One hundred per cent spaniel

Not everyone loves a sprocker — but evidence suggests all working cockers may have some springer blood, reveals David Tomlinson

LAST WEEK I WROTE an entire article about choosing between an English springer and a cocker spaniel without mentioning the ‘S’ word (We’re all cocker hoop, 22 January).

The sprocker is the interloper on the working spaniel scene and has fast established a reputation as a dog that that offers the best of both worlds — or more accurately, a great blend of the best attributes of its springer and cocker parents.

However, though the snappy name might be relatively new, the concept of crossing a springer with a cocker isn’t; it has no doubt happened ever since the two breeds were established at the start of the last century.

It may seem hard to believe now, but 60 years ago the working cocker was in trouble, falling in popularity in the shooting field because the existing dogs were simplynot very good.

It’s generally accepted that there was an infusion of suitable springer blood in what proved to be a highly successful move to restore verve and drive back into the working cocker. I’ve never heard of anyone owning up to performing such a deed and there’s no official record of it ever having happened, but I’ve met plenty of people who believe it is a fact.

I have also heard allegations as to who the principal perpetrators were: one was allegedly a leading cocker trialler at the time, but nothing has ever been proven. If springers were used the breeders involved did an excellent job, as working cockers today are terrific little dogs, well able to hold their own against the more powerful springers.