 The varieties of toy spaniel were occasionally used in hunting , as the Sportsman 's Repository reported in 1830 of the Blenheim Spaniel : " Twenty years ago , His Grace the Duke of Marlborough was reputed to possess the smallest and best breed of cockers in Britain ; they were invariably red – and – white , with very long ears , short noses , and black eyes . " During this period , the term " cocker " was not used to describe a Cocker Spaniel , but rather a type of small spaniel used to hunt woodcock . The Duke 's residence , Blenheim Palace , gave its name to the Blenheim Spaniel . The Sportsman 's Repository explains that toy spaniels are able to hunt , albeit not for a full day or in difficult terrain : " The very delicate and small , or ' carpet spaniels , ' have exquisite nose , and will hunt truly and pleasantly , but are neither fit for a long day or thorny covert . " This idea was supported by Vero Shaw in his 1881 work The Illustrated Book of the Dog , and by Thomas Brown in 1829 who wrote , " He is seldom used for field – sports , from his diminutive size , being easily tired , and is too short in the legs to get through swampy ground . " During the 19th century , the Maltese was still considered to be a type of spaniel , and thought to be the parent breed of toy spaniels , including both the King Charles and Blenheim varieties . 
