Instructions
Look at the general appearance. This sporting breed is compactly built with a powerful gait, which helps it to retrieve game. The tail is always moving, showing that it loves its hunting job. The body is well-balanced while standing and moving.
Check the size of the English cocker spaniel. Males stand 16 to 17 inches at the withers and females stand 15 to 16 inches at the withers. The males weigh 28 to 34 pounds and females weigh 26 to 32 pounds. This breed is taller than it is long; the height at the withers is a bit greater than the length of the dog when measured from the withers to the set-on of the tail.
Make sure the strong head is free from coarseness and is softly contoured. There should be no sharp angles to the head. The English cocker spaniel has a soft expression that is dignified, alert and intelligent. The medium-sized eyes, full and set wide apart help to give this breed its expression. The eyes are dark brown, unless the dog is liver-colored, then the eyes are hazel, but should be a dark hazel. The ears are set low, have fine leather and lie close to the head. They are covered with long silky hair. The ear hair may be straight or wavy. The muzzle is an equal length with the skull, but narrower than the skull and well-cushioned. The nose sports wide nostrils and is black. Liver-colored dogs will have a brown nose. Red and parti-colored dogs may have a brown nose, but black is preferred.
Look at the graceful, muscular neck. It is arched toward the head and blends nicely into sloping shoulders. It is moderate in length. The backline slopes a bit toward a rounded croup and should not sag. The English cocker spaniel has a deep, well-developed, but not wide, chest. The tail is docked and carried horizontally, but should not be cocked up. The front legs are straight and have bone that is almost the same size from the elbow to the heel. The firm feet are round and catlike with arched toes and thick, tight pads. The rear thighs are well-muscled and thick, as are the second (rear) thighs. The second thighs are equal in length to the upper thighs. The rear feet are as they are in the front—firm, round and catlike with arched toes and thick, tight pads.
Feel the fine coat. The coat is of medium length on the body and may be flat or a bit wavy. It has a silky texture. The English cocker spaniel is a well-feathered dog, but not so much that it would interfere with its work. The coat may be parti-colored (ticked or roan) with white appearing with black, liver or shades of red. Solid colors include black, liver and shades of red. Solid colors do not have white feet, but may have a bit of white on the throat.
How to Identify an English Cocker Spaniel
The English cocker spaniel is a hunting breed and is bred to hunt in dense cover. This breed can effortlessly cover ground, and to facilitate that, has good extension in both the front and rear, helped out by its angulation. This affectionate breed is a merry, willing worker and a faithful companion.