With striking good looks and a merry personality, the Cocker Spaniel truly does make a great pet. By Lauren McKellar.
The Cocker Spaniel is one of the older breeds of dogs, with references to the “spanyell” going back to the 14th century. In those days, these dogs were used for retrieving across both land and water. As the breed developed, it grew in popularity, in particular around the World War II era and after the blockbuster Disney movie Lady and the Tramp hit cinemas. Now, the Cocker Spaniel has retained its strong retrieving skills and is a very popular family pet with two distinct strains, the American and the English.
The Australian National Kennel Council recognises two different breeds of Cocker Spaniel: American and Cocker Spaniel (the English variety). The English (usually referred to as just the “Cocker Spaniel”) is the most common in Australia. It differs from its American counterpart in size and head shape, with the English being a little larger overall and the American having a more dome-shaped head.
For more information on the Cocker Spaniel or to contact a local breed club, visit your state canine council website via ankc.org.au New Zealand readers can visit nzkc.org.nz for information.
The original article was published in PETS issue 61. Click here to subscribe to our magazine.
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