Which specialized game species did the smaller Land Spaniels, leading to the Cocker Spaniel, focus on flushing?
Answer
Woodcock
The historical Land Spaniels were a generalized type, but specialization eventually divided them based on size and target quarry. The smaller dogs that developed from this general stock became known as Cocker Spaniels. Their specialization centered on their aptitude for navigating and flushing woodcock, a bird often concealed in dense, sometimes marshy, cover. The smaller stature of the Cocker was better suited for penetrating this thicket, whereas the larger dog, the Springer progenitor, was favored for covering more open ground and dealing with larger game.
Related Questions
Where do the earliest ancestors of the English Springer Spaniel primarily trace their origins?What term was used to categorize the ancestors of the Springer Spaniel based on their environment before breed specialization occurred?Which now extinct breed is widely regarded as the direct progenitor of the modern English Springer Spaniel?What specific weight threshold was instrumental in formally distinguishing Springer Spaniels from Cocker Spaniels?In what year did the Kennel Club officially recognize the Springer Spaniel as a distinct breed separate from other spaniels?What unique characteristic defines the Welsh Springer Spaniel lineage that sets it apart from the English Springer ancestral line?What was the primary function that dictated the early working characteristics of the ancestors of the ESS?Which specialized game species did the smaller Land Spaniels, leading to the Cocker Spaniel, focus on flushing?When standardizing the English Springer Spaniel, what functional trait was prioritized over purely aesthetic features?What did the initial shared ancestry of the English Springer and Cocker Spaniel mean regarding their litters before formal separation?