{{Infobox animal | name = Obo | image = Obo-II-Drawing.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Ch. Obo, foundation sire of the American Cocker Spaniel. | birth_name = | othername = | species = ''Canis familiaris'' | breed = American Cocker Spaniel | gender = Male | birth_date = {{birth date|1882|08|07|mf=y}}<ref name="studcard">{{cite web|url=http://www.asc-cockerspaniel.org/images/history/obostud.pdf|title=Obo Stud Card|publisher=American Spaniel Club|access-date=26 April 2010|archive-date=6 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306104333/http://www.asc-cockerspaniel.org/images/history/obostud.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|1895|01|02|1882|08|07|mf=y}} | death_place = | resting_place = Rollinsford, New Hampshire | resting_place_coordinates = | relativeage = | nationality = United States | occupation = | employer = | role = Show dog | years_active = | known = Foundation sire of the American Cocker Spaniel breed | tricks = | awards = | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | owner = Mr J.P. Willey | parents = Oboe (sire), Chloe II (dam) | children = | weight = {{convert|23|lb|kg}} | height = {{convert|10|in|cm}} at the withers | appearance = | namedafter = | website = }} Ch. '''Obo''' (1882–1895) was an American Cocker Spaniel who is considered to be the father of the modern breed, though physically, he was different from today's American Cocker.<ref name="happyhealthy">{{cite book|last=Palika|first=Liz|title=Cocker Spaniel: Your Happy Healthy Pet|year=2009|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-39060-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tVdraCvRVNcC&q=%22obo+%22&pg=PA21|page=21}}</ref> During his day, he was a successful show dog, winner of many Best-in-Show titles.
==Background== The Obo kennel of Spaniels were owned by James Farrow, who was breeding dogs from the 1870s onwards. Obo's sire and namesake, Obo, was whelped on June 14, 1879. F. E. Schofield, an authority on Spaniels, wrote, "Obo, it goes without saying, was the greatest force in the revival of the Cocker."<ref name="lloyd16">Lloyd (1939): p. 16</ref> Obo was so well known for his victories in conformation shows that his owner, Farrow, spoke of an offer made from America, "The dog's stock did so well in America that one hundred guineas was offered by an American breeder for the use of this Spaniel for one season's stud service. The offer was refused."<ref name="lloyd18">Lloyd (1939): p. 18</ref>
==Birth and career== J. P. Willey of Salmon Falls, New Hampshire, was already a cocker spaniel breeder in America when he attempted to purchase Obo from Farrow in England. He was turned down, but managed to purchase Chloe II, a successful female Cocker Spaniel show dog and had her mated to Obo prior to her being shipped to the United States.<ref name="mercer111">Mercer (1890): p. 111</ref>
From Chloe II's litter came two males, Obo and Black Silk, and a female named Black Gem. Black Gem would die from distemper after returning from winning the Produce Stake at a New York show.<ref name="mercer111"/> Obo was shown for the first time at Manchester, New Hampshire in September 1883, where he placed first. He would go on to have further wins at Lowell, New Haven, Connecticut and New York City. Obo II's trophy for Best Cocker Spaniel from the New Haven Kennel Club show in 1884 was gifted to the American Spaniel Club in 2004.<ref name=ascoboii /> Obo's American Kennel Club number was 4911.<ref name="mercer121">Mercer (1890): p. 121</ref>
His puppies were also highly successful, winning puppy prizes at Lowell, first and second at New York and the top three puppy places at New Haven.<ref name=ascoboii /> Four of his best known offspring are Red Brucie, Sandspring Surmise, Midcliff Miracle Man and Limestone Laddie.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilcox|first=Charlotte|title=The Cocker Spaniel|year=1997|publisher=Capstone Press|isbn=978-1-56065-540-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BN3aRpI4pVUC&q=%22obo+ii%22&pg=PA18|page=19}}</ref> In addition, Obo II was the sire of the first dark red Cocker Spaniel in America, Little Miss Rover.<ref>{{cite book|last=Iby|first=Judith P.|title=The Cocker Spaniel|year=1995|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-87605-381-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E_DdzZ3KfQMC&q=%22obo+ii%22|page=21}}</ref>
==Death and legacy== Modern writers consider Obo to be the father of the modern American Cocker Spaniel. He was different from the modern breed, being {{convert|10|in|cm}} tall with a long body.<ref name="happyhealthy"/>
Obo died on January 2, 1895, and was buried on the property of his owner in Salmon Falls village in Rollinsford. Today, the grave is located behind the Rollinsford Grade School in the town of Rollinsford. At the request of the American Spaniel Club, the grave site was registered with the Rollinsford Historical Society as a historical monument.<ref name=ascoboii>{{cite web|title=Obo|url=http://www.asc-cockerspaniel.org/index.php/history/articles-and-artifacts/194-obo-ii.html|publisher=American Spaniel Club|access-date=22 January 2011}}</ref> thumb|Grave marker of Obo II. The gravestone is listed to the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing resource to Rollinsford Grade School.
Obo was the first American example of the Obo type which was recognisable on both sides of the Atlantic in many dogs with the prefix "Obo" or "Omo". H. S. Lloyd in the 1939 edition of ''The Popular Cocker Spaniel'' pointed out that compared to the Cocker Spaniel breed of the 1930s the Obo type was low to the ground and a "trifle full in eye".<ref name="lloyd18"/>
==See also== * List of individual dogs
==References== ;Specific {{reflist|2}}
;General *{{cite book|last=Mercer|first=F.H.F.|title=The Spaniel and its Training|year=1890|publisher=Forest and Stream Publishing Co|url=https://archive.org/stream/spanielitstraini00merc#page/n0/mode/2up|location=New York|ref=mercer1890}} *{{cite book|last=Lloyd|first=H.S.|title=The Popular Cocker Spaniel|year=1939|publisher=Popular Dogs Publishing Company|location=London|edition=4th|ref=lloyd1939}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obo}} Category:1882 animal births Category:1895 animal deaths Category:Individual dogs in the United States Category:Spaniels