The name Blue Spaniel is a nod to the breed’s color that it inherited from the Australian Cattle Dog and the name of its other parent breed parent, the Cocker Spaniel. The Australian Cattle Dog, a descendant of Collie varieties and Dingoes, was bred in Australia in the mid-1800s to herd cattle. Eventually, the mixed breed known for its endurance and work ethic, was bred with Dalmatians and Sheepdog varieties to resemble the Australian Cattle Dog we know today. The AKC recognized the breed in 1980. The Blue Spaniel’s other parent, the Cocker Spaniel, originated in the United Kingdom and was bred in the 1800s as a sporting companion. Cocker Spaniels were gifted at woodcock hunting, from which part of their name “Cocker” was derived. Until 1936, the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel (which tends to be smaller than the former) were considered the same breed. American and English breeders, however, began to disagree about how to mate the dog. This resulted in two varieties: an “American” and an “English” Cocker Spaniel. The American Cocker Spaniel is more popular in the United States, while the English Cocker Spaniel is more popular in the rest of the world. The union of the Australian Cattle Dog and Cocker Spaniels has given way to the Blue Spaniel, which is a relatively new breed. The size difference between the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel account for this breed’s wide variations in average height and weight ranges. Though the Blue Spaniel’s personality is not stabilized, it is generally known to be pleasant, smart, and energetic. Currently, the Blue Spaniel is not recognized by the AKC. As such, Blue Spaniel breeders should be thoroughly researched if you are considering purchasing a puppy through them.