English Cocker Spaniel
GENERAL APPEARANCE L : Cheerful, robust, sporty, well balanced; compact.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : : Measuring from the withers to the ground approximately the same as from the withers to the root of the tail.
BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT: Of a cheerful nature, with the tail showing typical incessant movement, full of energy, especially when following trails; fearless, facing any type of terrain. Sweet, affectionate, full of life and exuberant
CRANIAL REGION
skull : Well developed, clearly chiselled, neither too sharp nor too coarse.
Stop: Well marked, situated midway between the nose and the occiput.
FACIAL REGION
Truffle : Wide enough to favor the ability of the nose.
Muzzle : Square
Jaws and Teeth : Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, ie the upper teeth are in contact with the outside of the lower incisors and placed at right angles to the jaws.
cheeks : Not prominent.
eyes : Full, but not prominent. Dark brown or brown, never light; however, in the case of liver, roan liver and white liver dogs, the eyes are dark hazel, in harmony with the coat; with an expression of intelligence and sweetness, but alert, clever and brilliant; well-fitting eyelids.
Ears : Lobular, set low, at eye level. Fine leather, extending to the tip of the nose. Well covered with long, smooth and silky hairs.
NECK : Of moderate length; muscular. Fitted well on well sloping shoulders. Throat without dewlap.
TRUNK
Top Line: Firm, level, gently descending from end of loin to root of tail.
Loin : Short and wide,
Croup : Broad and rather long, not falling sharply, but falling slightly towards the set-on of the tail, well muscled.
chest : Well developed and deep; neither too wide nor too narrow in the front. Ribs well sprung.
TAIL: Set on slightly below the line of the back. It should be lively in motion and carried level, never facing up. In the past, it was customary to cut the tail.
Cropped : Never so short that you can't see it, nor so long as to interfere with your incessant, joyful action when at work.
Uncropped : Slightly curved, of moderate length, proportionate to body size giving an overall balanced appearance; should not go beyond the hock. Strong at the root and tapering to the tip, which should be fine. Well feathered, in harmony with the coat. Always in lively movement, carried on a plane no higher than the level of the back and never so low as to indicate shyness.
MEMBERS
PREVIOUS : Well boned, straight, short enough to concentrate strength. Not too short to interfere with the tremendous effort that is expected of this magnificent hunting dog.
Shoulders : Well-inclined and refined
Paws : Firm, with thick pads and cat feet
HINDQUARTERS : Broad, well rounded and very muscular; with good bone.
Knees : Well angled.
Hocks : Short, allowing for great thrust.
Paws : Firm, with thick pads and cat feet.
DRIVE : Fluent gait, with great propulsion and good ground cover.
COAT
By : Smooth, silky in texture, never wire or wavy; not too abundant and never curly. Well feathered on the forequarters, body and above the hocks.
COLOR
Solid colors: Black; Red; Golden; liver (chocolate); black and brown; liver and brown; White color is not allowed, except a small amount on the chest.
Particolores: Bicolors; black and white; orange and white; liver and white; lemon and white. All with or without stains.
Tricolors: Black, white and brown; liver, white and brown.
Roan: Blue roan; orange roan; lemon roan; roan liver; roan blue and brown; roan and chestnut liver
SIZE : Males: 39 at 41 cm.
Females: 38 at 39 cm.
FAULTS
Any deviation from the terms of this standard should be considered a fault and penalized in exact proportion to its severity and its effects on the health and well being of the dog.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
• Aggressiveness or excessive shyness.
• Any dog that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly must be disqualified.
GRADES
• Males must present both testicles, of normal appearance, well let down and accommodated in the scrotum.
• Only clinically and functionally healthy dogs with typical breed conformation should be used for breeding.