What was the Cocker Spaniel first bred for?

Answer 1

Just after the turn of the 20th century, Alexander White of Spartanburg, South Carolina saw a small brown spaniel type dog wondering around after church service. The dog appeared to be a stray and he decided to take the dog home with him. He discovered that the dog had great hunting abilities. This stray had a wonderful bird sense. Alexander gave the dog to his hunting partner L. Whitaker Boykin. The dog was a male and he was given the name "Dumpy". The Boykin Spaniel breed has evolved from this one dog, with crosses to American Water Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, Pointers and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. It is used as a hardy retriever of upland birds as well as water fowl. The Boykin Spaniel is popular in the Southern United States among bird hunters. Its state of origin is South Carolina USA and South Carolina has designated the Boykin Spaniel its official state dog. In July 2005 the Boykin Spaniel Club of Breeders Assoc. of America was named by AKC as the official parent club. The Boykin Spaniel was an AKC FSS (Foundation Stock Service) breed for many years. The BSCBAA submitted their paperwork to AKC to progress into the miscellaneous group and was approved on February 9th 2007 with the effective date of January 1st 2008. Breeders hope to move the breed from the AKC miscellaneous class to the sporting group sometime in the future.

Answer 2

The Cocker Spaniel dates back as far as the 14th century. The breed originated from the English Cocker Spaniels, which were brought to the United States. The Spaniels were bred down in size and given the name American Cocker Spaniels, officially called simply the "Cocker Spaniel" by the AKC. The American Cocker Spaniel is more popular than the original English Cocker Spaniel, who are slightly different in appearance, with longer muzzles and larger bodies. The Cocker Spaniel is a hunting-gun dog able to work in difficult terrain in both wet and dry land. Excellent at flushing and retrieving game with a gentle mouth. They listen to commands well. The name "Cocker" comes from the woodcock, a game bird the dogs were known for flushing. Some of the American Cocker Spaniels talents are hunting, tracking, retrieving, watchdog, agility and competitive obedience. The American Cocker Spaniel was first recognized by the AKC in 1873.

Answer 3

The English Cocker Spaniel is one of the oldest spaniels known. Originally known as a general spaniel-type dog, who was imported into England centuries ago, the dogs were divided into seven different spaniel breeds. The English Springer, the Cocker Spaniel, the Clumber, the Sussex, the Welsh Springer, the Field, and the Irish Water. The Cocker and Springer Spaniels developed together, with only size differentiating them until 1892 when the Kennel Club of England recognized them as separate breeds. In 1946 the American and Canadian Kennel Clubs recognized the English Cocker Spaniel as a separate breed from the American Cocker Spaniel. The Cocker Spaniel is a hunting-gun dog able to work in difficult terrain in both wet and dry land. Excellent at flushing and retrieving game with a gentle mouth. They listen to commands well. The name "Cocker" comes from the woodcock, a game bird the dogs were known for flushing. Some of the English Cocker Spaniels talents are hunting, tracking, retrieving, watchdog, agility and competitive obedience.

Answer 4

The English Springer Spaniel is the founder of all the English hunting spaniels. During the Renaissance, it was considered the ideal companion for the European hunter. Its popularity in America began in 1700. The Clumber, the Sussex, the Welsh Springer, the Field, the Irish Water, and the Cocker Spaniel all developed out of the English Springer Spaniel. Once considered the same breed as the Cocker Spaniel the dogs were born in the same litter. The smaller dogs were the Cockers and were used to hunt woodcock. The larger dogs in the litter, the English Springers, were used to flush out and spring on the game, hence where the dog gets it's name. Both size dogs were and still are good at hunting on land and water and good at work in brush, also making a fine retriever. It was not until 1902 that the Kennel Club of England recognized the English Setter as a separate breed than the Cocker Spaniel. The English Springer Spaniel was recognized by the AKC in 1910. The English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association was formed in 1924 and field trials were held for the first time. Their talents include hunting, tracking, retrieving, watchdog, agility, competitive obedience, and performing tricks.

Answer 5

Cocker Spaniels were originally bred to hunt, flush and retrieve woodcocks in the 1800s.

Answer 6

They were originally breeded for hunting medium size animals, but they are now breeded for agility runs.

Answer 7

I think they were used as gun dogs. Such as for hunting ect..