The History of Cocker SpanielsLoading
The history of Cocker Spaniels goes back quite a few years, and before they were catagorised, all the Spaniel breeds were known simply as Spaniels. Spaniels first originated in Spain, back in the 14th century, and it's thought their name is derived from the old French word for Spanish - Espaignol. You may also occasionally see the name spelled as Spanial.  Sammy - English Cocker Spaniel - Photo courtesy of Jo's Pet Portraits
If we look at the history of Cocker Spaniels, we can see that at around the time of the 17th century, a variety of Spaniel breeds began to emerge in Western Europe. These dogs were popular with hunters as the eager little Spaniels would flush out and retrieve game and birds. Although the work of flushing and retrieving was fairly similar, the terrain and type of quarry hunted were different depending upon the region, which created a need for different characteristics in the breed. The best dogs were bred, creating puppies which developed into keener, stronger hunting companions. The characteristics of these puppies were often inconsistent, however, in 1885 the Spaniel Club formalised breed standards to help identify the differences.  The American Spaniel Club was established in 1881 but didn't formally recognise the English Cocker Spaniel breed until September 1946. In 1892 the Kennel Club formally recognised the Cocker Spaniel and introduced a weight classification. Spaniels under 28lbs became know as Cocker Spaniels because of their ability to flush out woodcock in low dense woodland and thick undergrowth. Spaniels over 28lbs were classified as Springer Spaniels or Field Spaniels because they were very efficient at springing game. The Cocker Spaniel Club was formed in 1902 and its aim was to promote the welfare of the Cocker Spaniel, and to encourage breeders to conform to a true standard of the breed. Whilst we recognise that there are many varieties of Spaniel, our objective is to focus on the English Cocker Spaniel. Information and advice given on this website, however, will be relevant for most types of dog, for example, how to buy a puppy, how to train a puppy, health, toilet training, crate training, and much more. The History Of Cocker Spaniels
We hope that we've given you just enough background on the history of Cocker Spaniels to satisfy your curiosity. We now urge you to have a look at our next few pages about Cocker Spaniel characteristics and their wonderful temperament - you'll soon see what all the fuss is about! The Cocker Spaniel is truly a gentle, loving and most loyal companion.
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