Cocker Spaniels - Pictures
Cocker Spaniels - Pictures - HistoryCocker Spaniels are native to England. Primarily, they were a variety of land Spaniels used to hunt small game. Hunters valued the dog greatly for its unique skill to hunt and retrieve the woodcock. The breed was small and agile enough to get through dense bushes which was a hard task for larger dogs. The name of the breed originated from that very bird.A field trial held in 1839 is thought to have been a stage of paramount importance in the development of the breed. An English Cocker Spaniel named Stylish Pride turned out to be the winner. That dog attracted the attention of dog lovers to smaller Spaniels.
The English Cocker, otherwise called the Cocker everywhere except the United States, was widely distributed. The breed was especially popular in Great Britain. This country is still considered the best in producing high quality English Cocker Spaniels. Emigrants from the Old World brought an English Cocker to America. A beautiful coat, a compactly built well-balanced body, and an amiable personality attracted the attention of American owners. The dog started to be shown with great success. Breeding for appearance rather than for hunting qualities altered the English Cocker. Differences in appearance became so evident that breeders began to distinguish between the American and English version. The American version was known for a greater amount of coat that looked rather pretty, but did not allow the dog to be used in fieldwork. Further changes led to profound separation of the versions causing breeders and canine clubs officials to agree on distinguishing between two different breeds. The AKC has now two distinct standards for both the American and the English Cocker Spaniel. The American Cocker has acquired a lot of popularity in the United States. It has enjoyed the privilege of being a top10 breed more than once. British and other dog fanciers have retained their liking for the English Cocker. The breed is traditionally bred for its hunting qualities. Cocker Spaniels are well distributed throughout the world and take their share of popularity among other Spaniels.
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