Tails wagging joyously. Dark eyes pleading with a merry, mischievous gleam. Handsome, compact bodies bounding through the woods or curling up on an owner's lap. These are familiar images of the English Cocker Spaniel.

The sporting life
English Cockers are sporting dogs first and foremost. Bred to flush and retrieve woodcock, they excel at hunting. It is pure joy to watch an Engie bounding through underbrush or quartering a field. Off the hunting grounds, English Cockers shine at agility, fly-ball, and tracking. Although they sometimes have a mind of their own, many English Cockers also do well in obedience and rally-o competitions.

 

Above all, wonderful companions
English Cockers love their people. They are exceptionally happy, affectionate and loyal. Their small size makes them ideal family pets. Males weigh 28 to 34 pounds and stand 16” to 17” at the withers. Females are slightly smaller, weighing 26 to 32 pounds and standing 15” to 16” at the withers. They are good with children and other animals. Engies are not couch potatoes, though. They are active dogs that require regular exercise. A large, fenced yard with room to romp is best for this breed. They also thrive on companionship and do not like to be left alone for long periods of time.
 

A breed of their own
English Cockers are larger, taller and have a flatter, longer muzzle than American Cockers. They are less common in the United States than their American cousins, but not so in the rest of the world. Across the Atlantic, Engies have captured so many hearts that if you say, “cocker spaniel,” you mean an English Cocker.  Until 1936, English and American Cockers were considered a single breed and competed against one another in dog shows. However, English Cocker aficionados, including Mrs. Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, worked tirelessly to distinguish English Cockers as a separate breed. In 1946, The American Kennel Club granted this distinction and English Cocker Spaniels have been shown as a separate breed ever since.

Coat of many colors
English Cockers come in a variety of colors. Blue roan, in which black markings and black streaks intertwine with white, is the most popular. About 60% of English Cockers are blue roan. The other 40% are made up of other roans, other colors with white, any of the above with tan markings and various solid colors. All English Cockers have long, low set ears, docked tails, and graceful, muscular bodies. Their coat is silky and of medium length. Regular grooming is necessary. Show dogs require time-consuming hand stripping to remove the dead undercoat hair. Non-show pets are usually clipped and scissored regularly to keep the coat neat.

Health concerns

English Cockers are generally a healthy breed. However there are a few diseases to watch for when acquiring an English Cocker. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an inherited disease that causes blindness. Puppies usually are tested to determine if they will suffer from the disease or are carriers. Be sure to ask your breeder. Canine Hip Dysplasia is not prevalent in English Cockers but does occur. Ask your breeder if your puppy's parents have been tested and given an OFA clearance. This is usually done at 2 years of age. Occasional congenital deafness occurs in English cockers. Breeders commonly do BAER testing to determine if a dog is deaf. Kidney disease is also a concern with this breed. Finally, as with all long-eared dogs, careful ear cleaning is necessary to prevent infections.
 

Find a reputable breeder
Is the English Cocker the right dog for you? Then find a reputable breeder. A good place to start is a dog show. English Cocker breeders will happily talk to prospective owners, but try to catch them before or after their dogs are in the ring. Liberty English Cocker Spaniel Fanciers, Inc. also maintains a breeders directory. Just follow the link at left for information. By all means stay away from pet shops and backyard breeders. Rarely do they put sufficient time and effort into insuring a healthy, well-adjusted pet with a good temperament.

References

“English Cocker Spaniel Breed Standard.” 30 Nov. 1988 . American Kennel Club. 4 Feb. 2005 . http://www.akc.org/breeds/english_cocker_spaniel/index.cfm

Gormish, Denise. “rec.pets.dogs: English Cocker Spaniels Breed FAQ.” 2000. 4 Feb. 2005 . http://www.faqs.org/faqs/dogs-faq/breeds/englishcockers/

Hood, Dale and Vanacore, Connie. The Complete English Cocker Spaniel. New York , NY : Howell Book House, 1990.