The American clubs' standard for Cockers is not quite the same as the English, the weight there being from 18 to 28 lbs.
_Head._--Ought to be of medium length, and the muzzle square cut off, tapering from the eye, though there must be no appearance of the so-called "snipy" head.
There is a marked "stop," and from it there is a groove running up the skull, gradually fading away.
_Ears._--Set on low, covered with long, silky, straight or wavy hairs, and reaching at least to the tip of nose.
_Coat._--To be free from any sign of curl, plentiful, straight, or wavy and silky. Body of medium length, with well-sprung ribs, fairly deep chest, and full in the flanks. Many Cockers are very defective here, being what is called "tucked up."
Short fore-legs, strong, straight, well feathered, and well-placed, good-sized, feet. The tail should be carried on a level with back when dog is at ease, but lower under excitement.
_Colour._--Unimportant; regularity and beauty of markings (if any) being qualifications.
_Clubs._--The English Cocker Spaniel; the American Cocker Spaniel.
_Prices._--Very typical puppies can be bought for three or four guineas shortly after weaning.
_Faults._--Top-knot, out at elbows, light in bone, too leggy, and, from a sportsman's view, too short on leg. In whole-coloured specimens white is objectionable; shallow flanks, high carriage of tail, deafness, and bad constitution. Narrowness of chest, flat-sidedness, and a narrow flank constitutes faulty conformation.
There are said to be two distinct types of Irish Water Spaniels, one coming from the South and the other from the North of Ireland. The former is usually pure liver-coloured, with long and well-feathered ears, whereas the latter has short ears, and the liver colour mixed with considerable white.
One of the most characteristic features of the Irish Water Spaniel is his "top-knot," consisting of a crown of hair from the occiput to between the eyes, leaving the temples free. These Spaniels, to a sportsman of but slender means, in particular, cannot be over-valued. They are, so to speak, born to water, and in their element when retrieving wild-duck in the depth of winter, requiring very little tuition.
[Illustration: IRISH WATER SPANIEL PAT O'BRIEN (Property of MAJOR BIRKBECK).]