ISBN 978-0470009215. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  27. ^ Del Rosario, Ron (17 February 2010). "Westminster Dog Show 2010 Results : Best in Show Results". The Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  28. ^ "Best-in-show Winners". Westminster Kennel Club. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  29. ^ "2010 Breed Judging Results". Westminster Kennel Club. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  30. ^ "AKC Registration Statistics Fact Sheet". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  31. ^ "Quarterly Registration Statistics for the Gundog Group" (PDF). The Kennel Club. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  32. ^ Cassidy, Dr. Kelly M. (1 February 2008). "Breed Longevity Data". Dog Longevity. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  33. ^ "The American Cocker Spaniel And The English Cocker Spaniel: What Are Their Differences?". About-Cocker-Spaniels.com. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  34. ^ "Hip Dysplasia Statistics". Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. December 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  35. ^ a b Thomas, Dennis W. "An Ear Full of Auditory Advice". Working Dogs.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  36. ^ Smith, DVM, Marty. "Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration in Dogs". PetEducation.com. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  37. ^ "Linkage analysis and comparative mapping of canine progressive rod–cone degeneration (prcd) establishes potential locus homology with retinitis pigmentosa (RP17) in humans". UK PubMed Central. 2 January 1998. Retrieved 1 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ "What is glaucoma?". Canine Inherited Disorders Database. 28 March 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  39. ^ "What are cataracts?". Canine Inherited Disorders Database. 29 December 2004. Retrieved 1 May 2010.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cocker Spaniel.
Look up Cocker Spaniel or cocker in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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