Understanding the English Cocker Spaniel

Tthe front is defined as: “the forepart of the body as viewed head-on or from the side, including forelegs, chest, brisket, and shoulder line.” We should be breeding for correct type and an overall balanced dog. However, without a basic understanding of correct structure (which is also part of correct type), we may end up with something pretty but not functional. While structure is fundamental dog knowledge, fronts are the hardest to understand. The front is possibly the most important part of a four-legged mammal, including dogs. To understand why the front is so crucial, we need to consider some important facts.

Like all parts of the skeletal system, it serves as scaffolding upon which everything hangs. It provides locomotion and protects vital internal organs. Each of these aspects is critically important, especially for our smallest gun dogs, who need to be stronger for their size than any other gun dog. The front bears more weight than the back half of the dog, especially when the dog is carrying game, prey, or other objects, so it must be strong.

During movement, the dog is essentially falling forward and downward onto its front after propulsion from the rear, with the front also aiding in propulsion. Because the dog falls forward with each stride, the front must be strong enough to catch the weight while also being well-cushioned for impact. Since the front houses the heart and lungs of a hardworking and athletic hunting animal, there must be adequate space within the ribcage to accommodate well-developed organs. The Cocker needs to take fewer, more efficient steps, allowing it to travel farther with less effort and do more work in a day.

FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION

On an English Cocker, a good front is not just a pretty-coated, well-feathered piece with withers slightly higher than the rear, only ever viewed from the side. The Cocker must push through heavy cover while carrying game larger for its size than any other sporting dog. Historically, it has been used for pheasant and other game birds, as well as hare.

There is a reason our beautiful breed’s front needs to match the standard. The standard states: “The English Cocker is a solidly built dog with as much bone and substance as is possible without becoming cloddy or coarse.” Bone needs to be significantly strong to carry heavy muscle. The muscle is more typical of a weight lifter, capable of pushing through dense cover and carrying heavy game, as opposed to the type of muscling found on a gun dog that runs over large, open fields.

The amount of trappy terrain a dog needs to navigate is in proportion to the amount of bone and muscle a breed requires. In human form, think of a runner’s build versus a weight lifter’s. This is why we say the Cocker is rounded and contoured and is not made of angular planes with long, flat muscle types.

The standard states: “His gait is characterized more by drive and the appearance of power than by great speed. He covers ground effortlessly and with extension both in front and in rear, appropriate to his angulation.”

To carry the dog, his front needs to move efficiently. We want strength and endurance, not speed. The ideal, efficient stride allows the front foot to reach forward to a line dropped vertically underneath the nose, landing just behind the nose to push off when it is underneath the dog. This enables the dog to take fewer, more efficient steps, allowing him to work for longer periods.

The standard calls for a dog’s withers to be well laid back, and the upper arm should return or lay back the same distance and at the same degree as the scapula. The ideal angulation is for the front to form a 90 to 100 degree angle, with the highest point of the shoulder (withers) directly above the elbow, which is also directly above the back of the front foot when properly stationed. The reason for this is mechanical advantage: the front legs can reach forward in a projected line that follows the degree of layback of the scapula.

The upper arm needs to be the same length as the shoulder. An upper arm of equal length, coupled with the length and layback of the shoulder, makes for optimal stride length and propulsion.

The bottom left photo shows our Cocker’s standing outline with an image of balanced movement over it. Note the 45-degree angled lines over the front and rear legs. This illustrates equal reach and drive. To allow freedom in front and correct front reach, the head drops to about a 45-degree angle.

In the show ring, when a Cocker is “strung up” with the lead held vertical and taut, the head stays in a more upright position, preventing the Cocker from demonstrating correct, sporting dog movement.

A dog with an inadequate front cannot reach to its nose. It is completely wrong for a gundog to be short-strided in front. If the scapula is more upright, the upper arm and foreleg cannot reach to the vertical line dropped from the dog’s nose, resulting in a shorter stride. Additionally, a dog with a shorter foreleg cannot achieve sufficient stride length or ideal leverage to propel itself forward. A dog with a more upright foreleg also lacks the ability for an ideal range of motion and tends to have a more upright pastern as well. Any of these faults cause the dog to take more steps during an hour, a day, or its lifetime.

The dog does not need to reach past the nose. Anything beyond the described ideal creates wasted motion and wasted energy.

While flashy and eye-catching, this type of movement is atypical of a correct Cocker and is of no use in the conditions under which the breed works in the field. It should no more be rewarded in the ring or incorporated in a breeding program, any other movement fault that inhibits the Cocker from functioning correctly can be detrimental. Here is a dog that is unable to extend its front to its nose, yet is kicking way too far behind with the rear. This compensation is caused by a straight front, characterized by an upright scapula and a short upper arm, combined with an over-angulated rear.

Additionally, a dog with ideal angulation has more area for muscling. Imagine a 90-degree triangle compared to one with shallower angles. You can see that the latter leaves less space for carrying a well-developed musculature.

In this case, the shoulder is tipped forward instead of being laid back towards the rear of the dog. This placement puts the withers well forward of the elbow. When in motion, the dog will look as if it is falling over its front, which is exactly how it is made to move. Due to the incorrect placement of the scapula, the neck juts forward and is very restricted in its range of motion, a true detriment in the field.

The standard states that the chest should be deep, not so wide as to interfere with the action of the forelegs, nor so narrow as to allow the front to appear narrow or pinched. The dog must have good spring of rib to house heart and lungs of sufficient capacity. The rib should extend downward to at least the dog’s elbow. A shallower ribcage crimps space for heart and lung expansion.

From the front, the rib should be heart-shaped at its widest point. If one were to take sliced transverse images from the elbow forward, the shape is significantly narrower than a slice taken from its widest part farther back. This is because, as the dog reaches forward, the legs should begin to converge. This aids in smooth, more forward movement.

Think of yourself when you try to run. As you move faster, if you make an effort to keep your legs as wide apart as they are when standing, it causes a stilted, side-to-side movement, which is not conducive to good running. The same principle applies to a sporting dog!

Consider that a Cocker is a smaller, wider breed than other sporting dogs. If its width is sufficient, its front legs will never converge on the same line (single tracking) or even come close to it. This is because it is a wider breed with more muscle for its size than other, taller dogs.

Regarding pasterns, the standard states that they should be nearly straight with some flexibility. The pastern needs enough angulation to give upon landing. An absolutely upright pastern will act more like a post, with no natural give. Conversely, a pastern with too much bend will lack strength and may cause strain to ligaments and tendons.

Compare the greater slope of the front pastern with that of the rear. The front pastern must deal with more concussive forces and needs to be more shock-absorbing.

In the words of Anne Rogers Clark, a second-generation English Cocker breeder and ECSCA Past President, “In any breed, the whole dog is hung on its front end. How the neck is set and how its topline is all go to the front. There must be a forechest out in front.”

She further notes, “We’re getting a lot of English Cockers whose fronts drop straight down, a so-called Terrier front, where they’re laid back in the shoulder, short in forearm, and their fronts are way out in front of them with no forechest. It’s totally incorrect for a Cocker. You’ve got to have some forechest!

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How Form Should Follow Function in The English Cocker Spaniel

“In Sport as in ladies’ hats, fashions have changed with each decade, yes, though fashions may change, we find that the merry little Cocker has always maintained his place in the esteem of the public and sportsmen alike, by dint of his extreme adaptability and courage and, let us face it, also by his hardiness to withstand the rigors of our English climate. He should never have been allowed to become a pampered pet, although the vast majority are, nowadays just that. Again blame his adaptability and lovable nature: but anyone who has ever seen these game little dogs working in the field must admit that this is their rightful heritage and the place where they are truly happy. A Cocker that has once tasted the delights of bustling in and out of the hedgerows and thickets and has had the scent of hare, pheasant, partridge, or the humble rabbit in his nostrils is lost forever to the drawing room. He will, on the slightest invitation, leave the cream cakes to follow the guns.”

Quote from the Dual Purpose Dog by A.W. Collins, circa 1950 (Collinwood Cockers, Kent, England).

Judges faced with the prospect of evaluating a ring full of English Cockers today might find themselves feeling slightly overwhelmed by the task. In this day and age, the breed can be presented in many shades and colors, various types and with luxurious, often sculpted coats which can hide the structure beneath. To successfully sort out the classes and reward the proper type, you would do well to remember the purpose for which the breed was developed.

From the opening paragraph in the standard, you get a sense of what the English Cocker was developed for:

“The English Cocker Spaniel is an active, merry sporting dog, standing well up at the withers and compactly built. He is alive with energy; his gait is powerful and frictionless, capable both of covering ground effortlessly and penetrating dense cover to flush and retrieve game. His enthusiasm in the field and the incessant action of his tail while at work indicate how much he enjoys the hunting for which he was bred.”

The essence of type of any breed should lie in the original purpose. Looking at some aspects of the standard, we can decipher the important traits and characteristics developed by the breed’s founders that make up the foundation for a distinctive and correct English Cocker Spaniel.

Substance: “The English Cocker is a solidly built dog with as much bone and substance as is possible without becoming cloddy or coarse.”

Historically bred to hunt in the thick cover and underbrush of the English countryside, the Cocker needed stamina, endurance, power and strength. Originally the breed was used only to find and flush the game, however in more recent times they were required to also retrieve, which in turn demanded a larger, more robust dog. Therefore, Cockers needed to possess a sturdy body capable of carrying the muscle and bone necessary to push through the thicket, hunt, flush and retrieve whatever game was afoot, often comparatively large foul or hare. It was essential for the breed to be capable of working all day with their master, being moderate in size, with bone, rib, depth of brisket, forechest and a broad, muscular rear. Through careful breeding we now have the veritable “Jack of all trades”, a steady, biddable, hardworking and determined companion, flushing as well as retrieving game, even from water.

Proportion: “Compactly built and short-coupled, with height at withers slightly greater than the distance from withers to set-on of tail.”

Slighter taller than long by the measurement listed in the standard, this breed should appear neither leggy nor low on leg. The correct, symmetrical make and shape of a cocker allows them to penetrate the type of dense cover that taller, leggier animals could not. They have just enough neck to comfortably reach down, pick up a bird and carry it without interfering with their gait. This is a breed of moderation and balance by necessity, as exaggeration of any characteristic could cause them to tire easily and therefore be incapable of fulfilling the task for which they were bred.

Coat: “On head, short and fine; of medium length on body; flat or slightly wavy; silky in texture. The English Cocker is well-feathered, but not so profusely as to interfere with field work. Trimming is permitted to remove overabundant hair and to enhance the dogs true lines. It should be done so as to appear as natural as possible.”

An often overlooked essential of breed type, the correct coat on a Cocker works as a protective shield from the weather and unforgiving terrain. It should be silky, with a topcoat jacket of longer, protective guard hairs and enough undercoat to keep them warm. The feathering should not be too profuse, nor over groomed. A correct coat will self-strip in the field, allowing the dog to work while avoiding mishap. A poor, cottony coat will cause a dog to snag and tie them up at the first bramble. A Cocker should also have supple, pliable skin, with enough give to allow them to hunt in the most difficult countryside without injury.

Head: “Strong, yet free from coarseness, softly contoured, without sharp angles.”

The characteristic head and expression of an English Cocker sets them apart from all the other Spaniel breeds. They have a soft, melting and endearing expression, with tight eye rims to keep them free from debris.

The skull: “Arched and slightly flattened when seen both from the side and from the front. Viewed in profile, the brow appears not appreciably higher than the back-skull.”

The skull is arched and slightly flattened (not flat) to allow for the wellmuscled jaw. They must not drop off too much in the backskull, as this will inhibit their ability to hold the bird in their mouth and retrieve in water; a down faced dog will be looking up into the sun.

Muzzle: “Equal in length to skull; well cushioned.”

Their muzzle is well cushioned to protect them from the thorns and thickets they work in, as well as the talons of the birds they hunt. They have strong jaws and teeth the size of a much larger breed. This breed is meant to do heavy lifting!

Gait: “The English Cocker is capable of hunting in dense cover and upland terrain. His gait is accordingly characterized more by drive and the appearance of power than by great speed.”

Bred to be a steady hunting companion, they should cover ground soundly and efficiently. However, this breed is not one of exaggeration and a moderate stride is desired. The English Cocker should reach to the end of his nose, without wasted motion or restriction. Their ever-wagging tail and the darting action they show while seeking game has led to the descriptive term of bustling.

In summary, this merry, active breed has won the hearts of many and deserves his place in history. Never let the window dressing he may be found sporting detract from the hardworking little hunting companion he was bred to be.

“He is an ideal companion & housedog; a great sportsman in the shooting field and is capable of doing all the work his bigger brothers can do, putting that joy into the task which has earned him the epithet ‘The Merry Cocker’, his actions denoting the pleasure he derives from his hunting.”

Quote taken from the introduction to “Cocker Spaniels” by H.S. Lloyd, of Ware Cockers, Middlesex, England.

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At Your Service

One of the most endearing traits of the English Cocker Spaniel is not how much we love them but how much they love us. This breed does love to be worshiped but it is their love, loyalty and total devotion to their human that makes them so irresistible. This is why I tell people who are considering adding an English Cocker to their family that they are like potato chips—it is very difficult to just own one. They move in, take over, and we could never live without them again.

English Cockers do enjoy having a job, although they are not obsessed with it like other breeds. Some love to do Agility, some love Obedience, others have a great aptitude for tracking or hunting and even the best show dogs often exhibit a great aptitude for hunting and have a natural birdiness. The pet parakeet is never safe when an ECS shares their home.

One of the greatest jobs and most rewarding for dog and owner is Therapy work. The English Cocker is a naturally empathetic creature and there are countless cases of ECS Therapy dogs being able to bring the people they visit to a much happier place.

Megan Belle, a beautiful blue English Cocker owned by Stanley and Gerry Pajkos, is a big hit at Nursing Homes. She always appears in costume and the residents can’t wait to see what her latest attire will be when she and her owner arrive for a visit. She brings great joy to the residents as a Certified Therapy Dog, a job she has been doing since she was just 18 months old.

One lovely black girl named Daphne specialized in Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients. She was on the floor of a nursing home visiting the Dementia unit and the nurses asked her human to stop by to see a gentleman with MS who had slipped in to such a depression that he had not communicated for months. They lifted Daphne on to his bed and he reached up to pet her when tears began running down his face and he said, “You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.” His whole outlook was improved by this little dog and he could not wait for Sundays when “his Daphne” was coming to see him.

English Cockers visit hospitals, nursing homes, and especially love to visit children’s hospitals. Beverly Craft, who visits Hospitals and Nursing Homes with her ECS, MeMe and Rita along with their “honorary ECS” Peach, is also a Tester/ Observer for her local Therapy Dogs Inc. Beverly says that along with bringing joy to the residents Therapy work is truly rewarding for the dogs and owners and she highly encourages owners to give it a try.

ECSCA past Junior member Zena Brenner has been doing Therapy work with her ECS Cruz since she was a High School student. They especially loved visiting the students in the local school districts Special Education classes. Zena is a perfect example of how getting kids involved in dogs through Junior Showmanship can lead to great things in life as Zena has been awarded multiple scholarships and is now on her way to Graduate School in Australia. We are all very proud of her success and continuing service to her community.

English Cocker Spaniels also make outstanding Reading Assistance Dogs. When a child is having problems with reading, and is reluctant to read out loud, the kind face and loving look of an English Cocker helps the child read to the dog with no trace of judgment. This often gives the child the confidence to eventually read out loud to their teacher and class. Robin and Juno are two very special Reading Assistance Dogs who have been featured in their local newspapers for their service to the local students. The kids at Juno’s school have even dedicated books to the library in Juno’s name and Juno’s owner brings special bookmarks and stickers with her photo on them which the kids love to receive.

There are also quite a few English Cockers who work with psychologists and therapists. Tucker, Myrtle, Annie and Sid all live with therapists and not only go to work with their humans but also have patients of their own. It turns out that English Cockers are very good at keeping secrets, and sharing something deeply painful with a canine therapist is the first step in the patient being able to share their pain with their human therapist.

English Cockers also have an affinity for working with children on the Autism Spectrum. Several ECS are constant companions and best friends to these children and their canine companions are invaluable to their communication with the world and in learning how to relate to another being.

To sum it all up, English Cocker Spaniels are truly captivating creatures and those of us that have the great pleasure of sharing our lives with them are among the luckiest people on earth.

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Key Points – Basics of the Breed

• Balanced, moderate, no exaggerations
• Compact, “Cobby” and “Cockery”
• Substantial
• Appealing head and eye
• Efficient gait
• Merry disposition

Five Essentials of Correct Body Type

• A protective forechest – with a correctly constructed front
• Thick bone
• A well-sprung ribcage that is deep and carried well back
• A SHORT, broad loin
• A wide, muscular rear

To hunt efficiently in the type of terrain they were developed to work in, the English Cocker MUST have all of these elements.

Tail – Docked or Undocked

• Carried horizontally, off a gently rounded croup.
• Should be wagging, showing the merry nature of the breed.

The natural tail is thick at the root (consistent with the required generous amount of bone), tapering to the end, and ideally not reaching below the hock joint.

The tail is an extension of the topline, carried horizontally.

You may see some dogs carry their tails a little higher due to excitement. However, it should never be pegged (often a sign of a poorly constructed hip and rear), nor carried too low (either due to a poor tailset or shyness).

The tails are historically docked, not for the aesthetics but for the well-being of the dog. Because of the incessant wagging and the proximity of the dog to the underbrush, a long tail can be injured in the field.

“He is alive with energy; his gait is powerful and frictionless, capable both of covering ground effortlessly and penetrating dense cover to flush and retrieve game.”

Please visit our website for more information: englishcocker.org

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Interview with Doug & Kay Belter – Breeders of Majestic English Cocker Spaniels

Where did each of you grow up?

Doug in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and Kay in Grosse Ile, Michigan.

Do you come from doggie families? And if not, how did the interest in breeding and showing purebred dogs begin?

Neither of us really grew up in “dog families.”

Doug: My grandparents were from Europe and England. They had working dogs, terriers, and Dachshunds for pest control and hunting. My first dog was an English Setter that did hunt and was a show dog.

Kay: I got started by tagging along with my older sister to 4H meetings/classes with our family’s hunting Golden Retrievers. Through my 4H leader, I started with AKC Conformation shows. I finished my first champion, a Cardigan Welsh Corgi, at age 9.

Who were your mentors in the sport? Please elaborate on their significance.

Doug: My first mentor was a Cocker Spaniel handler, Doug Smith, who ran the Edmonton Junior Kennel Club. After that I worked for Denis Springer who taught me to trim terriers, then Paul Booher who showed a lot of Sporting and Working breeds. Paul was great at conditioning and health in the dogs that he showed.

Kay: I have had many, but started out as a Junior Handler working for American Cocker handlers Barbara Gamache and Kyle Robinson. When I returned to the English Cocker world after finishing college, Jo Ann Davis of Canterbury English Cockers was my breeding mentor. From Jo Ann I was introduced to Robin Novack. Robin was just starting on her own as a handler, so we travelled together to shows and she taught me the finer points of grooming and handling my English Cockers.

Your English Cockers are widely known, highly successful, and well respected. What breeding philosophies do you adhere to?

Always stay true to type, good temperaments, and health! We are also very discriminating as to which dogs we will breed. Like others, we may finish dogs that we later place because they do not pan out to be strong enough to play a role in our breeding program. A good rule of thumb we also stick by is if a dog is not good enough to win at a specialty, it is likely not good enough to be a significant part of our future breeding program.

How many dogs do you typically house? Tell us about your current facilities and how the dogs are maintained.

We currently have seven English Cockers. With Doug’s client dogs, we usually have a total (including our Cockers) of 20 to 25 in our care. We have a couple of permanent housepets, and the rest of the dogs reside in the kennel. We built our house and kennel ourselves, so it is set up nicely to provide a great living/exercise space for the dogs. Our property is located on eight beautiful, private, wooded acres in western Michigan. We also have four employees who work regularly when we are home or on the road. They all help to manage the day-to-day care and conditioning of the dogs.

How did you transition into professional handling? How are you able to balance the commitment to a breeding program with your professional handling obligations?

Doug: After a short break from shows as a Junior, I went to the US to work for the two handlers I mentioned earlier. I then returned to Canada and showed as a professional there before meeting Kay and moving to the States in 2003.

Kay: Actually, I am not a professional handler, just married to the best! I am currently a hospital floor Registered Nurse. For me, it is challenging to balance work with getting to shows. We share the responsibility of whelping and raising puppies. Doug and I are a great team. Often with puppies, Doug may be home to whelp the litter. I arrange my work schedule, so I can stay home to care for them while Doug travels to shows.

What is the key to maintaining a positive, successful relationship with your clients?

Doug: Be honest and communicate. I have sent dogs back when, in my opinion, they were not good enough to be kept for breeding, so why show them? Let them have a life as someone’s beloved pet. I have weekly calls with my major clients to let them know how the dogs are doing and to discuss their health and welfare.

Please comment positively on the present condition of your breed and what trends might bear watching.

Over the last 5 to 10 years, the breeders of English Cockers have done a wonderful job of improving type! You will see far more moderate dogs in most parts of the country. We still need to keep focused on just that; the breed is moderate, not a racy/setter type of dog. As with most breeds, fronts are an area we all need to stay focused on improving. Our ECSCA Education team has done an incredible job putting together a wonderful seminar. Breeders and judges should all attend one in person!

The sport has changed greatly since you first began as breeder/exhibitors. What are your thoughts on the current state of the fancy and the declining number of breeders? How do we encourage newcomers to join us and remain in the sport?

There seems to be a lot of friction at the shows. Issues used to be settled in private, face to face. Now it seems we need lawyers to resolve these issues. Facebook and other social media sites have emboldened the keyboard warriors to the point of absolute rudeness. Why would a newcomer want to be in the middle of these silly spats? They just want to show their dogs and have some fun. Breeders need to be welcoming, and all of us need to drop the elitist attitudes and help newcomers by sharing our passion for the sport.

Where do you see your breeding program in the next decade or two?

We are both at a point where we would like to slow down a bit, as Doug transitions to judging. With that said, by no means could we stop breeding! We will continue to breed the very best of our current English Cockers, focusing on quality over quantity. We have frozen semen on some of our males that built the breeding program. Creating girls we can breed back to them will give us something exciting to focus on. In addition, Doug has been fortunate to co-breed with long-time clients Dawne Deeley of Tsar Shadow Norwegian Buhunds, Bill and Jennifer Ashburn of Foxheart Wire Fox Terriers, and Dr. Friend of Gwencalon Beagles. Doug will continue to co-breed litters of these breeds, which we are both very fond of.

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Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder?
Along with my husband, Bob, and our son, Robert, we live in Newbury Park, California.
In 1976, we purchased our first English Setter, and in 1978, our first English Cocker Spaniel. We did breed English Setters for about twelve years and then decided, because of the dog limit for our area, to concentrate on the English Cockers. We do love the English Setter breed and watch them at the shows whenever we have a chance.

What is my kennel name? How many dogs do I currently keep?
Our kennel name is Lynann, which is a combination of my first and middle name. We currently have four dogs, two males and two females.

Which show dogs from the past have been my noteworthy winners?
We are very proud of many of our dogs, but the three that have made a significant contribution to our breed are: BISS CH Lynann’s Precious Image ECM, “Muffitt,” our first home-bred champion and our first specialty winner. Muffitt can be found behind many top winners today; National BISS BISS CH Lynann’s Telesis ECM, our first National Specialty Best of Breed winner and an English Cocker of Merit through the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America. The judge on this occasion was breeder-judge Mary Ann Alston. “Telesis” also contributed as a sire to many breeding programs; and National BISS BISS CH Lynann’s Timeless Image, “Emma,” another National Specialty Best of Breed winner for Lynann. This time the award was under breeder-judge Bonnie Threlfall. Emma was an influential dam for Lynann and is behind all the current Lynann dogs.

Which have been my most influential sires and dams?
The dogs listed below have contributed to many breeding programs and have helped to move the Lynann English Cockers forward in temperament, health, and type; English Cockers of Merits through the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America: BISS CH Lyann’s Precious Image ECM, National BISS BISS CH Lynann’s Telesis ECM, CH Glenwood Sierra Echo ECM, BISS CH Lynann’s Never Ending Story ECM, CH Lynann’s Risky Business ECM, National BISS BISS CH Lynann’s Timeless Image, CH Lynann’s Timeless Essence, BISS CH Lynann’s Forever ECM.

Can I talk about my facilities? Where are my puppies whelped? How are they raised?
Our dogs are raised in the home, as we do not have a kennel set-up. Puppies are whelped and raised in our TV room, where they get constant exposure to people, sounds, and new experiences. Once they are old enough, they get socialized with the adult dogs. Our yard is almost one-third of an acre and is separated into three yards; the pool yard, the dog area, and my garden. I love working out in the yard. (I have my own secret garden.) The dog yard has ample room for the dogs to be able to run and get lots of exercise. English Cockers need to have lots of exercise to keep them happy.

What is my “process” for selecting show puppies? At what age do I make my decision?
I think you can see the exceptional puppy the moment it is born, but on occasion there is that puppy that takes a while to show promise. I have had some show pups that did not mature as promised, and others that matured into the swan. So, as a breeder, it can just be a waiting game. Most often, however, the one that I select as a puppy is the one that I move forward with. The puppy must have all the essential hallmarks of the breed. Watching them run and play is important too. You can see a lot by watching the pups move. At nine weeks of age, I look for those things that I feel my breeding program needs improving on. If they don’t have that essential improvement, I do not keep him or her. Each generation should be an improvement.

How do I prepare my pups for the show ring?
We make it fun for the pups, with lots of treats while standing on the table. Eventually, they do learn to stand still and then we start with the show stack. I find that the puppy that stands naturally and moves correctly is the puppy that is most likely to be the one that matures into the correct English Cocker.

Are Performance and Companion titles important to me as a breeder?
Yes, all of them are important. English Cockers do excel in all areas of performance and companion titles. Nose Work is something they all love to do. If they are using their noses, they are happy. I do feel that not enough emphasis is put on using our dogs for what they are bred to do; that is being a gentlemen’s hunting companion.

In my opinion, is my breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern?
The English Cocker is in great shape, with breeders paying attention to what their breeding programs need to improve on. There are things, like in any breed, that we need to pay close attention to; first and foremost, health and temperament. Some breeders are trending on using only clear to clear health-tested dogs and excluding dogs that may be carriers or affected for health concerns. In my opinion, if we have clear animals and a carrier or affected dog—that is the correct dog for your girl or boy—we should use that dog and then test all the pups. That’s why we have the genetic tests. We never have to produce an affected puppy again and we can still maintain correct breed type. Straight fronts and fine bone are also still a concern.
The English Cocker Spaniel is a merry breed, and we all need to remember that. There are many good English Cockers (no matter what part of the country you are in) and I think that this speaks volumes for all of our breeders.

Do I feel that my breed has a promising future as a family companion?
Most definitely! They are a happy breed and love everyone they meet. Sometimes they can be a little reserved with new people, but they warm up to them almost immediately. They can have too much coat for the pet family to deal with, so keeping them short is a way to keep the dog, and the owner, happy.

Do I have any thoughts I’d like to share about the sport of dogs in general?
My family was not originally “dog people.” Yes, we had dogs all my life, but I came into this sport knowing nothing about showing, breeding or anything else that comes with our fancy. There are so many people who have been so generous with their knowledge and expertise. We have a wonderful community, and my family and I are truly thankful for every friend and mentor we have had. We try to give back by being kind and helpful wherever we can.

For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing experience I’ve ever experienced with a Sporting Dog?
While at a field trial with our English Setters, our girl decided that it was much more fun to take a swim in the lake. There were ducks out there! We called her and called her back, but to no avail. I thought that I was going to have to take a swim myself. I finally yelled “cookie” and she came back in. Instinct or food? Food won.

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Interview with Bonnie Threlfall, Breeder of Edgewood English Cocker Spaniels, by Allan Reznik

Where did you grow up?

Bonnie Threlfall: I grew up on Long Island which, at the time (1950s and ‘60s), was a hotbed of dog breeders and dog shows. It wasn’t unusual to have match shows with entries of 200 to 300 dogs. There were dog training clubs with huge memberships that also held training classes. The one I went to had Peggy Adamson, Diane Bleeker, LaMar Kuhns, Muriel Freeman, among many others, attending to work their young dogs. It really was an education to see so many high-quality dogs of different breeds.

Do you come from a doggy family? If not, how did the interest in breeding and showing purebred dogs begin?

Bonnie Threlfall: I am a second-generation dog fancier. My dad had Labradors. His interest in the sport was encouraged by my godmother, who had National Specialty and Group-winning Samoyeds in the 1940s and ‘50s. My dad’s main interest was obedience, but he wanted good-quality dogs. His interest wasn’t in breeding so he would seek out good breeders from whom to purchase a dog. At one time, he had two males he was working in obedience. One was a Group winner and the other, a National Specialty Best of Breed winner, at a time when that was the only Labrador specialty.

Who were your mentors in the sport? Please elaborate on their influence.

Bonnie Threlfall: I can’t say that I had any specific mentors in the sport. Back then I don’t think mentorship was a common concept. I went to handling class and listened to the longtime breeders talk about their breeds. I went to match shows, met people, and learned about their breeds. One of the first people I remember meeting at the match shows was Sybil Sommer, Scott’s mom. All regular dog shows were benched, outdoor ones included. If you were smart enough to keep quiet and listen, you picked up so much experienced knowledge. People would realize you were truly interested and share their thinking.

I had shown my dad’s Labradors in the breed ring. A local Irish Water Spaniel breeder loaned me one of his bitches to show. She became the first champion in the breed to get a UD degree. I was in my early teens when I showed her, but she placed twice in the Groups at a time when bitches in the breed really weren’t recognized. The judges who placed her were William Kendrick and Alva Rosenberg. She also was the great grandmother of “Irishtocrat” who was Best in Show at Westminster. She was a quality dog all around and a wonderful dog with which to learn.

Being one of the kids who hung around dog shows all day long, we were tolerated by the well-known handlers. We were allowed to watch and learn as long as we were quiet and did not get in the way. They were the bonafide professionals like the Forsyths, Annie Clark, Richard Bauer, Ted Young, Bill Trainor, Steve Shaw, and others. They were nothing like the “have lead, will show” secret agents of today. These people had such depth of knowledge spanning many decades, and were also successful breeders. There was so much to learn by keeping quiet, watching, and listening. That was the mentoring experience back then. Priceless.

The Edgewood English Cockers are widely known, highly successful and well respected. What breeding philosophies do you adhere to?

Bonnie Threlfall: I began in the breed with two males, a father and son. By having a background in dogs, I was well aware that I had a lot to learn about the breed before starting to breed, if I were going to be at all successful. I made my mistakes and learned with the two boys while I was in college and right after graduating. They were wonderful dogs and I was so very fortunate. Both were BIS winners, Westminster Group placers, and top producers.

As to breeding philosophies, I have to like the dog and the pedigree equally. No matter how much I like a dog, I will not breed to him if I don’t like the pedigree. Conversely, no matter how wonderful the pedigree, if the dog doesn’t match it, I will pass. Having been interested in, then involved with, then breeding English Cockers for 50-plus years, longevity certainly does have its advantages. I usually have seen all of the dogs in a four- or five-generation pedigree and know how they’ve produced.

I linebreed. It’s what works in this breed. I have gone out very occasionally, but then it’s right back to linebreeding. I had done a father/daughter breeding once. It was the bitch’s last litter after seeing what she produced, and the sire was older and well proven. I felt comfortable that nothing disastrous would be revealed. The result was a two-time National Best of Breed winner, but that was the only time I did an inbreeding. I do like to plan at least two generations out, three if possible. Sometimes this does work out according to plan, but other times a reassessment is necessary, depending upon results. When breeding, always remember that Mother Nature will have the last laugh.

I have only done a breeding when I have needed something to go forward with. I will keep a bitch puppy only if she is an improvement on her dam. To keep a male puppy, he has to have a platinum head, a body of gold, and two diamond testicles. I want the puppy I keep to be of such quality that he is competitive at the National. This breed is judged so poorly at the all-breed level that the only true in-ring test (comparing breeding stock) is at our National Specialties.

I will only sell a puppy to a show home if its quality is such for me to have kept and shown. There are more than enough poor-quality dogs in the ring. I do not wish to add to that. I have bred BIS winners, National Specialty winners at all levels, and top producers but, in 50 years, there are fewer than 75 Edgewood champions. If they aren’t top quality, I don’t want them in the ring.

I usually have one or two litters from a bitch. A wise person once told me that the first time you breed a bitch, the result will tell you how you should have bred her. The second litter should be an improvement on the first. If it’s not an improvement, either she’s not worth breeding again or you are not smart enough to figure it out; so just stop. I don’t repeat breedings. The only time I might consider it is if I needed a bitch from that particular combination and all I got were males. I don’t want to spin my wheels with repeats. I always want to move forward.

I wish I could have done more breeding. Working for years as a handler apprentice and then showing dogs professionally leaves precious little time to breed and raise puppies. When I breed a litter, I always do so thinking that this could possibly be the last litter I ever breed, so it better be worth doing. We all know that the perfect dog of any breed will never be bred, but I like to think that the best dog I ever bred has yet to be born. It keeps me going.

How many dogs do you currently house? Tell us about your facilities and how the dogs are maintained.

Bonnie Threlfall: Two are the fewest dogs that I have had and the most was six. Three to four seems to work best for me. The breed does not do well at all as kennel dogs. They thrive as nosey pets that are always underfoot. I don’t have a kennel. When I am home they are in the house. When I am not, they are in a garage that I had built that has never housed a car. It is heated and air-conditioned. At one end are two 4 foot x 4 foot stalls with dog doors. They go out to two 6 foot x 14 foot gravel runs. There is a roof over half the length of the runs. The garage has a grooming and bathing area, and a trotter. My entire backyard is fenced for free running.

Puppies are whelped in the kitchen. When they start escaping from the whelping box, they move to a big pen out on my all-weather porch. It is more like a playground than a pen. There are many toys, surfaces, a tunnel, wobble board, etc.

Who were/are some of your most significant English Cockers, both in the whelping box and in the show ring?

Bonnie Threlfall: The father-and-son dogs that I started with, Ch. Kenobo Rabbit of Nadou, ECM (English Cocker of Merit, the top-producing designation from the parent club) and Ch. Kenobo Capricorn, ECM, exceeded any expectations that I might have had. Both were top producers, siring BIS and National winners; both were BIS winners themselves, both were Westminster Group placers (Rabbit twice), and Capricorn won the National twice. At the time, I had just graduated from college and was an owner-handler.

My foundation bitch, Ch. Graecroft Calliope, ECM, was a Capricorn daughter. She was Winners Bitch from the puppy class at the National, BOS at another, and then got an Award of Merit from the Veterans class at a third, after three litters. She was bred to her father for my only inbred litter. From that came Ch. Edgewood Fan-Tan who was BOB at two Nationals and BOS at two Nationals.

After retiring from handling, I only occasionally exhibit at all-breed shows, but there have been wonderful owners who have participated with some of my dogs. Some of those dogs are pictured within this interview.

Please comment positively on your breed’s present condition and what trends might bear watching.

Bonnie Threlfall: English Cocker exhibitors do an excellent job of trimming and presenting their dogs. If anyone needs help, there is always someone to show them how it’s done. A very disturbing trend in the breed is the very wide division between what wins at the all-breed shows and what wins at specialties. Numerically, this is not a big-entry breed at the all-breed shows. The vast majority of judges look at English Cockers as a scaled-down version of a setter. They could not possibly be more off base, but that’s the reality of it and that’s what they reward.

I no longer enter an all-breed show unless the judge is one of about two-dozen judges from outside the breed, who actually understand correct breed type and take pride in rewarding it. I know the old cry of how will they learn type if they don’t see it in the ring, but they do occasionally; it’s always the odd man out (please read Richard Beauchamp’s book), and gets third out of three behind two setter types. Here’s one example: Fan-Tan was BOB at two Nationals and BOS at two more, so not a fluke. Granted, he wasn’t shown very extensively, but all he managed to win at all-breed shows was one Group Fourth. (You thought I exaggerated!)

The sport has changed greatly since you first began participating. What are your thoughts on the state of the fancy and the declining number of breeders? How do we encourage newcomers to join us and remain in the sport?

The sport certainly has changed greatly since I began to participate. It used to be all about who had the talent and eye for a dog, to breed and put into the ring the type and quality of dog that the standard describes. One that could fulfill its original purpose. Now it is all about the statistics and who can train a dog to “nail a stack” and run around the ring like showmanship personified, asking for the finger point by the awestruck person in the middle of the ring. Then it’s off to the next show to collect all-breed points in the quest for Number One whatever.

When I began in the sport, we all learned structure first; how a dog was put together, what balance meant, what dog terms meant—Dogs 101, if you will. Once that was understood, then breeding specific type was learned. Structure was learned on any number of breeds. We watched other breeds being judged. Books and breed history meant something and you learned.

In our current world of instant gratification, new people will tell you that they know what they like. They show and breed what they like. They can’t see or understand structural faults; they only see what appeals to them about the breed. A dog can have all the breed details that they love, but if it’s hung on faulty construction it will not be successful. Then it’s time to blame politics and professional handlers. Nobody takes the time to learn basic dog construction.

I do feel that newcomers are joining us. The problem is they don’t last. They have fun with their dog and then they are on to something else that takes their time and money. What is seriously lacking are breeders.

At specialties, the quality and numbers are in the Bred-By class. I judged an independent specialty in another breed and in Bred-By bitches there was an entry of one. The breeder was a professional handler. I understand the appeal of the Owner-Handled Series, but who is going to breed the owner-handler’s dog? To be a successful breeder you have to have a passion for your breed and the time to do it right. The time involves planning several generations into the future and seeing it through. Passion and time have no place in our instant-gratification society. I don’t have the answer.

Where do you see your breeding program in the next decade or two?

Bonnie Threlfall: A decade or two, at my age? I should be so lucky. I am very fortunate that my son and daughter-in-law have interest in the breed. They have a busy handling business and two young sons, but hopefully they will continue on in the future. There is also a co-owner in the Midwest who started her breeding program with one of mine and has been very successful. We currently co-own a young bitch that I bred. For now, I am still waiting for the best dog that I ever bred to be born.

Finally, tell us a little about Bonnie outside of dogs… your profession, your hobbies.

Bonnie Threlfall: After I retired as a professional handler, I applied to judge, which I still do. I judge two Groups and some breeds from all the other Groups. I decided a number of years ago not to apply for any more breeds. I want to learn the ones I already have. I don’t want to be that person in the middle of the ring who doesn’t understand breed type.

Outside of dogs, I am never without a book. I also enjoy working outside in my yard.

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