Octavia E. Butler

When I was between 2 and 3 years old, I got to know my first non-human being. The non-human was a cocker spaniel named Baba. We weren't friends, Baba and I, nor enemies. He wasn't my dog. He belonged to the people my mother worked for, and he lived in the house with them and us.

American Writer

Tom Junod

When a cocker spaniel bites, it does so as a member of its species; it is never anything but a dog. When a pit bull bites, it does so as a member of its breed. A pit bull is never anything but a pit bull.

American Journalist

Brad Holland

All the other kids in ninth grade were drawing hot rods and cocker spaniels and getting blue ribbons in art class. I was getting rejection slips from the 'Saturday Evening Post.

American Artist

Refers specifically to certain breeds of dogs with hunting abilities, not all dogs.

Dog Breed

Physical trait common to spaniel breeds, their ears hang down alongside their head.

Long Ears

Spaniels are known for being friendly and good family pets.

Companionable Nature

Used figuratively to describe a person, not literally a dog.

Metaphorical Usage

Describing a person as a spaniel often implies weak character or lack of dignity.

Negative Connotation

This usage is more informal and may be considered disrespectful.

Colloquial

 They're also precise. We don't really stop to think about a raindrop the size of an actual cat or dog, but as soon as I do, I realize that I'm quite certain the dog has to be a small one -- a cocker spaniel, or a dachshund --

The art of the metaphor...

 the next up we've got Lizzy who's a spaniel and it seems she actually just loves jumping in the water