Do Cocker Spaniels Really Hunt? by Diane Kepley
It’s a question that comes up frequently at judging seminars. And the answer is – absolutely! More importantly, it’s something all judges should keep in mind when considering the Cocker Spaniel in the conformation ring. The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest of the sporting dogs. It and the other flushing spaniels were developed in the 19th century from a group of dogs known as field spaniels. The smaller dogs in litters became known as cockers because they hunted a bird known as a woodcock. Without a small dog to go under hedge rows, and through brambles and other bushes, hunters would not have been able to flush those birds out into the open.
Judge a Cocker Spaniel on it’s Ability to Function in the Field by Nancy Gallant
Many articles, and judges’ education, might start with the Cocker Spaniel being a “total package.” Standing, a Cocker should give a total picture of type, size, proportions, and balance. This picture should be apparent when the dog moves. However, many judges forget that the standard is based on the Cocker’s ability to function in the field. Finding, flushing, and retrieving birds is all in a day’s work for the breed. “Form follows function” is a key to good judging, and judges should never forget this as they go over these dogs.
If you would like to see a video of a Cocker in action in the field, go to the Great Lakes American Cocker Spaniel hunting enthusiast website: http://www.glacshe.com. Then click on Hunting Cocker Spaniels/Wisconsin. When you get onto the website, click on Club Info and the video will appear.
Spaniels Hunting Tests: Get Started
Spaniels are flushing breeds. Their purpose is to hunt, find game, flush and retrieve birds in a please and efficient manner. The objective of the hunting test program is to help the hunter develop a useful hunting companion by providing a means to gauge a dog’s ability against three standards of accomplishment-Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter and Master Hunter.
Greater Denver Area Cocker Spaniel Club
Do Cockers Still Hunt?
Yes
They Do!
And Do They Ever!
Comeback of the Cocker Spaniel
Long stereotyped as “frilly” dogs, the diminutive American cocker spaniel is reclaiming its heritage as a capable performer afield. Until about the past 10 years or so, the American cocker spaniel was largely “missing in action” in the field in many areas of the country and was typecast as a mere “foo-foo” dog. Even folks who should know better attached that derisive name to dogs that did little else besides trot around a show ring and smile at the judges; the same folks also accused the cocker fanciers of having lost sight of what the breed was meant to do. But those naysayers are wrong. Some cocker people haven’t lost sight of what the breed was intended to do and they have retained their vision of the breed’s historical purpose…and their dogs have master and senior hunt test titles to prove it.
WHY DO COCKER SPANIELS MAKE GOOD GUNDOGS?
Take a closer look at the Cocker Spaniel, the UK’s second most popular gundog breed.
Working cocker spaniels are a breed renowned for being characterful, highly energetic with a surprising amount of stamina, and of a very friendly nature with an impressive will to please. Not only are they great gundogs, but they happily double as family companions provided they are given enough exercise on a daily basis to keep their mind occupied. With the right methods and patience, they are also very trainable.