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The other day a Canadian English Cocker breeder was describing
an imported dog she had seen, and concluded her remarks with "Very nice really
- but has that English rear"!! My hackles rose at the tone of this remark
- by no means was this the first time I had heard it. So I proceeded to find
out just what is meant by "an English rear" and it would appear that most
English Cocker breeders on this continent are laboring under the delusion
that "goose rumps" are tolerated (and even desired) in England.
Nothing could be further from the truth - and I believe that several
factors have led to this fable taking root here. It is true that the British
heavily penalize a high-set tail, no matter how good the dog otherwise is.
But this is only because the standard expressly calls for "a tail-set in
line with the back" (not so long ago it used to say "the lower the better.")
The tail of most of our Gundogs is required to continue the gentle, gradual
slope that starts at the withers (or shoulder) and finishes at the end of
the tail. Personally I think this line is one of the most beautiful features
of the Gundog group. You will note the emphasis on the "gradual" - any marked
"fall-away" denotes weakness and is not to be desired any more than a level
topline and a high-set tail.
A well-set tail usually goes with a good strong rear assembly - this
means well-rounded rumps, well-muscled thighs, nicely bent stifle joints
and strong short hocks that are straight-boned to the foot. Narrow quarters,
flat thighs, long weak hocks and a drooping tail-set, believe me, are just
as wrong in Britain as they are here. Unfortunately, exports of English Cockers
in the early days often failed in this respect and even now, let's face it,
a good many present-day breeders cannot see the faults in their own stock.
Here I am referring to breeders everywhere. Nevertheless these faults do
exist, but are wrong in any country - they can be stamped out if care is
taken when selecting breeding stock (and I mean both sires and dams).
Someone, somewhere along the line has decreed that English Cockers should
be shown as having the tail-set of a terrier - perhaps this is the influence
of the American Cocker handlers? Surely a spoke-shaved tail sticking up
in the air is ugly looking? I maintain that the beauty of the Gundog breeds
is lost if the flowing lines are lost. what a pity to breed such good points
into one's stock and then offset all the good work by letting one's handler
stack them in exaggerated poses! Please let your English Cockers be shown
more naturally.
(1) Natural Stance
(2) (3) (4) Exaggerated poses that handlers make dogs adopt. All
traced from actual photographs and all are probably basically good dogs.
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