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Miniature Pinschers and American Cocker Spaniels
Cocker Spaniel (American) American
Kennel Club, effective from 30/6/92
F.C.I. Standard No. 167
Adopted in Australia 1/1/94
Country of Origin - United States of America.
GENERAL
APPEARANCE -
The Cocker Spaniel (American) is the smallest member
of the
Gundog Group. He has a sturdy, compact body and a cleanly
chiselled 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 topline 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.
CHARACTERISTICS -
(Not detailed under this heading.)
TEMPERAMENT
-
Equable in temperament with no suggestion of timidity.
HEAD
AND SKULL -
To attain a well proportioned head, which must be in balance with the
rest of
the dog, it embodies the following:
Expression: The expression is intelligent, alert, soft and
appealing.
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 chiselled 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 the distance from the
stop up
over the crown to the base of the skull.
Nose:
Of
sufficient size to balance the muzzle and foreface, with well developed
nostrils
typical of a sporting dog. It is black in colour in the blacks,
black and tans,
and black and whites; in other colours it may be brown, liver or black,
the
darker the better. The colour of nose harmonises with the colour
of the eye
rim.
Lips: The upper lip is full and of sufficient depth to cover the lower
jaw.
EYES -
Eyeballs are round and full and look directly forward. The shape
of the eye
rims gives a slightly almond shaped appearance; the eye is not weak or
goggled.
The colour 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.
MOUTH -
Teeth: Strong and sound, not too small and meet in a scissor
bite.
NECK - The
neck is sufficiently long to allow the nose to reach the ground easily,
muscular
and free from pendulous "throatiness". It rises
strongly from the shoulders and
arches slightly as it tapers to join the head.
FOREQUARTERS
- The shoulders are well laid back forming an angle with the upper arm
of
approximately 90 degrees which permits the dog to move his forelegs in
an easy
manner with forward reach. Shoulders are clean-cut and sloping
without
protrusion and so set that the upper points of the withers are at an
angle which
permits wide spring of rib. When viewed from the side with the
forelegs
vertical, the elbow is directly below the highest point of the shoulder
blade.
Forelegs are parallel, straight, strongly boned and muscular and set
close to
the body well under the scapulae. The pasterns are short and
strong. Dewclaws
on forelegs may be removed.
BODY -
Topline: Sloping slightly towards muscular quarters.
Body: The chest is deep, its lowest point no higher than the elbows, its
front sufficiently wide for adequate heart and lung space, yet not so wide as to
interfere with the straightforward movement of the forelegs. Ribs are deep
and well sprung. Back is strong and sloping evenly and slightly downward
from the shoulders to the set-on of the tail.
HINDQUARTERS
-
Hips are wide and quarters well rounded and muscular. When
viewed from
behind, the hind legs are parallel when in motion and at rest.
The hind legs
are strongly boned, and muscled with moderate angulation at the stifle
and
powerful, clearly defined thighs. The stifle is strong and there
is no slippage
of it in motion or when standing. The hocks are strong and well
let down.
Dewclaws on hind legs may be removed.
FEET -
Feet compact, large, round and firm with horny pads; they turn neither
in nor
out.
TAIL -
The
preferably docked tail is set on and carried on a line with the topline
of the
back, or slightly higher; never straight up like a Terrier and never so
low as
to indicate timidity. When the dog is in motion the tail action
is merry.
GAIT/MOVEMENT
- The Cocker Spaniel (American), though the smallest of the Gundogs,
possesses a
typical sporting dog gait. Prerequisite to good movement is
balance between the
front and rear assemblies. He drives with strong, powerful rear
quarters and is
properly constructed in the shoulders and forelegs so that he can reach
forward
without restriction in a full stride to counterbalance the driving
force from
the rear. Above all, his gait is co-ordinated, smooth and
effortless. The dog
must cover ground with his action; excessive animation should not be
mistaken
for proper gait.
COAT- On
the head, short and fine; on the body, medium length, with enough
undercoating
to give protection. The ears, chest, abdomen and legs are well
feathered, but
not so excessively as to hide the Cocker Spaniel (American)'s true
lines and
movement or affect his appearance and function as a moderately coated,
sporting
dog. The texture is most important. The coat is silky, flat
or slightly wavy
and of a texture which permits easy care. Excessive coat or curly
or cottony
textured coat shall be severely penalised. Use of electric
clippers on the back
is not desirable. Trimming to enhance the dog's true lines should
be done to
appear as natural as possible.
COLOUR -
Colour and Markings:
Black Variety:
Solid colour black to include black with tan
points. The black
should be jet; shadings of brown or liver in the coat are not
desirable. A
small amount of white on the chest and/or throat is allowed; white in
any other
location shall disqualify.
Any Solid Colour Other than Black (ASCOB): Any solid colour other than
black, ranging from lightest cream to darkest red, including brown and brown
with tan points. The colour shall be of a uniform shade, but lighter
colour of the feathering is permissible. A small amount of white on the
chest and/or throat is allowed; white in any other location shall disqualify.
Parti-Colour
Variety:
Two or more solid, well broken colours, one of which must be
white;
black and white, red and white, (the red may range from lightest cream
to
darkest red), brown and white, and roans, to include any such colour
combination
with tan points. It is preferable that the tan markings be
located in the same
pattern as for the tan points in the Black and ASCOB varieties.
Roans are
classified as parti-colours and may be of any of the usual roaning
patterns.
Primary
colour
which is ninety percent (90%) or more shall disqualify.
Tan Points: The colour of the tan may be from the lightest cream to the
darkest
red and is restricted to ten percent (10%) or less of the colour of the
specimen; tan markings in excess of that amount shall disqualify.
In the case
of tan points in the Black or ASCOB varieties, the markings shall be
located as
follows:
1. A clear tan spot over each eye;
2. On the sides of the muzzle and on the cheeks;
3. On the under sides of the ears;
4. On all the feet and/or legs;
5. Under the tail;
6. On the chest optional; presence or absence shall not be
penalised.
Tan markings which are not readily visible or which amount only to
traces, shall
be penalised. Tan on the muzzle which extends upward, over and
joins shall also
be penalised. The absence of tan markings in the Black or ASCOB
varieties in
any of the specified locations in any otherwise tan-pointed dog shall
disqualify.
SIZE - The
ideal height at the withers:
for an adult dog is 38.1 cm (15 ins) and
for an adult bitch, 35.6 cm (14 ins).
Height may vary 1.25 cm (&1/2; inch) above or below this
ideal.
A dog whose height exceeds 39.4 cm (15&1/2;ins), or a
bitch whose height exceeds 36.8 cm (14&1/2; ins) shall be
disqualified.
An adult dog whose height is less than 36.8 cm (14&1/2; ins)
and
an adult bitch whose height is less than 34.3 cm (13&1/2; ins)
shall be
penalised.
Height is determined by a line perpendicular to the ground from the top
of the
shoulder blades, the dog standing naturally with its forelegs and lower
hind
legs parallel to the line of measurement.
Proportions: 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.
FAULTS -
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault
and the
seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree.
Disqualifications:
Height - Males over 39.4 cm (15&1/2; ins)
Females over 36.8 cm (14&1/2; ins)
Colour and Markings: The aforementioned colours are the only acceptable
colours
or combination of colours. Any other colours or combination of
colours to
disqualify.
Black Variety: White markings except on chest and throat.
Any Solid Colour Other than Black: White markings except on chest and
throat.
Parti-Colour Variety: Primary colour ninety percent (90%) or more
Tan Points:
1. Tan markings in excess of ten per cent (10%);
2. Absence of tan markings in Black or ASCOB Varieties in any of the
specified
locations in an otherwise tan pointed dog.
NOTE -
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into
the scrotum.
Gundog Group A.N.K.C. © January 1998
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