Cocker Spaniel Photo

In Cocker Spaniel photo galleries of the early 20th century, there is almost no difference between the American and English varieties of the breed. Since the 1940’s the American and English Cocker Spaniels have developed in isolation. Today, the standards for these varieties differ. The American Cocker Spaniel is smaller and more communicative than the English Cocker Spaniel. In the USA, the working abilities of the Cocker Spaniels are no longer preserved and these dogs are kept mostly as pets and watchdogs.

In a Cocker Spaniel photo, you’ll see a typical gun dog. Developed for flushing and retrieving game on both land and water, the Cocker Spaniel is strong, agile, sensitive, and eager to work. Long and dense coat with heavy feathering on the belly, chest, and legs protects the dog from cold. The Cocker Spaniel has a keen sense of smell and hearing. The ears in this breed are long and hanging to hold on smell.

Cocker Spaniel photo galleries placed on websites of breed clubs feature the best representatives of the breed that correspond to the breed standard. In show quality dogs, every conformation fault disqualifies the animal from the show ring. Everything is important in show champions: size, body proportions, coat structure and color, and so forth. Working (or field) lines are bred for working in brush. Such dogs lack luxurious coats, but have better hunting instincts.

Both show and field lines of the Cocker Spaniel make good pets, but working lines need more exercise and mental stimulation, while show lines require complicated grooming. These dogs are suited for apartment living, if they are given an opportunity to run and play for several hours outdoors. A small yard is sufficient for a Cocker Spaniel, if it’s taken for a daily walk. Long and dense coat of the Cocker Spaniel can easily get tangled in the brushy thickets, so the owner has to choose between a luxurious coat and allowing the dog to run free. Some owners choose a short puppy cut for their dogs, but most owners want their pets look like champion dogs in Cocker Spaniel photo galleries.