Really? I'm truly astonished! I would have taken an oath that a Show Cocker's ear leather was a lot longer than that of a Working Cocker. I know our old one had very long ears, but short hair on them. But that was back in the 50s.

Actually JG I came back to delete my post, because I convinced myself that you meant that working strain spaniels grew less hair on their ears than show strain. I think that that is probably true. But yes the ear leathers are not long, even my 11 month old puppies have now got about two inches of hair longer than the ear leather. That coupled with the fact that the top 3rd of the ear is clippered, gives that elongated lobular appearance.

Saffys tail is docked (Boxer) but I dont agree with it. Her tail was docked before I had chance to pick her

All I can say is NOT TO DOCK........

I breed cocker spaniels and do not dock their tails, I used to be not any more I don't care what people say it DOES hurt the pups, I always had it done by a vet, but I won't be having it done again. The pups whimper for ages after, which is not surprising when you've just had the bottom of their spines chopped off. :smt018

What method do the vets use in the UK

I don't think vets are really taught to dock the tails of puppies. Amputation in an adult dog yes, but puppy docking no. Experienced breeders can, and do, dock tails, either by cutting or banding, with no distress to the pup.

Having lost a long-tail dog to trauma-induced cancer of the tail I do find that the argument for docking has some merit.

Having a traditionally docked breed I have considered the arguments for and against very carefully.

Do breeders still dock their own pups. I thought it was illegal for them to do so now and only vets can do it

Carole

Sorry. Yes I believe that is the case in the U.K. A ban on tail docking came into force in Australia on 1st April this year. Prior to that most breeders docked their own pups.

What will happen now to docked breeds in Australia Will breeders simply stop breeding them or will it still be done

I was told today by a breeder of springer spaniels that the perfect length for a working springers ear leather is to the tip of the nose, plus hair length.

Apparently this helps to sweep any scent towards the nose as the dog moves along. Don't know if its true, but it sounds plausible to me.