The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

This video may seem controversial but I found it very interesting. Any opinions? Watch it all the way through to the end. Cockers are included in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hex00WjSobE

Very thought-provoking and similar to the controversial special documentary BBC ran on pedigree dogs a few years back which caused Crufts to be removed from BBC programming. I think unfortunately with modern times and move away from rural/farming livelihoods, there are just so few breeders and pet buyers who actually work dogs anymore so don't breed or buy for the dog's original traits which made a breed fit for function. The judges and breed clubs should have kept up the working standards but I suppose have also been influenced by modern criteria and a modern pet market which pins more on appearance rather than function/health.

Very interesting. It does get you to thinking.

I also agree its very interesting!

Thank you all for watching. I like the idea of preserving dogs for what they were meant to do and encouraging those traits instead of breeding for something that may look prettier but is not efficient for the dog.

I remember when I first went to handling classes that one of the other people who shows cockers said to me that cockers should only go to the bathroom in an ex pen in order to keep their hair beautiful. I told her that Star was going to be a normal happy dog whether or not she showed. I found it too limiting to their lives.

I also find that some are breeding cockers to emphasize the slope on their backs, almost as they have changed GSD's. When I think of that and an agility cocker it would definitely affect their performance there so it must in nature as well.

Of course I love the beautiful cocker coat and I would never shave them but it can be a pain to maintain as well.

Just my two cents on something that I found interesting.

Wow that was really interesting!! The bulldog difference was astounding! Really, I didn't know what they originally had looked like and why on earth would anyone want them to look as they do today, doesn't make sense, that mastiff either. I have never liked the GSD's with the sloping back, looks horrible. We had a GSD growing up, wonderful wonderful dog, I loved her and she was a very good dog. Love the breed but I love a straight back on them. As for Cockers and their long hair, it isn't functional at all. They were meant to be able to run through the brush and follow their noses, not very easy with long hair. I would imagine if Maya had a full cocker coat she would still be caught in those raspberry brambles instead of just pulling them out with her. I must say though the American cocker head today looks so much cuter than the original cocker head, the hair though could revert back to original and I would be fine with it.

The UK standard for the American cocker says something along the lines of 'coat: well feathered but not so much as to hide body lines or impede function as a sporting dog'. I love the modern coat, but I don't think it really fits the standard any more! And yes, some breeds like bulldogs and GSDs have changed a LOT. Many bulldog breeders have been trying to reverse the over exaggerations for some years now though, and they are making progress.

I really enjoyed this video because it reinforced how we picked our dogs as puppies and the breeder (2, out of the 3 pure breds we have owned).

Our Basset Hound has shorter ears, longer legs and almost no wrinkles :)

Our Pomeranian (now over trb) had a shorter coat (but was still very small) and had a fox face & head.

It is really disconcerting to see what has been done to the breeds....