Cocker Spaniel Information
  Photo taken at the Old Fort Cluster Dog Show in Fort Wayne, Indiana. |
With the invention of the gun, hunters needed a spaniel with shorter legs than the water spaniels. This led to the development of the modern Cocker Spaniel. Breeders crossed different types of spaniel to achieve a breed that could flush out different types of birds. "Cocking" spaniels were developed to aid hunters who tracked woodcock.
Spaniels spread throughout Europe where they evolved regionally to suit the needs of the locals. English Cocker Spaniels and English Springer Spaniels have been used to revitalize European relatives driven to near extinction by war or neglect. A number of these old gundog breeds have had a revival in recent years.
Until the 1700's, all gundogs in Britain were classified as Land or Water Spaniels, depending on the terrain that they worked best. Water Spaniels included the Irish Water Spaniel, and the Land Spaniel group was subdivided. The largest dogs evolving to become setters and retrievers and the smaller breeds keeping their spaniel name. By the 19th century, all spaniels were grouped under the title of Field Spaniels.
The name Cocker was used for the first time at a dog show in England around 1859. They continued to be shown as Field Spaniels until 1892 when the division between cockers and springs was made. The breed history really began in 1879 with the birth of Obo, a black Cocker from whom all modern cockers can trace their lineage.
In 1882, a breeder from New England imported a female pregnant by Obo. In her litter was Obo II, the dog credited as the source of both types of Cocker in the United States. In 1921, Herman Mellenthin bred Red Brucie, and along with his descendants, established the American Cocker Spaniel as it is today.
By the late 1920's, selective breeding saw the emergence of a distinct new Cocker, with the most obvious difference from its English cousin being the shape of its head.
The majority of Cockers today are mainly house pets. Sadly there has been a great deal of over breeding through the years and the Cocker temperament has really taken a turn for the worse. There are still many great Cocker Spaniel breeders who only breed dogs with incredible temperaments, but you are going to be very unlikely to find a Cocker with a good temperament if you buy one from a pet store or even from someone who bred their Cocker Spaniel pet.
Temperament is very important in the breed. Many Cockers have become biters due to bad breeding practices, so you really have to be careful about where you get your Cocker Spaniel from. If you don't want to deal with fear biting, dominance biting, possible viciousness, submissive urinating, aggressive guarding of objects, people and places, make sure you get your Cocker Spaniel puppy from a breeder who has sound tempered dogs.
Many Cockers can be difficult to housebreak. Being persistent and consistent will help this problem, as well as crate training. Many also love to bark for no apparent reason at all, however most well bred lines do not have this problem.
They tend to get along well with other animals, especially if raised with them. They love to play ball, go on long walks, have plenty of quality time with their family and simply be adored.
A Cocker Spaniels coat is difficult to keep up with, even as a pet. They have long furnishings, which tend to get matted easily. They need combed at least 3 times a week, and groomed no less than every 6 weeks. Cockers also tend to have a great deal of ear infections so it's important to check your Cockers ears at least once a week for signs of problems.
Health problems in the breed can include luxating patella, cataracts, glaucoma, thyroid problems, seizures, allergies and other skin conditions, Hip Dysplasia is occasionally found as well.
Sadly, American Cocker Spaniels are a dime a dozen, and most of them are bred and offered for sale by people who don't have the slightest idea of how to breed good-tempered dogs. Obedience instructors and behavioral consultants see LOTS of American Cocker Spaniels with neurotic behaviors, including aggression, biting, moodiness, and general nastiness.
Due to breeding of poorly tempered dogs, Cocker Spaniels have become notorious for being biters. If you are considering this breed for yourself, please take that into consideration, especially if you have children. Be sure to get one from a reputable breeder who breeds for excellent temperament. Cockers were listed at one time as being the top biters. Do the breed a favor and spay/neuter your pets- leave the breeding up to the professionals, no matter how adorable YOUR dog is.
More than most other breeds, American Cocker Spaniels need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking.
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