| Coat Qualities |
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Coat
According to the AKC Standard it says the Cocker Spaniel Coat is:
On the head, short and fine; on the body, medium length, with
enough undercoating to give protection. The ears, chest,
abdomen and legs are well feathered, but not so excessively as
to hide the Cocker Spaniel's true lines and movement or affect
his appearance and function as a moderately coated sporting
dog. The texture is most important. The coat is silky, flat or slightly
wavy and of a texture which permits easy care. Excessive coat or
curly or cottony textured coat shall be severely penalized. Use of
electric clippers on the back coat is not desirable. Trimming to
enhance the dog's true lines should be done to appear as natural
as possible.
According to the AKC Standard it says the Cocker Spaniel Coat is:
On the head, short and fine; on the body, medium length, with
enough undercoating to give protection. The ears, chest,
abdomen and legs are well feathered, but not so excessively as
to hide the Cocker Spaniel's true lines and movement or affect
his appearance and function as a moderately coated sporting
dog. The texture is most important. The coat is silky, flat or slightly
wavy and of a texture which permits easy care. Excessive coat or
curly or cottony textured coat shall be severely penalized. Use of
electric clippers on the back coat is not desirable. Trimming to
enhance the dog's true lines should be done to appear as natural
as possible.
| Photos planned in the future. |
| 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. |
It is in my opinion that today's "Show Quality" coats are excessive as is clearly spelled out in
the breed standard. "ears, chest, abdomen and legs are well feathered, but not so excessively
as to hide the Cocker Spaniel's true lines and movement or affect his appearance and function
as a moderately coated sporting dog". I love grooming my dogs and they enjoy it as well but I
could not see myself actually out 'sporting' with a cocker spaniel in 'full' coat (imagine them in
the water or thru the undergrowth and what they would certainly look like afterwards!). I do think
there is nothing more beautiful than a well groomed cocker spaniel and adore their fluff and
'feathers' but have found over the years its impractical and unfair to the cocker spaniel (they do
love to be dogs and romp and play and since we do not cage any of our dogs they'd never stay
in pristine shape) and so most of my cockers are kept in a 'puppy cut'.
Pet Quality in my opinion is more coat than you would find in a field quality (see below) cocker
spaniel, but less than would be appreciated in today's current show ring. Pet quality is easier
to take care of (doesn't have excessively thick but possibly wavy/curly) and have a less rapid
growth rate.
Field Quality in my opinion reminds me of the cocker spaniels that originally began the modern
cocker spaniel, they have feathers on the back of their legs but not much on the front, they have
a less emphasized 'skirt' and if they were given a 'shaved back' wouldn't resemble a cocker
spaniel much if at all in relations to coat. They would need probably only a regular brushing
versus an almost monthly haircut, tho certainly areas of the coat would need a trim when
grown long.
My preference is for a "pet quality" coat because while I absolutely LOVE the flash and style of a
show quality coat it doesn't remind me these days of the cocker spaniel medium coated
sporting dog but more of a heavy coated lap dog. I think that a cocker spaniel should be more
well rounded and not just appear pretty, they should be able to be active without having to
suffer thru a great deal of grooming to get out tangles or 'burrs' in the coat from playing
outdoors. It might be that I think of a cocker spaniel as the ideal family pet and thus can't see
the average family wanting to spend tons of money on fancy haircuts for their dog and yet still
want a good looking pet that they can manage more easily to take care of themselves. Today's
family is on the go and the cocker spaniel can keep up with them or relax with them.
I will provide some photos in the future to show the differences and also think this is a good
place to let my readers know about the 'grooming instruction' pages I have put together.
the breed standard. "ears, chest, abdomen and legs are well feathered, but not so excessively
as to hide the Cocker Spaniel's true lines and movement or affect his appearance and function
as a moderately coated sporting dog". I love grooming my dogs and they enjoy it as well but I
could not see myself actually out 'sporting' with a cocker spaniel in 'full' coat (imagine them in
the water or thru the undergrowth and what they would certainly look like afterwards!). I do think
there is nothing more beautiful than a well groomed cocker spaniel and adore their fluff and
'feathers' but have found over the years its impractical and unfair to the cocker spaniel (they do
love to be dogs and romp and play and since we do not cage any of our dogs they'd never stay
in pristine shape) and so most of my cockers are kept in a 'puppy cut'.
Pet Quality in my opinion is more coat than you would find in a field quality (see below) cocker
spaniel, but less than would be appreciated in today's current show ring. Pet quality is easier
to take care of (doesn't have excessively thick but possibly wavy/curly) and have a less rapid
growth rate.
Field Quality in my opinion reminds me of the cocker spaniels that originally began the modern
cocker spaniel, they have feathers on the back of their legs but not much on the front, they have
a less emphasized 'skirt' and if they were given a 'shaved back' wouldn't resemble a cocker
spaniel much if at all in relations to coat. They would need probably only a regular brushing
versus an almost monthly haircut, tho certainly areas of the coat would need a trim when
grown long.
My preference is for a "pet quality" coat because while I absolutely LOVE the flash and style of a
show quality coat it doesn't remind me these days of the cocker spaniel medium coated
sporting dog but more of a heavy coated lap dog. I think that a cocker spaniel should be more
well rounded and not just appear pretty, they should be able to be active without having to
suffer thru a great deal of grooming to get out tangles or 'burrs' in the coat from playing
outdoors. It might be that I think of a cocker spaniel as the ideal family pet and thus can't see
the average family wanting to spend tons of money on fancy haircuts for their dog and yet still
want a good looking pet that they can manage more easily to take care of themselves. Today's
family is on the go and the cocker spaniel can keep up with them or relax with them.
I will provide some photos in the future to show the differences and also think this is a good
place to let my readers know about the 'grooming instruction' pages I have put together.