Those persons who now judge or plan to judge English Cockers
should seek out an opportunity to see them in the field. Both the Working
Tests sponsored by the ECSCA and the Hunting Test or Field Trial programs
sponsored by the AKC will provide you with that experience. The ECSCA lists
the date for Working Tests, and the Hunting Tests and Field Trials are listed
with the American Kennel Club.
The English Cockers who are bench-bred are the majority of ECS in working
and hunting tests; at the newly emerged cocker (CS & ECS) field trials,
field-bred abound. Keep in mind that the primary purpose of a field dog
is to efficiently get the game from the field to the table. This is accomplished
through instinct, training, persistence and stamina. Stamina is maintained
with the interaction of good structure, effortless soundness of motion,
and conditioning.
Make mental note of the various hunting styles, comparing breed to breed
and dog to dog. The standard supports the dog's function. The fine points
of type: color of eye, parallel planes, length of neck, fineness of shoulder
points, length of tail, color and markings tend to lose their significance
in the overall picture of the spaniel at work. But the essentials of type
become more obvious. The length and balance of head, strong jaws, and the
arch and strength of neck are essential for retrieving. Well rounded ribs
(lung/heart capacity), overall substance and thick, tight feet are essential
for stamina. Moderate angulation, front and rear, balance of height at shoulders
to length of body, breadth of ribs, and strength of loin and hindquarters
are essential for efficient, effortless ground-covering ability. The broader
dog with a level topline and low center of gravity can turn faster. The taller
animal with the sloping topline will hunt with its head up like a setter,
and not go under the cover like a spaniel. That wagging tail is the barometer
of the nose, communicating to the hunter the location, nearness of the game,
and the impending flush. The long ears are an aid in scenting ability as they
grab the scent and concentrate it. But a dog with ears so long that he steps
on them is at a disadvantage. A short loin is desirable for protection of
the vulnerable parts of the body, but the loin should not be so short as
to allow the back feet to interfere with the front logs. Soft, thick, curly
or overly abundant coat will tend to interfere with the dog's ability to
go through heavy cover. A bit of looseness to the skin will prevent many field
injuries. But lack of coat will leave the skin and body with no protection
making a dog unsuitable to face the elements.
Judges and breeders alike should take advantage of any opportunity to
observe dogs working in the occupation for which they were selectively created.
Individual standards are an aid in maintaining each breed's uniqueness. Our
English Cocker Spaniel have been bred to hunt upland game such as Dove, Woodcock,
Partridge, Grouse, and Rabbit. Here, we also use them for our beautiful Pheasants
and Chukars. Our dogs work close, in a natural quartering pattern, flushing
the game out, and retrieving with zeal. A "merry cocker" - moderate and compact.
