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Cocker Spaniel
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<p>Cocker Spaniels are dogs belonging to two breeds of the <a href="/facts/Spaniel/YAbrowle">spaniel</a> <a href="/facts/Dog_type/xPnpGEY6">dog type</a>: the <a href="/facts/American_Cocker_Spaniel/slEXtQtz">American Cocker Spaniel</a> and the <a href="/facts/English_Cocker_Spaniel/2AbxGjz8">English Cocker Spaniel</a>, both of which are commonly called simply Cocker Spaniel in their countries of origin. In the early 20th century, Cocker Spaniels also included small hunting spaniels. </p><p>Cocker Spaniels were originally bred as hunting dogs in the <a href="/facts/UK/kuPAILt2">UK</a>, with the term "cocker" deriving from their use to hunt the <a href="/facts/Eurasian_woodcock/YkN4Fb73">Eurasian woodcock</a>. When the breed was brought to the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a>, it was bred to a different <a href="/facts/Breed_standard_(dogs)/vS4rb8aE">standard</a>, which enabled it to specialize in hunting the <a href="/facts/American_woodcock/bV0upAzM">American woodcock</a>. Further physical changes were bred into the cocker in the United States during the early part of the 20th century. </p><p>Spaniels were first mentioned in the 14th century by <a href="/facts/Gaston_III%2c_Count_of_Foix/LWFpQrXq">Gaston III, Count of Foix</a> in his work the <i>Livre de Chasse</i>. The "cocking" or "cocker spaniel" was a type of field or land spaniel in the 19th century. Prior to 1901, Cocker Spaniels were only separated from <a href="/facts/Field_Spaniel/cd5QctY1">Field Spaniels</a> and <a href="/facts/English_Springer_Spaniel/YJImzr9R">Springer Spaniels</a> by weight. Two dogs are considered to be the foundation sires of both modern breeds, the English variety are descended from <a href="/facts/Championship_(dog)/d5gJhqh9">Ch.</a> Obo, while the American breed descends from Obo's son, Ch. <a href="/facts/Obo_II/fH5jKtMs">Obo II</a>. In the United States, the English Cocker was recognized as separate from the native breed in 1946; in the UK, the American type was recognized as a separate breed in 1970. In addition, a second strain of English Cocker Spaniel, a working strain, is not bred to a standard, but to working ability. Both breeds share similar coat colors and health issues with a few exceptions. </p>