English Toy Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel is a breed of hunting dogs that originated in Spain. Thought to have been around since the 14th century, the name Cocker Spaniel was suggested by their proficiency at flushing woodcock for hunters in the field. This breed was prized for both its elegant appearance and their hunting skills and as such were bred into different categories of land and water spaniels, and were further divided into companion spaniels by size. The Cocker Spaniel was recognized as a sporting breed with the American Kennel Club in 1878. The English Toy Spaniel is a breed that has existed for centuries and enjoyed great popularity with many monarchs, particularly during the 16th century. As the name suggests, the English Toy Spaniel is a breed that simply served as a companion to its owners. These breeds likely originated in Asia as they are thought to be ancestors of the Pekingese and Japanese Chin. Once classified into four colors called the Blenheim, Ruby, Prince Charles and King Charles groups, the American Kennel Club combined the colors into one classification. Registered as the English Toy Spaniel, this dog is part of the Toy Group and first joined the AKC in 1886.