Breed Quiz | The Cocker Spaniel Club of South Australia Inc

Welcome to your Cocker Spaniel Breed Standard

What is the General Appearance of the Cocker Spaniel?

Well balanced, noble, upstanding sporting Spaniel built for activity and endurance.

A dog well balanced in all parts is more desirable than a dog with strongly contrasting good points and faults.

Merry, sturdy, sporting; well balanced; compact; measuring approximately same from withers to ground as from withers to root of tail.

Symmetrically built, compact, strong, merry, active.

What are the Characteristics of the Cocker Spaniel?

Merry nature with ever-wagging tail shows a typical bustling movement, particularly when following scent, fearless of heavy cover.

Ideal for rough shooting or companion for the country dweller.

He is a dog capable of considerable speed, combined with great endurance.

Breed is of ancient and pure origins, oldest of sporting gundogs;

What is the Temperament of the Cocker Spaniel?

Friendly, happy disposition, biddable. Timidity or aggression highly undesirable.

Unusually docile, active, sensitive, independent.

Gentle and affectionate, yet full of life and exuberance.

Equable in temperament with no suggestion of timidity.

How would you describe the eyes of the Cocker Spaniel?

Eyeballs are round and full and look directly forward. The shape of the eye rims gives a slightly almond shaped appearance;

Medium size, almond shaped, not prominent nor sunken, well set in (not showing haw), alert, kind expression.

Full, but not prominent.

Wide open but almond shaped with tight lids showing no haw. Grave and gentle in expression

What is the Eye colour of a Cocker Spaniel?

Dark hazel in colour.

Dark brown or brown, never light, but in the case of liver, liver roan, and liver and white, dark hazel to harmonise with coat;

The colour of the iris is dark brown and in general the darker the better.

Dark hazel. Light eyes undesirable.

How would you describe the Neck of a Cocker Spaniel?

Long, strong and muscular enabling dog to retrieve his game without undue fatigue.

Moderate in length, muscular. Set neatly into fine sloping shoulders. Clean throat.

Good length, strong and muscular, free from throatiness, slightly arched, tapering towards head.

It rises strongly from the shoulders and arches slightly as it tapers to join the head.

Describe the Topline of a Cocker Spaniel

Sloping slightly towards muscular quarters.

Firm, level topline gently sloping downwards to tail from end of loin to set on of tail.

Loin muscular, strong with slight arch and well coupled.

Back and loin strong, level and muscular.

Describe the Feet of the Cocker Spaniel

Tight, round with strong pads and not too small.

Firm, thickly padded, cat-like.

Feet compact, large, round and firm with horny pads; they turn neither in nor out.

Tight, compact, well rounded, with strong full pads.

What is the size range of a Cocker Spaniel? (Dogs and Bitches)

38 - 41 cms

approx 51cms

approx 46cms

33.3 - 39.4cms

Describe the Coat of the Cocker Spaniel

Close, straight and weather resisting, never coarse.

Long, flat, glossy and silky in texture. Never curly, short or wiry.

The coat is silky, flat or slightly wavy and of a texture which permits easy care.

Flat, silky in texture, never wiry or wavy, not too profuse and never curly.

The Cocker Spaniel – Breed Standard Quiz