There is more to Cocker Spaniel than meets the eye

It is a well-known fact that the Cocker Spaniel is a cuddly gun dog, which is also a faithful companion. These sturdy little dogs borrowed their moniker ‘cocker’ from the woodcock they were bred to catch. There are a few other not-so-common facts that you might have missed along the way.

Here we go:

• The English Cocker Spaniel is the predecessor to the American Cocker Spaniel. The latter is a tad smaller, possesses slightly different muzzle and a denser coat than the English Cocker Spaniel
• The English Cocker Spaniel Club of America was formed in 1935, in part to discourage interbreeding between the two varieties. They were declared as different breeds in 1945
• The American Cocker Spaniel’s tail is generally docked short, but it’s left as it is in other countries which have banned docking
• English Cocker Spaniels are used at airport custom checks in Cuba to detect contraband
• The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, adopted a Cocker Spaniel puppy, Lupo, in 2012. The royal canine is sired by a Cocker Spaniel owned by the duchess’ mother
• Former American Presidents, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and actor John Barrowman were among the proud owners of the adorable breed
• They tend to have medium energy and are medium in size came to be known as the smallest member of the sporting group family
• A condition called cocker rage is found among dogs of one color, which results in aggressive behavior owing to poor breeding
• Many countries printed postal stamps bearing the Cocker Spaniel in order to boost their economy. Strange, but true!