During the early 1940’s the Cocker Spaniel Specialty Club of Georgia was formed by a few people "for the purpose of holding member Match and Field Trials, and Conformation Shows for cockers." The group included Charlie Milwain & Bill Nix (Misty Mornin’), Henry Burson (Burson’s), and Mozelle Craft (Mozelle’s) initially, soon adding Norman and Mary Barnes (Liz-Bar), and Mary Shannon Stultz (Shannondale) circa 1945, the year it’s first annual April Specialty Show was held.

The Club joined the American Spaniel Club in 1946, which began a broadened focus for Club members to breed and show cockers, led by Charlie Milwain’s use of the Hickory Hill lines of Kay Mauchel, of Connecticut, which were built on her black foundation bitch bred to Ch. Stockdale Town Talk (whelped 1939) who had 15 back crosses to "Red Brucie" in the first 4 generations of his pedigree.

This started a prepotent line of black cockers from which Mary and Norman Barnes blended Misty Mornin’, Shannondale, Liz-Bar, Heyday, with Ch.Hob Nob Hill Tribute, to produce the Best of Breed winner of the First National Cocker Spaniel Specialty Show held by the American Spaniel Club on July 17, 1977 in Oklahoma City, Ch. Liz-Bar Magic of Music (black dog), under judge John Boyd. By using continued half brother/ half sister line breeding, Norman and Mary Barnes, again, produced the Best of Breed winner of the Third American Spaniel Club National Cocker Specialty, Ch. Liz-Bar Chances Are (black bitch), July 1979 under judge Beth Speich, handled by Don Johnston.

The membership of the Cocker Spaniel Specialty Club of Georgia, never very large, was successfully engaged in Conformation show competition, both local and national, through the ‘60’s, ‘70’s, ‘80’s up until the early 1990’s when AKC licensed the Club to hold Hunt Tests, as well. Members included: Ted and Lillian Klaiss (Sagamore) who bred BIS Ch. Sagamore’s Taccoa (buff bitch), the top winning dog All Breeds in 1972, and top winning Ascob in breed history; Ann Smith Martin (Juban) bred BIS Ch. Juban’s Jovan (R/W particolor dog) who won Best of Breed at the 1985 ASC National Cocker Specialty in Atlanta; Deforest Jurkiewicz (Palm Hill); Hugh & Marilyn Spacht, ASC President 2001-2003,  2004 AKC Delegate for ASC (Hu-Mar); Mike & Ronnie DeClerck (Beaujolais); Polly Swanson (Legend); Susan Roman (Ridgecrest); Cheryl & Lee Brown (CheLee); Charlotte Kirton (Charlot); Jane Herndon; Nan Warren & Nancy Biddle (Junebug); Bob & Susan Hatzo (Rocsum); Ione Brown (Brownwood); Harry Binkow (Tuscany); Nancy Hunter (Hun-e-haven); Aaron Morris (Repertoire).

In 1991 the Club added an annual Fall Specialty Show for the month of September, holding two annual specialty shows every year until recently.  In its place the club is now hosting back to back all breed obedience trials in October.

Additionally, the Club has hosted ASC National Cocker Specialties in Atlanta, Georgia along with other Zone II Clubs: 1985 with Show Chairman Fred Puig; 1990 with Bob Hatzo, Show Chairman; 2000 and 2005 with Lee Brown, Show Chairman.

With the addition of newer members in the late '80’s, active in hunting, Sue Kelly & Richard Beaton (Escapades); Bob & Karen Phiel (Woodphield); Jeanne Grim, DVM (Skiboo's); Venee’ Gardner Lloyd (Gardian)- currently ASC Field Committee Chairman (East), the Club began to focus on holding other AKC events. In addition to AKC licensing for Hunt Tests in 1991, the Club received AKC licensing to hold all-breed Obedience Trials in 2002, and all-breed Agility Trials in 2004, with the first Agility Trial held in March 13, 2005 at Wills Park in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Today, we are one of the most active Cocker Spaniel clubs in the country with a very wide range of dog-related activities and interests. If you love dogs like we do, you owe it to yourself to contact us to meet club members, join us at our events and see how we have so much fun with our dogs!
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