Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1938-11-10
DOGGIE DOINGS
THE COCKER SPANIEL
american Type)
By M. G. DENLINGER

Inc cocker Spanlel is the smallest
of the sporting Spaniel family and by
reason of his versatility in the field
in addition to his sterling worth as
companion in the house to adults and
children alike, is a very popular
breed The variations in color add to
the interest in the breed among which
are the solid colors, consisting of
black, red. the various shades of
cream or buff and liver, and the parti-
colors among which you will find
black and white, black and tan and
combinations of black, tan and white
known as tricolors; also few liver
and whites.
| The Spaniel family is a large one
end one of considerable antiquity. AS
far back as 1886, we find mention of
the "Spanyell" which in the next
century was divided into two groups;
the land and the water Spaniel. Later
a further division of the large Span
iels and the small ones, cut the toy
Spaniel from the sporting ones and
eventually as various localities de-
veloped individualistic strains, the
classification became definite one of
which, numerically the Cocker Span
iels have held the lead both in Eng
land and the United States. Like most
breeds, however, they have had their
phases of long legs and short; long
back and short, ETC., but are at this
time being bred with closer adher-
ance to the standard and with more
regard for their natural vocation as
hunters than at any time in the his
tory of the breed in this country.
The Cocker is a great lover of his
human family and his home. He is
trustworthy with children and con-
tented to adapt himself to the mood
of his master or mistress. If per-
mitted to indulge in inherent love of
hunting and through judicious train
ling, his capabilities are developed, he
will give great sport, and when well
taught, makes a most desirable re-
triever.
Like all of the Spaniel group the
method of hunting with the Cocker is
to let him quarter the ground ahead
of the gun, covering all territory
within gun range, which he should do
at fast, snappy pace. Upon flushing
game, he should Immediately stop or
preferably drop to sitting position
so as not to interfere with the shot,
after which, he should retrieve on
command only. He should be so
trained that he will be under control
at all times as there is nothing that
can spoil so many shots as an uncon-
trollable dog. All Spaniels, speaking
of them as a unit, are valuable for
occasional water retrieving, as most
of them take to water readily. There
is at this time vast difference in the
type of Cocker breed in America and
in Great Britain. The English Cocker
does not conform either in type or in
size with the American Cocker and is
therefore seldom seen at our shows.
Field Trials for Cookers were
started in the United States by the
Cocker Spaniel Field Trial Club in
1924 and are being held in increasing
numbers each year.
The Cocker is now higher in regis
tration than any other breed, as may
be illustrated by the report of The
American Kennel Club, which have
the Cocker as Ito registrations for
September, against 937 for the same
month last year.
The Boston Terrier who for years
has led in registration until the rise
of the Cocker in popularity about two
years ago, now only registers 575, or
less than half as many as the Cocker.
Description And Standard OF Points
SKULL: Not so heavy as in other
sporting Spaniels, with smooth fore
head and clearly defined eyebrows
and stop, the medium line distinctly
marked and gradually disappearing
until lost rather more than halfway
up, a well developed, rounded and
comparatively wide skull showing no
prominence in the cheeks, which, like
the side Of the muzzle, should present
a smooth, clean-cut appearance.
MUZZLE: Proportionately shorter
and lighter than in the Field Spaniel,
showing no fullness under the eyes,
the jaws even and approaching
souareness. Teeth sound and regular,
the front ones meeting. Lips cut off
square, preventing any appearance of
snippiness. Nose well developed in all
directions and black in color except
ing in the reds, livers, parti-colors and
those shades, and in the roans of the