Sporting Group Breed
General Appearance
The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Sporting Group. He has a sturdy, compact body
and a cleanly chiseled and refined head, with the overall dog in complete balance and of ideal
size. He stands well up at the shoulder on straight forelegs with a topline sloping slightly toward
strong, moderately bent, muscular quarters. He is a dog capable of considerable speed, combined
with great endurance. Above all, he must be free and merry, sound, well balanced throughout and
in action show a keen inclination to work. A dog well balanced in all parts is more desirable than
a dog with strongly contrasting good points and faults.
Size, Proportion,
Substance
Size --
The ideal height at the withers for an adult dog
is 15 inches and for an adult bitch, 14 inches.
Height may vary one-half inch above or below this
ideal. A dog whose height exceeds 15½ inches
or a bitch whose height exceeds 14½ inches
shall be disqualified. An adult dog whose height
is less than 14½ inches and an adult bitch
whose height is less than 13½ inches shall
be penalized. Height is determined by a line perpendicular
to the ground from the top of the shoulder blades,
the dog standing naturally with its forelegs and
lower hind legs parallel to the line of measurement.
Proportion --The measurement
from the breast bone to back of thigh is slightly
longer than the measurement from the highest point
of withers to the ground. The body must be of
sufficient length to permit a straight and free
stride; the dog never appears long and low.
Head
To attain a well proportioned
head, which must be in balance with the rest of
the dog, it embodies the following:
Expression -- The expression
is intelligent, alert, soft and appealing.
Eyes -- Eyeballs are round and
full and look directly forward. The shape of the
eye rims gives a slightly almond shaped appearance;
the eye is not weak or goggled. The color of the
iris is dark brown and in general the darker the
better.
Ears -- Lobular, long, of fine
leather, well feathered, and placed no higher
than a line to the lower part of the eye.
Skull -- Rounded but not exaggerated
with no tendency toward flatness; the eyebrows
are clearly defined with a pronounced stop. The
bony structure beneath the eyes is well chiseled
with no prominence in the cheeks. The muzzle is
broad and deep, with square even jaws. To be in
correct balance, the distance from the stop to
the tip of the nose is one half the distance from
the stop up over the crown to the base of the
skull.
Nose -- of sufficient size to
balance the muzzle and foreface, with well developed
nostrils typical of a sporting dog. It is black
in color in the blacks, black and tans, and black
and whites; in other colors it may be brown, liver
or black, the darker the better. The color of
nose harmonizes with the color of the eye rim.
Lips -- The upper lip is full
and of sufficient depth to cover the lower jaw.
Teeth -- Teeth strong and sound,
not too small and meet in a scissors bite.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck -- The
neck is sufficiently long to allow the nose to
reach the ground easily, muscular and free from
pendulous "throatiness." It rises strongly
from the shoulders and arches slightly as it tapers
to join the head.
Topline -- sloping slightly toward
muscular quarters.
Body -- The chest is deep, its
lowest point no higher than the elbows, its front
sufficiently wide for adequate heart and lung
space, yet not so wide as to interfere with the
straightforward movement of the forelegs. Ribs
are deep and well sprung. Back is strong and sloping
evenly and slightly downward from the shoulders
to the set-on of the docked tail. The docked tail
is set on and carried on a line with the topline
of the back, or slightly higher; never straight
up like a Terrier and never so low as to indicate
timidity. When the dog is in motion the tail action
is merry.
Forequarters
The shoulders are well laid
back forming an angle with the upper arm of approximately
90 degrees which permits the dog to move his forelegs
in an easy manner with forward reach. Shoulders
are clean-cut and sloping without protrusion and
so set that the upper points of the withers are
at an angle which permits a wide spring of rib.
When viewed from the side with the forelegs vertical,
the elbow is directly below the highest point
of the shoulder blade. Forelegs are parallel,
straight, strongly boned and muscular and set
close to the body well under the scapulae. The
pasterns are short and strong. Dewclaws on forelegs
may be removed. Feet compact, large, round and
firm with horny pads; they turn neither in nor
out.
Hindquarters
Hips are wide and quarters
well rounded and muscular. When viewed from behind,
the hind legs are parallel when in motion and
at rest. The hind legs are strongly boned, and
muscled with moderate angulation at the stifle
and powerful, clearly defined thighs. The stifle
is strong and there is no slippage of it in motion
or when standing. The hocks are strong and well
let down. Dewclaws on hind legs may be removed.
Coat
On the head, short and fine;
on the body, medium length, with enough undercoating
to give protection. The ears, chest, abdomen and
legs are well feathered, but not so excessively
as to hide the Cocker Spaniel's true lines and
movement or affect his appearance and function
as a moderately coated sporting dog. The texture
is most important. The coat is silky, flat or
slightly wavy and of a texture which permits easy
care. Excessive coat or curly or cottony textured
coat shall be severely penalized. Use of electric
clippers on the back coat is not desirable. Trimming
to enhance the dog's true lines should be done
to appear as natural as possible.
Color and Markings
Black Variety -- Solid
color black to include black with tan points.
The black should be jet; shadings of brown or
liver in the coat are not desirable. A small amount
of white on the chest and/or throat is allowed;
white in any other location shall disqualify.
Any Solid Color Other than Black (ASCOB)
-- Any solid color other than black,
ranging from lightest cream to darkest red, including
brown and brown with tan points. The color shall
be of a uniform shade, but lighter color of the
feathering is permissible. A small amount of white
on the chest and/or throat is allowed; white in
any other location shall disqualify.
Parti-Color Variety -- Two or
more solid, well broken colors, one of which must
be white; black and white, red and white (the
red may range from lightest cream to darkest red),
brown and white, and roans, to include any such
color combination with tan points. It is preferable
that the tan markings be located in the same pattern
as for the tan points in the Black and ASCOB varieties.
Roans are classified as parti-colors and may be
of any of the usual roaning patterns. Primary
color which is ninety percent (90%) or more shall
disqualify.
Tan Points -- The color of the tan may
be from the lightest cream to the darkest red
and is restricted to ten percent (10%) or less
of the color of the specimen; tan markings in
excess of that amount shall disqualify. In the
case of tan points in the Black or ASCOB variety,
the markings shall be located as follows:
1) A clear tan spot over each eye;
2) On the sides of the muzzle and on the cheeks;
3) On the underside of the ears;
4) On all feet and/or legs;
5) Under the tail;
6) On the chest, optional; presence or absence
shall not be penalized.
Tan markings which are not readily visible or
which amount only to traces, shall be penalized.
Tan on the muzzle which extends upward, over and
joins shall also be penalized. The absence of
tan markings in the Black or ASCOB variety in
any of the specified locations in any otherwise
tan-pointed dog shall disqualify.
Gait
The Cocker Spaniel, though
the smallest of the sporting dogs, possesses a
typical sporting dog gait. Prerequisite to good
movement is balance between the front and rear
assemblies. He drives with strong, powerful rear
quarters and is properly constructed in the shoulders
and forelegs so that he can reach forward without
constriction in a full stride to counterbalance
the driving force from the rear. Above all, his
gait is coordinated, smooth and effortless. The
dog must cover ground with his action; excessive
animation should not be mistaken for proper gait.
Temperament
Equable in temperament with
no suggestion of timidity.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Height -- Males
over 15½ inches; females over 14½
inches.
Color and Markings -- The aforementioned
colors are the only acceptable colors or combination
of colors. Any other colors or combination of
colors to disqualify.
Black Variety -- White markings except
on chest and throat.
Any Solid Color Other Than Black Variety --
White markings except on chest and throat.
Parti-color Variety - Primary color ninety
percent (90%) or more.
Tan Points -- (1) Tan markings in excess
of ten percent (10%); (2) Absence of tan markings
in Black or ASCOB Variety in any of the specified
locations in an otherwise tan pointed dog.
Approved May 12, 1992
Effective June 30, 1992
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