Judging The English Cocker Spaniel With A Natural Tail

The English Cocker Spaniel is a docked, hunting breed. The characteristic incessant, merry action of the tail while working in thick, dense cover, normally deeper than the dog is tall, necessitates docking to prevent injury. (Please refer to the directive here). The E.C.S.C.A. does not intend to change the breed standard.

In accordance with A.K.C. rules (Chapter 7, Section 15), you may either choose to excuse an English Cocker with a natural tail as being inconsistent with the standard, or judge the dog, considering the tail to be a fault. The E.C.S.C.A. will support your decision to excuse, as well as judge, an undocked dog. Should you choose to keep a natural tailed English Cocker in the ring, it is expected that you would prioritize by virtues and factor in faults lastly.

The natural tail is thick at the root (consistent with the required generous amount of bone), tapering to the end, and ideally not reaching below the hock joint. As this has always been a docked breed, determine the tail carriage by observing the first quarter to third of the tail as the dog is being moved