| The American Cocker Spaniel Standard |
General Appearance:
The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Sporting Group. He has a sturdy, compact body and a
cleanly chiseled and refined head, with the overall dog in complete balance and of ideal size. He stands well
up at the shoulder on straight forelegs with a top-line sloping slightly towards strong, moderately bent,
muscular quarters. He is a dog capable of considerable speed, combined with great endurance. Above all, he
must be free and merry, sound,well balanced throughout and in action show a keen inclination to work. A dog
well balanced in all parts is more desirable than a dog with strongly contrasting good points and faults.
Size, Proportion, Substance:
Size - The ideal height at the withers for an adult dog is 15 inches and for an adult bitch, 14. Height
may vary one-half inch above or below this ideal. A dog whose height exceeds 15-1/2 inches or a bitch whose
height exceeds 14-1/2 inches shall be disqualified. An adult dog whose height is less than 14-1/2 inches and
an adult bitch whose height is less than 13-1/2 inches shall be penalized. Height is determined by a line
perpendicular to the ground from the top of the shoulder blades, the dog standing naturally with it forelegs and
lower hind legs parallel to the line of measurement.
Proportion - The measurement from the breast bone to back of thigh is slightly longer than the
measurement from the highest point of withers to the ground. The body must be of sufficient length to permit a
straight and free stride; the dog never appears long and low.
Head:
The attain a well proportioned head, which must being balance with the rest of the dog, it embodies the
following:
Expression - The expression is intelligent, alert, soft and appealing.
Eyes - Eyeballs are round and full and look directly forward. The shape of the eye rings gives a slightly
almond shaped appearance; the eye is not weak or goggled. The color of the iris is dark brown and in general
the darker the better.
Ears - Lobular, long, of fine leather, well feathered, and placed no higher than a line to the lower part of
the eye.
Skull - Rounded but not exaggerated with no tendency toward flatness; the eyebrows are clearly defined
with a pronounced stop. The bony structure beneath the eyes is well chiseled with no prominence in the
cheeks. The muzzle is broad and deep, with square even jaws. To be in correct balance, the distance from the
stop to the tip of the nose is one half distance from the stop up over the crown of the base of the skull.
Nose - Of sufficient size to balance the muzzle and fore-face, with well developed nostrils typical of a
sporting dog. It is black in color in the black, black and tan, and black and whites; in other colors it may be
brown , liver or black, the darker the better. The color of the nose harmonizes with the color of the eye rim.
Lips - The upper lip is full and of sufficient depth to cover the lower jaw.
Teeth - Teeth strong and sound, not to small and meet in a scissors bite.
The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Sporting Group. He has a sturdy, compact body and a
cleanly chiseled and refined head, with the overall dog in complete balance and of ideal size. He stands well
up at the shoulder on straight forelegs with a top-line sloping slightly towards strong, moderately bent,
muscular quarters. He is a dog capable of considerable speed, combined with great endurance. Above all, he
must be free and merry, sound,well balanced throughout and in action show a keen inclination to work. A dog
well balanced in all parts is more desirable than a dog with strongly contrasting good points and faults.
Size, Proportion, Substance:
Size - The ideal height at the withers for an adult dog is 15 inches and for an adult bitch, 14. Height
may vary one-half inch above or below this ideal. A dog whose height exceeds 15-1/2 inches or a bitch whose
height exceeds 14-1/2 inches shall be disqualified. An adult dog whose height is less than 14-1/2 inches and
an adult bitch whose height is less than 13-1/2 inches shall be penalized. Height is determined by a line
perpendicular to the ground from the top of the shoulder blades, the dog standing naturally with it forelegs and
lower hind legs parallel to the line of measurement.
Proportion - The measurement from the breast bone to back of thigh is slightly longer than the
measurement from the highest point of withers to the ground. The body must be of sufficient length to permit a
straight and free stride; the dog never appears long and low.
Head:
The attain a well proportioned head, which must being balance with the rest of the dog, it embodies the
following:
Expression - The expression is intelligent, alert, soft and appealing.
Eyes - Eyeballs are round and full and look directly forward. The shape of the eye rings gives a slightly
almond shaped appearance; the eye is not weak or goggled. The color of the iris is dark brown and in general
the darker the better.
Ears - Lobular, long, of fine leather, well feathered, and placed no higher than a line to the lower part of
the eye.
Skull - Rounded but not exaggerated with no tendency toward flatness; the eyebrows are clearly defined
with a pronounced stop. The bony structure beneath the eyes is well chiseled with no prominence in the
cheeks. The muzzle is broad and deep, with square even jaws. To be in correct balance, the distance from the
stop to the tip of the nose is one half distance from the stop up over the crown of the base of the skull.
Nose - Of sufficient size to balance the muzzle and fore-face, with well developed nostrils typical of a
sporting dog. It is black in color in the black, black and tan, and black and whites; in other colors it may be
brown , liver or black, the darker the better. The color of the nose harmonizes with the color of the eye rim.
Lips - The upper lip is full and of sufficient depth to cover the lower jaw.
Teeth - Teeth strong and sound, not to small and meet in a scissors bite.
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