Cocker Spaniel

(Breed Standard)

Partha Sekhar Chatterjee

International All Breeds Dog Show Judge

General Appearance

The Cocker Spaniel is a merry, study, and sporting dog. It is well balanced and compact, measuring approximately the same from withers to ground as from withers to the root of the tail.

Characteristics 

The ever wagging tail indicates its merry nature and a typical bustling movement, particularly when following a scent. 

Temperament 

They are gentle and affectionate and yet full of life and exuberance. 

Head and Skull 

The muzzle is square with distinct stop set midway between tip of nose and occiput. The skull is well developed and finely chiselled. The cheek bones are not very prominent. The nose is sufficiently wide for acute scenting powder.  

Eyes

The eyes are full and not very prominent. They are dark brown and never light, but in the case of liver, loan and liver and white, it is hazel coloured to go with the coat colour. The expression is one of intelligence and gentleness. The rims are tight. 

Ears 

 The ears are lobular and set low, on level with the eyes. The ear leathers are fine extending to the tip of the nose and have dense and long straight silky hair. 

Mouth 

They have strong jaws with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite.  

Neck

It is moderate in length, muscular and set neatly into fine sloping shoulders with clean throat. 

Forequarters

The shoulders are fine and sloping, with well boned, straight and short legs for concentrated power. The legs should not be too short as to interfere with its sporting nature. 

Body

The cocker spaniel has a strong compact body. They have a well developed chest with a deep brisket and well sprung ribs. The loins are short, wide and firm. The topline gently slopes downwards to tail from end of loin to base of tail. 

Hindquarters 

They are wide, well rounded and muscular. The legs are well boned with the stifles well bent, short below the hock, for that extra drive. The feet are firm, thickly padded and cat-like.

Tail 

The tail is slightly lower than topline. It should always be merry and carried level and never curled. Normally docked, but not too short as to interfere with its merry action. 

Gait

They have a true gait with great drive, covering ground well. 

Coat

The coat is flat, silky in texture, never wiry or wavy. It should also not be too profuse and never curly. The forelegs, body and the hindlegs above the hocks are well feathered. 

Colour 

They come in various colours.In self colours no white is allowed except on the chest. 

Size 

The dogs measure 39 – 41 cms and bitches 38 – 39 cms in height, and weigh approximately 14 – 16 kg.  

Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. 

Note: The males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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