British Cocker Spaniel (Detailed Introduction)

       The British Cocker Spaniel is considered one of the smaller types among sporting breeds; it is strong-bodied, compact, with a clean, delicate head and overall very symmetrical. Male height ranges from 40.6 to 43.0 cm, females from 38.1 to 40.6 cm. Deviations from this standard are not acceptable. The ideal weight for males is 12.70 to 15.42 kg, and for females 11.79 to 14.52 kg.

     Head

      1. Overall appearance: solid but not coarse, contours are soft without sharp edges. The overall expression made by all parts appears distinct compared with other breeds.  

       2. Eyes: The Cocker's eyes are fundamental to the ideal expression. Medium-sized, full, and slightly oval; widely separated; eyelids tight. The third eyelid is inconspicuous; pigmentation may be present or absent. Except for liver and liver-colored pied dogs where hazel eyes are permitted, the eyes of other colored dogs are dark brown.
       3. Ears: low set, hanging close to the head; ear leather delicate, extending to the tip of the nose, covered with long, silky, straight or slightly wavy hair.
       4. Skull: rounded and slightly flat when viewed from the side and front. Observing the profile, the brows do not protrude much beyond the back of the skull. From above, the planes of the sides of the skull run roughly parallel to the sides of the muzzle. The stop is defined but moderate with a slight groove.
       5. Muzzle: equal in length to the skull; moderately full; only slightly narrower than the skull, width aligns at the eye level; clean contours below the eyes. The jaw is solid, capable of carrying game. Well-developed sense of smell; the nose is black except liver or liver-colored pied dogs whose noses can be brown; the nose of red or red pied dogs can be brown, but black is preferred. Lips are square but not droopy or exaggerated.
       6. Teeth: scissors bite. Pincer bite is also acceptable but not ideal. Prognathism of either upper or lower jaw is a serious fault.

       Neck, Topline, Body
       1. Neck: elegant and muscular, arches towards the head, neatly joined to the head without excess skin, merging into sloping shoulders; moderate length balanced with the dog's height and length.
       2. Topline: from neck-shoulder junction to the back forms a smooth curve. The backline very slightly slopes towards the rounded croup, without sagging or wrinkles.
       3. Body: compact and closely joined, appearing powerful but not heavy.
       4. Chest: deep; not too wide to restrict forelimb movement, nor too narrow appearing narrow or pinched in front. The forechest is well developed with a pronounced sternum, slightly protruding beyond the shoulder and upper arm joint. Chest depth reaches the elbows and slopes gradually upwards towards the rear, moderately raised. Ribs are well sprung, gradually rising towards the body center, narrowing towards the rear with sufficient depth and good rear extension. The back is short and firm. The loin is short, broad, and very slightly arched but not enough to affect the topline. The rump is very rounded without any steepness.
       5. Tail: docked. Set on the croup, ideally held level and moves firmly during motion. When excited, tail may be raised slightly but never carried upright.

       Forequarters
       The British Cocker Spaniel has somewhat angular shoulders. Shoulders are sloped, flat, and smooth. Shoulder blade and upper arm are roughly equal in length, the upper arm positioned backward with sufficient angulation at the junction, so when standing naturally, the elbow is directly beneath the highest point of the shoulder blade.
       Forelegs: straight, from elbow to carpus bones almost of equal length; elbows close to the body; carpus nearly straight with slight flexibility.
       Paws: proportionate to the legs, strong, round cat feet; toes arched and tight; thick pads.

       Hindquarters
       Moderate angulation, balance with forequarters very important. The rump is quite wide and rounded. The first thigh is wide, thick, and muscular, providing strong driving power. The second thigh is muscular and about the same length as the first. The stifle is firm and moderately bent. Distance from hock to footpad is short. Paws same as forequarters.

       Coat
       Hair on the head is short and fine; body hair is medium length; flat or slightly wavy; silky texture. The British Cocker Spaniel has many featherings but not so excessive as to interfere with work in the field. Trimming is permitted to remove excess hair and emphasize natural lines but must be as close to natural as possible. Coat colors vary widely, including solid black, brown, liver; and some spotted and pied patterns.