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.
