The History of Black Cocker Spaniels

Theories of Origin

• Since color was not used to classify Cocker Spaniels during early eras, it is difficult to track the specific history of the black Cocker Spaniel. There are two general theories about the origin of Cocker Spaniels. Some theorists contend that the Cocker Spaniel breed originated from Spain. Theorists who held this belief deduced that the word spaniel was a derivative from Hispania (Spain) or perhaps from the French phrase Chiens de l' Espagnol (Dog of Spain). Under this theory, Spaniels arrived to England in 54 or 55 BC after Caesar invaded England. Colonel David Hancock, a British canine historian, offered an alternate theory. He suggested that the Cocker Spaniel breed originated between 27 B.C. to A.D. 476 under the Roman Empire. He proposed that the word spaniel was derived from the French verb espanir, which means to crouch or to flatten. This word was used to describe the dogs' hunting posture. He also associated the word spaniel with an Old Italian verb, Spaniard, which means to get out of a trap or net and which describes the purpose of the dogs since they were net dogs prior to becoming gun dogs.

Classifying the Breed

• Cocker Spaniels are descendents of Spaniels, one of the oldest dog breeds. Spaniels were bred to assist hunters with flushing out game in dense brush areas. Eventually, during the late 1600s, the breed was separated into classes based on if they were water or land breeds. The English Water Spaniel that is now extinct was used to flush out water fouls that were shot down by hunters while the Land Spaniel was used to point out games for hunters to snare with nets. These dogs were typecast according to sizes rather than color. Breeders would label larger pups as Springer Spaniels; medium sized pups were identified as Sussex Spaniels, and the smaller of the pups were called Cocker Spaniels. In 1882, the England Kennel Club conferred breed status unto the spaniel breed. Size continued to be the dividing line, but instead of small, medium and large, the determining weight factor was 25 lbs. Spaniels that weighed more than 25 lbs. were springers and spaniels that weighed less than 25 lbs. were classified as cockers.

American Cocker Spaniel

• Obo II was the first American Cocker spaniel credited with holding patriarchal status; however, the National American Kennel Club reportedly registered the first Cocker Spaniel in 1879, three years prior to Obo II's whelp. American dog lovers developed a fondness of the Cocker Spaniel breed because of its good looks, intelligence and merry disposition. As the breed's purpose evolved from hunting to domestic companion, its hunting abilities diminished considerably. As time progressed, the American Cocker spaniel became smaller and more beautiful than its predecessors from England and it was bred more frequently to fill the role of show dogs.

Popularity in 2011

• In February, 2011, the black Cocker Spaniel won first place in sporting group during the Westminster dog show. Westminster Kennel Club is the premier club that showcases pure breed dogs. The club oversees the standards of dogs and facilitates the evaluation of breeds for use in producing breeds for future generations.