As a general rule, the cocker is a funny dog, playful and fully intuitive, it has been educated along years for the hunting, therefore, if we take a walk in the country with him, we could notice inmediately he'll play attention in birds, rabbit or other little animals. He'll soon start playing and later on in pursuit, this does not means that the cocker is clearly a hunter or bloody, merely its instint came out depending on the situation we may put him in.

Its behaviour during the first year of age is a little crazy and full of energy able to exahust anyone, but at the same time, the oposite pole, sometimes will be full of tenderness and quietness. This mix makes the cocker extremelly interesting and easily convert it in one more family member. Time makes him more stable and easily adaptable to any situation, notwithstanding the adquired instint that will never loose.

During years, the cocker has been one of the top selling races in Spain and Europe, becoming a dog easy to find and incorporate in normal life. Rarely this pretty little animals do not adapt themselves to our world and exigencies, being exceptions those of extrange or wild characters mostly due to bad or unselected breeding.

Few hours will be enough for the cocker to inspect and adapt to the new home, to the point we might find him onto the sofa, our bed and everywere, meanwhile no limits were setup. Inmediately we'll have a new shadow follow us up.

An important point to be taken into account is that we're facing a dog with long hair, therefore lot of care is required, not only for the dog being nice but due to the cocker is proud of its hair and feels comfortable with it. If we're not able to make this effort, it should be better to forgot about this race. Its long and pretty ears will bring us some little troubles as health and cleanliness is basic for this kind of dogs.

Time after, our cocker shall become in a companion of nice and quiet coexistence. It will develope its inteligence and maturity after 3 years old, same as its physical maturity. The cocker will reach between 12 and 15 Kg of weight and 37 to 41 cm heigh.

Its relation with the family will be good for all members, although its dependency to one person will be based on its own interests, mainly affection and cares he actually loves.

The cocker in the country side

As already commented, although the cocker easily adapts to any situation, its natural habitat is the country side. It is there where the dog mostly developes its instincts and feels better. Ahouls or chalet with some garden around will become in a kind of palace for the cocker. It also loves water too. We should be careful with the hair as weeds and vegetation could produce knots and troubles of dificult solution.

The long hair allows him to easily adapt to the cool in winter. In summer, heat will make him to loose hair and weight, also due to the feed regimen reduces itself.

Strong and direct sun is harmful for the quality and color of the hair, specially in blacks or brownies, suffering of reddiness and breakiness.

Of this three abilities, search is in the cocker the better developed due to its already mentioned characteristics and its ability for the hunt. As a guard dog no capabilities are identified, meanwhile in obey some abilities are identified however no special aptitudes could be found.

Will the cocker fulfil our prospects from a dog?

Depending on our expectations, if we want a loyal dog, noble and obedient in all aspects, maybe the cocker is not the right one. The cocker will be funny and full of affection with his owner but we could detect a lack of loyalty in some occasions and rarely obedient. These defects will be largely compensated with company and tenderness, being always ready to play, run and come outdoors and for sure will be an ideal companion for the children.

The cocker is a dog that easily adapts to the family life and does not disapoints. For its medium size and good will, the cocker will develop itself well in any kind of house. Special care should be put in its ears and eyes as earaches are frecuent if no strict hygien is kept. Hair require also some cares, frecuent brushing and washing is needed. Good food based in prepared food and cares will always be rewarded.

In summary, if what you are looking is a dog not to care about and few responsibilities in its breeding, the cocker is not your dog. On the oposite, if you're able to spend some of your time, cares and company, you'll not regret.

Germán Gómez.

GENERAL ASPECT: its a funny, robust, sportive, balanced, compact dog. Measure from ground to cross and from cross to tail insertion is about equal.

CHARACTERISTICS: Of funny nature, its tail in permanent action, presents a typical nice movement, specially when tracking and is not afraid of dense vegetation.

CHARACER: docile and affective althoug full of life and lush

HEAD AND SKULL: square nose, with the clearly defined stop, placed midway between the nose and occipital. Well developed skull, well modeled, neither very thin nor very coarse. Cheekbone should not be very prominent. The nose quite wide to allow the development of the sense of smell.

EYES: Big but not bulging. Eyes must be brown or dark brown, but
never clear. In roan liver and white and liver eyes could be dark hazennut to harmonize with hair. Of inteligent expression, sweet but alert, bright and funny. Border of eyelid well fixed.

EARS: Lobe, low insertion, to the eyes height. Extended should reach the nose. Covered with long and silky hair.

YAW - TEETH: Strong yaws with healthy teeth and complete, bite in scissors, that is, the inner side of the upper incisive must be in contact with the outter side of the lower incisive and placed in square angle with the jaws.

NECK: moderate length, muscule, smarty placed between well nodded shoulders.

FRONT LEGS: oblique shoulders, straight legs of good bones enough short to develop strenght. However it should not be too short to avoid interference with the huge effort expected of this magnificent sportive dog.

BODY: Strong and compact. Well developed chest, it should not be too wide nor too thin in the front. Ribs well angled. Short torso wide and firm, the line comes down from the back to the tail insertion.

REAR LEGS: wide, well rounded and muscled with good bone, well angled knees.

FEETS: solid, cat-like, with thick cushion.

TAIL: inserted slightly donwn de dorsal line. The dog must keep it straight, in-line never above. Usually cut, nither too short nor too long to avoid interference with the funny movement when the dog is in action.

MOVEMENT: with good combined action of front and rear legs, with big drive that helps in covering distances.

HAIR: straight, silky texture, never rough nor wave, not too dense and never curly. Front legs, body and rear legs with fringes.

COLOR: Various. In those solid colors only one white stain on the chest.

SIZE: height 39-42 cm in males, 38-39 cm in bitchs. Weight: from 13 to 15 Kg.

DEFECTS: Any deviation from the above characteristics must be considered fault and it is penaltied proportional to its degree.