ABOUT THE COCKER

ALL ABOUT COCKER SPANIELS

BREED GROUP - Gundog
SIZE - Medium
EXCERCISE REQUIREMENTS - 1 Hour per day
GROOMING - Every day
HOUSE SIZE - Small House
GARDEN SIZE - Small/Medium Garden
LIFESPAN - 10-15 years

HISTORY

The breed's name comes from its original function, as he was used to hunt woodcock.

Up until 1893, all spaniels were known as Land Spaniels and were bred together. They were then classified depending on size and colour. Thus making the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Sussex Spaniel, Springer Spaniel & Welsh Springer Spaniel.

They were selectively bred for suitability for their work and for the terrain.

It was a requirement that a Cocker Spaniel should simply be under 25lbs in weight.

Whilst blacks dominated the rings in the early shows, Welsh Springer outcross was used to establish parti-coloured lines.

The Cocker Spaniel earns the epithet 'the merry cocker' for his ever wagging tail denoting his happy temperament.

In the early 20th century the breed was at its height of popularity and it remains hugely popular as a family pet.

TEMPERAMENT

Gentle and affectionate, full of life and exuberance

KENNEL CLUB RECOGNISED COLOURS

SOLID COLOURS

Black

Red

Golden

Liver

Chocolate

Black & Tan

Liver & Tan

Can have a small amount of white on the chest. A white bib or mismark anywhere else on the body does not make the dog a Tri Colour or an and White

PARTICOLOURS

Black & White

Orange & White

Liver & White

Chocolate & White

Lemon & White

To be considered an & white, at least 50% of the body MUST be White. All colours can present with ticking.

TRI COLOURS

Black, White & Tan

Liver, White & Tan

Chocolate White & Tan

To be a true Tri Colour at least 50% of the body MUST be White. A white bib or mismark DOES NOT make the dog a Tri Colour.

ROANS

Blue Roan

Orange Roan

Liver Roan

Chocolate Roan

Lemon Roan

Blue Roan & Tan

Liver Roan & Tan

Chocolate Roan & Tan

HEALTH TESTING

BVA Eye Test

DNA Test - Familial Neuropathy

DNA Test - prcd-PRA

DNA Test - Acral Mutilation Syndrome

Familial Neuropathy - a juvenile-onset fatal kidney disease. The renal disease caused by FN invariably is progressive and ultimately fatal. Dogs with FN typically develop chronic renal failure between 6 month and 2 years of age, with eventual and sometimes rapid destruction of both kidneys.
Progresive Retinal Atrophy - causes the degeneration of retinal cells in the eye: firstly, rod cells are affected leading to progressive night blindness. Secondly, degeneration of the cone cells results in complete blindness of the dog. Age of onset of clinical symptoms is typically in early adolescence or early adulthood.
Acral Mutilation Syndrome - is an inherited sensory neuropathy disorder affecting several sporting breeds. The disease is characterised by insensitivity to pain in the feet which can be associated with sudden and intense licking, biting and severe self-mutilation of the feet.
BVA Eye Test - This is an annual clinical eye examination and is a means of identifying inherited and non-inherited eye conditions.