Whatever happened to Cocker Spaniels? They were the most popular breed of dog in America about a half century ago, but you seldom hear of them anymore. Here's me and my puppy Topper in about 1965. This is one of the few pictures from that era in which I'm not pointing a toy gun at the camera.
That reminds me that my first fundraising drive of 2014 is going on. I am most thankful for my readers' generous support over the years and would direct you to the instructions on donating in the side column to the upper right.
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First, the check is in the mail (or will be as soon as I find a blasted envelope around this house). Second, as I recall, a Cocker named My Own Brucie won Westminister in 1940. The Cocker (like the German Shepherd at another time) became a mass produced commodity. Quality went down and the temperament did too. As I recall, these dogs were pretty sweet, until the breed got degraded. One other OT point: advice to readers is to see Steve's short story from 2008(?)on California real estate. The best short story since "The Purloined Letter" by Poe.
Steve, you will never crack me. These pictures will surely run out some time.
JOKING (i'll give the vdare page another ago (didn't work last time).
Aren't Cocker Spaniels very high-strung and energetic? They were good dogs for Baby Boom-era suburbia- lots of space, lots of kids in the neighborhood around to run around with. As white Americans as a group get older and grayer, and space gets more expensive, it's easier to get some lazy dog that doesn't want to move around too much.
Whatever happened to Cocker Spaniels?
They get torn to shreds by pitbulls.
Seriously.
If you haven't been assaulted yet by a lunatic hipster chick cum spinster, walking her uncontrollable pitbull on a "leash", then you must not get out very often.
Again, seriously.
And these are among the few of your blog posts where you are also not pointing a toy gun.
OT- I see Charles Murray got invited to this year's Bilderberg event, so apparently he's become part of the secret elite controlling the world.
Cocker spaniels are an excepionally intelligent breed of dog. The downside of this (selected for) intelligence is that cocker spaniels as a breed are prone to neuroticism, with some individual dogs displaying such symptoms as aggressive behavior - for this reason the popularity of the breed has declined over the years. Puupy farms and unscrupulous breeders magnified this issue.
The connection between high intelligence and neuroticism is also seen in hbd in ethnies noted for high IQ and accomplishment - I'm looking at you Woody Allen.
Check it out, Steve's gone all Elizabeth Warren on us.
So stinking cute!
WHOA - Charles Murray is a Bilderberger!!!
http://www.infowars.com/official-bilderberg-2014-membership-list-released/
That's very, vey interesting...
Cockers are not as popular because they went from handsome hunting dogs with a good disposition as a family pet into overbred bipolar pooches.
My first pet was a cocker. A family that was going to move gave her to my family when she was a year or so old, before I was born. She had been injured by a car, had a permanently damaged hip, but it didn't stop her from going everywhere with me in the neighborhood.
A couple of years ago in going through pics, I found one of her and me on the lawn of our rented house, my arm slung around her and she looking dutifully of me. I look to have been about four.
The picture deserved a place of visibility so it's on the fridge I have missed her greatly over my lifetime and I'm in my sixtieth year.
1965, really? Looks earlier than the Christmas photo.
Was guessing around 1963.
Nice green lawn.
Most respectful greetings from devoted reader.
Your truly, Florida resident.
Thanks, Devoted Florida Reader.
Steve
Great picture! To think I only have fuzzy black and white photos from the 60's of my family members. I'm jealous.
probably already posted, but cocker spaniels were overbred in puppy mills, and now have a lot of birth defects.
they are also snappy (have they always been snappy? or is this a new behavior also from overbreeding), and who wants a snappy dog around their kids.
Disparate impact dilemma at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:
http://www.cfpbmonitor.com/2014/05/28/house-holds-second-hearing-on-discrimination-at-the-cfpb/
Please list an email address where you can receive a direct paypal payment. This can be sent to you via the "family and friends" option where paypal does not take a cut.
What happened to cocker spaniels?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEUGmWlkJZk
Lady and the Tramp is to blame for Elliott Rodger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emNxGLPKmjA
This movie seems a bit creepy in consideration of what happened with Rodgers.
It even ends with a guy packing a gun to save a damsel in distress.
Rodgers felt there were no damsels to save since they'd all gone over to the whore side.
aristocracy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7kk7-qoksA
The cocker spaniel serves as the foundation for one of the first "designer breeds" (fancy mutts), the cockapoo.
I have a 25 pound cockapoo which displays a mostly cocker spaniel temperament, but with a whiff of poodle arrogance and intelligence.
http://www.cockapoocrazy.com/
"Coffee guru Jim Karr crushed to death by falling coffee machine"
http://www.news.com.au/finance/coffee-guru-jim-karr-crushed-to-death-by-falling-coffee-machine/story-e6frfm1i-1226935206567
"A RENOWNED coffee expert has been crushed to death by a falling coffee machine in a freak accident."
Quality went down and the temperament did too.
Sadly happened with Rottweilers too.
Dig that costume. It would certainly be racist if worn today.
Hi Steve,
cocker spaniels have declined in quality as a result of overbreeding. This is a direct consequence of breeders increasing output to meet mid century demand. Cocker spaniels today are unfortunately slow, neurotic, and a bit snappy. I'm sure you could get a good one from a reputable breeder, however.
I'll put my check in the mail tomorrow morning. I wish I could donate more. Even when I disagree with you (often) I am always impressed by your intelligence and humor. Maybe spend the money on a cocker spaniel puppy?
Have you ever owned a spaniel?
Ugh, they belong outside in kennels.
Not swell as family dogs.
Try a German shorthaired pointer.
Native American costume - I see you got into hate crime at an early age.
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