The most popular of the Spaniel family, the Cocker is an active, happy, small dog,who quickly adaps himself to his surrounfdings. He is highly intelligent and affectionate, and is in his element forraging around fields and hedgerows. He also employs his retrieving instincts around the house, and can often be found with a toy or slipper in his mouth, his tail wagging furiously, waiting for praise. He originated as the cocking spaniel, and derived this name from the flushing woodcock, many early prints bearing out this theory. Easy to train-his main aim in life is to please his owner - he is a busy little dog who enjoys plenty of exercise, and thrives on human companionship.
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| General
Appearance *** Merry, sturdy,
sporting; well balance; compact; measuring approximately same from
withers to ground as from withers to root of tail.
Characteristics *** Merry nature with everwagging, tail, shows a typical bustling movement, particularly when follawing scent, fearless of heavy cover. Temperament *** Gentlle and affectionate, yet full of life and exuberance.
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| Head and
Skull *** Square muzzle, with
distinct stop set midway between tip of nose and occiput. Skull well
developed, cleanly chiselled, neither too fine nor too coarse. Cheek
bones not prominent. Nose sufficiently wide for acute scenting power.
Eyes *** Full, but not promenent. Dark brown or brown, never light, but in case of liver, liver roan and liver and white, dark hazel to harmonise with coat; with expression of intelligence and gentleness but wide awake, bright and merry; rims tight.
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| Ears ***
Lobular, set low on a level with eyes. Fine leathers extending to nose
tip. Well clothed with long, straight, silky hair.
Mouth *** Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set sqaure to the jaws. Neck *** Moderate in length, muscular. Set neatly into fine sloping shoulders. Clean throat.
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| ForeQuarters
*** Shoulders sloping
and fine. Legs well boned, straight, sufficiently short for
concentrated power. Not too short to interfere with tremendous
exertions expected from this grand, sporting dog.
Body *** Strong, compact. Chest well developed and brisket deep; neither too wide nor too narrow in front. Ribs well sprung. Loin short, wide with firm, level topline gently sloping downwards to tail from and of loin to set on of tail.
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| HindQuarters
*** Wide, well rounded, very
muscular. Legs well boned, good bend of stifle, short below hock,
allowing for plenty of drive.
Feet *** Firm, thickly padded, cat - like. Tail *** Set on slightly lower than line of back. Must be merry in action and carried level, never cocked up. Customarily docked but never too short to hide, nor too long to interfere with the incessant merry action when working,
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| Gait &
Movement *** True Through action
with great drive covering ground well.
Coat *** Flat, silky in texture, never wiry or wavy, not too profuse and never cuely. Well feathered forelegs, body and hindlegs above hocks.
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| Colour
*** Various. In self colours no
white allowed except on chest.
Size *** Height approximately: dogs : 39 - 41 cms ( 15 - 16 ins ) Bitches : 38 - 39 cms ( 15 - 15% ins ). Weight approximately: 12.75-14. 5 kgs ( 28-32 Ibs ).
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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 ** Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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Cocker Spaniel 
