CARAWOOD

 

ABOUT THE BREED

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The English Cocker Spaniel is described in the breed standard as "merry, sturdy, sporting; well balanced and compact and should measure approximately the same from withers to ground as from withers to root of tail."

Characteristics

Known as the "Merry Cocker" the Cocker is characterised by their happy disposition and constant wagging tail.

Temperament

Cockers are intelligent, athletic and alert and are known for their affection and loyalty. Above all they are happiest when they are with the people they love.

Head and Body 

The Cocker Spaniel has a well developed, cleanly chiselled head.  The muzzle is square with a strong, even jaw. Their dark eyes are full and expressive, indicatating their intelligence and enthusiasm. 

One of the most prominent features of the Cocker Spaniel are their long, lobular ears set low on level with their eyes. 

The cocker is a stury, compact, well balanced dog with substance and bone. The chest is deep with a firm, level topline that gently slopes downwards to their tail which should always be "merry" in action.  The hind quarters should be strong and muscular allowing them to cover the ground well. Their feet should be firm, well padded and cat like in appearance               

        

                                                   

                                        Sh Ch Lochranza Strollaway                                Sh Ch Quettadene Emblem    

 

                                                

                           Sh Ch Canigou Cambrai  (Albert BIS Crufts 1996)        Sh Ch Canigou Classic Rock (Speedy)

                                                                           Photos courtesy of Tricia Bentley

 

The head shot of Sh Ch Canigou Classic Rock (Speedy), is Kate's great dam and the dam of 5 Show Champions, a record for the breed in the UK.

Coat

The coat is long and silky in texture with feathering on the ears, chest, abdomen and legs. 

Colour

Cockers come in a multitude of colours and markings.

Solid colours

 No white allowed except for a small amount on the chest.

             

        Black                              Red                       Golden               Liver (Chocolate)    

      

   Black and Tan           Liver and Tan

Particolours

Bicolours 

 All with or without ticking.

         

   Black and White     Orange and White       Liver and White

   Lemon and White

                              

Black White and Ticked      Orange White and Ticked    Liver White and Ticked

 

Tricolours

         

Black, White and Tan    Liver, White and Tan

Roans 

              

      Blue roan                    Orange Roan               Lemon Roan              Liver Roan

     

Blue Roan and Tan     Liver Roan and Tan

 

Even the blue roans themselves can vary in colour: 

                      

   Blue Roan Light           Blue Roan Mid              Blue Roan Steel           Blue Roan Dark

Colour coat images courtesy of Powercourt Cockers

Tan Point Gene

The tan point gene is a recessive gene which means, that in order for a dog to inherit the tan point pattern, the dog needs to inherit a copy of the tan point gene from both the sire and the dam. For example if a pup inherits one copy of the tan point gene and one copy of the dominant red/gold gene, the dog will be red/gold. If the pup inherits one copy of the tan point gene and one copy of the dominant black gene, the result will be a solid black dog. It is likely though that these solid litter mates will be carriers of the gene and are capable of passing it on to any offspring. If a carrier of the tan point gene is mated to a carrier then naturally pups with tan points will be produced.

Kate, Ch Canigou Brigh Tan Beautiful, is an example of this. She is also the first black and tan produced from two black and tan Show Champions, in the UK, her dam being Sh Ch Canigou Secon Tan Rose and her sire Sh Ch Molkara Magician. Her dam was the 4th black and tan Show Champion in the history of the breed, her uncle, Sh Ch Canigou Rock Star was the 3rd black and tan Show Champion and the first male in the history of the breed and her sire, was the 6th black and tan Show Champion and the second male.

  

Ch Canigou Brigh Tan Beautiful (Kate)

Size

The cocker is a medium sized dog with the males ranging between 15.5 and 16 inches (39 - 41 cm) and the females between 15 and 15.5 cm (38 - 39 cm)

Known for their LOVE of food, cockers should weigh approximately 13-14.5 kilograms.

Exercise

Cockers are energetic, active dogs that require regular exercise. They enjoy any form of exercise from a brisk walk to hunting in the field.


Contact Details

Meg Hardy
Glen Iris, VIC, Australia
Phone : +61413506424
Email : [email protected]