American Cocker Spaniel ~ Breed History
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| This website contains our photos and info about our Breeding Program and some other related information. We invite you to check out our website to learn more about us and the cocker spaniels here. Please use the links on the left or upper portion of each page to navigate this website. For those on slower speed connections we have a plain text Directory Page for your convenience. Kattery Kennels is owned and operated by Kat & Terry Reck and is not affiliated with any other identity. The graphics and material found within is the sole property of Kattery Kennels and is watermarked and copyrighted to Kat. Requests for further information should be directed to Info@KatteryKennels.com Please view our Conditions of Use Page. |
We will discuss the history behind the breed and its progression to today's style of cocker spaniel.
| "Cockers" are the smallest of the spaniels and the Sporting Group. The American Cocker has evolved somewhat differently in appearance from the breed now recognized as the English Cocker Spaniel. Size, coat thickness, length of nose and many other less easy to understand details that we will discuss in the Breed Standard pages we have put together. The desire to hunt renders them a capable gun dog; they cover territory speedily, flushing game and retrieving only when under command. They take to water readily. The merriest of all breeds they are amazing companions and great family dogs, those raised and socialized properly do very well with children. During the early 1900's American cocker spaniels captured the hearts of the world for the first time. In 1921, an American cocker spaniel became the first of its breed to win Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The reason is quite clear if you ever owned an American cocker spaniel but Jeff Griffren said it best: "The smallest of the sporting dogs, with floppy ears, large, soulful eyes and joyful disposition that always responds to affection, the Cocker Spaniel is one of the most lovable and popular dogs on earth." In fact, the public was so enamored with the American cocker spaniel that it held the number one position in the American Kennel Club (AKC) registrations for a solid 16 years in a row; a feat that no other breed has accomplished. |
| Cocker spaniels are descended from spaniels, one of the oldest breed of dogs. Spaniels have become a part of history in stories by Chaucer (1342-1400), Shakespeare (1564-1616). spaniel \span-yl also span-l\ noun [Middle English spaniell, from Middle French espaignol, literally, Spaniard, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin Hispaniolus, from Latin Hispania Spain] 1: any numerous small or medium-sized mostly short-legged dogs usually having long wavy hair, feathered legs and tail, and large drooping ears. cocker spaniel \käk-r-\ noun [cocking (woodcock hunting)] : a small spaniel with long ears, square muzzle, and silky coat Spaniels may have arrived in England during Caesar’s invasion (54-55 BC). It is assumed spaniels originated from Spain as the word spaniel may be derived from Hispania (Spain). Spaniels were bred to flush game out of dense brush. By the late 1600’s spaniels had become specialized into water and land breeds. The English water spaniel (extinct) was used to retrieve water fowl shot down with arrows. Land spaniels were comprised of setting spaniels—those that crept forward and pointed their game allowing hunters to ensnare them with nets, and springing spaniels— those that sprang pheasants and partridges for hunting with falcons, and rabbits for hunting with greyhounds. During the 17th century, the role of the spaniel dramatically changed as Englishmen began hunting with flintlocks for wing shooting. Goodall & Gasow (1984), write the spaniels were "transformed from untrained, wild beaters, to smooth, polished gun dogs." Springing spaniels would lay the foundation of all modern day flushing spaniels. In a single litter of springer spaniels, the larger pups would become springer spaniels, the smaller pups would become cocker spaniels, and the medium- sized pups would become Sussex spaniels: Size alone was the only difference. |
| To continue in more depth about the cocker spaniel try this The Origin of the COCKER SPANIEL and the AMERICAN SPANIEL CLUB by Elaine E. Mathis |
| To continue in more depth about the cocker spaniel history and artifacts we refer you to the ASC website that has photos and documents about its history. |