MODERATION THE BREEDER’S PERSPECTIVE EXPLORING MODERATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN RELATION TO CORRECT ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL BREED TYPE by THE ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL CLUB OF AMERICA
MODERATION IN AN ENG- LISH COCKER, WHAT EX- ACTLY DOES THAT MEAN? W ebster’s Dictionary describes Moderate as: “The quality of being moderate; avoidance of extremes or excesses.” HOW DOES THAT DEFINITION TRANSLATE TO OUR BREED? The word “moderate” appears five times in our AKC Breed Standard. It is
also implied numerous times through- out. In the opening paragraph: “He is, above all, a dog of balance, both stand- ing and moving, without exaggeration in any part, the whole worth more than the sum of its parts” As with any breed of dog, form should follow function. He is alive with energy; his gait is powerful and friction- less, capable both of covering ground effortlessly and penetrating dense cover to flush and retrieve game. His enthusi- asm in the field and the incessant action of his tail while at work indicate how
much he enjoys the hunting for which he was bred. The English Cocker is a dog of bal- ance, with no one feature overpow- ering another. He has a round, softly contoured appearance, with no sharp angles or lines. CAN YOU TRAIN YOUR EYE TO SEE A MODERATE DOG? The ability to identify the correct balance and type for our breed requires an understanding of the essential points of measurement.
Moderate rear angulation
Exaggerated rear angulation
266 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ANUARY 2018
Powered by FlippingBook