American Cocker Spaniels are the smallest of the sporting breeds, even though they are small, they can retreive a large
bird such as a pheasant,
Cockers are great flushers, and also great retreivers, they can mark a long distance fall and make the retreive.
When introduced to water as a young pup they are excellent swimmers as well.
Cockers can hunt in areas many dogs can't because of thier small size to flush out game.