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 topline sloping slightly toward strong 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; equable in temperament with no suggestion of timidity.

Head: To attain a well-proportioned head, which must be in balance with the rest of the dog, it embodies the following:

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 checks.

Muzzle: Broad and deep, with square, even jaws. The upper lip is full and of sufficient depth to cover the lower jaw. 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.

Teeth: Strong and sound, not too small, and meet in a scissors bite.

Nose: Of sufficient size to balance the muzzle, with well-developed nostrils typical of the sporting dog. It is black in color in the Blacks and Black and Tans. 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.

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 color of the iris is dark brown and, in general, the darker the better. The expression is intelligent, alert, soft and appealing.

Ears: Lobular, long, of fine leather, well feathered, and placed no higher than a line to the lower part of the eye.

Neck and Shoulder: 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. 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 considerable 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 a wide spring of rib. Since sporting spaniels must move efficiently all day, proper and balanced angulation is an absolute must.

Body: The body is short, compact and firmly knit together, giving an impression of strength. The distance from the highest point of the shoulder blades to the ground is fifteen(15%)percent or approximately two inches more than the length from this point to the set-on of the tail. The back is strong and sloping evenly and slightly downward from the shoulders to the set-on of the docked tail. Hips are wide and quarters are well rounded and muscular. The chest is deep, it 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 straight forward movement of the forelegs. Ribs are deep and well sprung. The Cocker Spaniel should never appear long and low.

Tail: The 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.

Legs: Forelegs are parallel, straight, strong boned and muscular and set close to the body well under the scapulae. When viewed from the side with the forelegs vertical, the elbow is directly below the highest point of the shoulder blade. The pasterns are short and strong. The hind legs are strongly boned and muscled with good angulation at the stifle and powerful, clearly defined thights. The stifle is strong and there is no slippage of it in motion or when standing. The hocks are strong, well let down, and when viewed from behind, the hind legs are parallel when in motion and at rest.

Feet: Compact, large, round and firm with horny pads; they turn neither in nor out. Dewclaws on hind legs and forelegs may be removed.

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's true lines and movement or affect his appearance and function as a sporting dog. The texture is most important. The coat is silky, flat or slightly wavy, and of a texture which permits easy care. Excessive or curly or cottony textured coat is to be penalized.

Color and Markings: Black, to include black with tan points. The black should be jet: shadings of brown or liver in the sheen of the coat is not desirable. A small amount of white on the chest and/or throat is allowed, white in any other location shall disqualify.

Any solid color other than black (ASCOB) and any such color with tan points. The color shall be of a uniform shade, but lighter coloring 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-Color Variety: Two or more definite, well broken colors, one of which must be white, including those 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-Colors, and may be of any of the usual roaning patterns. Primary color which is ninety percent (90%) or more shall disqualify.

Tan Points: The color of the tan may be from the lightest cream to the darkets red color and should be restriced to ten percent(10%) or less of the color of the specimen. In the case of tan points in the Black or ASCOB variety, the markings shall be located as follows:

1. 1. A clear tan spot over each eye.
2. 2. On the sides of the muzzle and on the cheeks.
3. 3. On the undersides of the ears.
4. 4. On all feet and/or legs.
5. 5. Under the tail.
6. 6. On the chest, optional, presence or absence not penalized.

Tan markings which are not readily visible or which amount only to traces, shall be penalized. Tan on the muzzle which extends upward, over and joins, shall be penalized. The absence of tan markings in the Black or ASCOB variety in any of the specified locations in an otherwise tan-pointed dog shall disqualify.

Movement: The Cocker Spaniel, though the smallest of the sporting dogs, possesses a typical sporting dog gait. Prerequisite to good movement is balance between the front and rear assemblies. He drives with his strong, powerful rear quarters and is properly constructed in the shoulders and forelegs so that he can reach forward without constriction in a full stride to counterbalance the driving force from the rear. Above all, his gait is coordinated, smooth and effortless. The dog must cover ground with his action and excessive animation should never be mistaken for proper gait.

Height: The ideal height at the withers for an adult dog is 15 inches and for an adult bitch 14 inches. 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 or an adult bitch whose height is less than 13 1/2 inches shall be penalized. Note: Height is determined by a line perpendicular to the ground from the top of the should blades, the dog standing naturally with its forelegs and the lower hind legs paralled to the line of measurement.

Disqualifications: Black Variety - White markings except on chest and throat. Any Solid Color Other Than Black (ASCOB) Variety - White markings except on chest and throat. Parti-Color Variety - Primary color ninety percent (90%) or more. Tan Points - (1) Tan markings in excess of ten percent (10%); (2) Absence of tan markings in Black or ASCOB variety in any of the specified locations in an otherwise tan pointed dog. Height - Males over 15 1/2 inches; females over 14 1/2 inches.