The American Cocker Spaniel Dog
Breed in Brief:
Origin: Originated in England,
though the American version has developed its
own unique traits
Height: 13.5-15.5 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 24-28 pounds average
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: High
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Easy
Common Misspellings: American Cocker Spanial,
American Cocker Spanials
Alternate Names: Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel has long been favored as a
family pet, not only in the country of its
origins, but also throughout the world. Known
for his beautiful coat, soft brown eyes and
sweet expression, he is surprisingly much more
than a simple pampered pet. In addition to his
place at his mistress’ side, he is equally at
home with his master, out hunting in the fields.
The smallest of the sporting breeds, the Cocker
Spaniel is as versatile as he is loveable.
The first Cocker Spaniel is believed to have
made his debut on American soil with the landing
of the Mayflower, back in 1620. Sadly, there are
no ways of directly tracing the lineage of the
modern day Cocker Spaniel back to this dog,
however; due to the fact that there were no
pedigrees or stud books back in those days, any
written reference has been obliterated by the
passing of time. The first actual registrations
of the American Cocker Spaniel began in 1879,
with a liver and white dog who was
affectionately known as "Captain." From there,
this wonderful dog began to gain more and more
recognition until he was practically made a
household name.
Interesting to note is that, while the breed
originated over in England, the American Spaniel
Club was the first to take interest in the
Cocker Spaniel as a breed all its own. During
this time, back in their home country, spaniels
were simply divided according to size - dogs
that were more than 28 pounds were to be
considered Field or Springer Spaniels, whereas
smaller dogs would be considered Cocker Spaniels
- thus named because of their usefulness when it
came to shooting woodcocks. In 1946, however,
the American Cocker Spaniel (also called the
American Spaniel) would be recognized as a
completely separate breed from its English
Brothers.
The Cocker Spaniel is a beautiful dog - a
combination of grace, pride, and athletic
ability, they are versatile dogs and it shows in
their very appearance. While their coats are
worn in a fashion that is long and flowing, the
Cocker Spaniel is a muscled and athletic dog,
highly capable of spending long hours in the
field while hunting. His eyes are forward set,
large and soft looking, coupled with the dog‘s
highly domed forehead to give him a look of
solemn and kind intelligence, and the American
Spaniel‘s tail is docked at an early age.
Interesting to note is that, while they
originated in England, the American Spaniel’s
development has created a different size, type,
and coloration from what is now known as the
English Cocker Spaniel.
The American Cocker Spaniel comes in a wide
variety of colors, appropriately broken down
into the following categories - the black
variety, any solid color other than black
(ASCOB), parti-color variety, tan pointed, and
roans. The most common varieties tend to be
solid blacks, solid goldens, and the
black-and-white parti-color. Needless to say,
there is probably a Cocker Spaniel out there,
that’s just the right shade for you.
The Cocker Spaniel is a very sweet and
patient dog, as well as a dog that enjoys a
healthy and active lifestyle. Content to lay
about when his owner wants to, he is also quick
to hop to his feet at the mention of a car ride
or for a chance to run outside. This makes him
well-suited for various different lifestyles,
added to the fact that he is also an independent
dog that doesn’t need constant attention from
his humans in order to stay entertained (be wary
of giving him too much alone time, however, as
some members of this breed can be prone to
separation anxiety).
In a nutshell, the American Spaniel is as
versatile in personality as he is in the field.
His kind nature is quick to endear him to most
and he is a favorite of both families and as a
therapy dog. While he is not overly well known
for his intelligence, his friendly nature and
desire to please overshadow his being a little
slow to pick up some things.
The Cocker Spaniel is bred for work in the
field and, for this reason, he does need his
exercise. Failing to provide him with adequate
room to romp and play can lead to obesity or, if
left alone for too long, the Cocker Spaniel may
turn to destructive behavior. Ideally, Cocker
Spaniel owners should have a large fenced in
yard, or be prepared to make frequent trips down
to the dog park so he can play a few rousing
games of fetch. While they can adapt to
apartment living, keeping a Cocker Spaniel will
mean frequent walks and, even more important,
the necessity of a leash - due to the fact that
they are hunting dogs, Cocker Spaniels can be
prone to wandering away or bolting after things.
Compared to some of the other breeds, the
Cocker Spaniel desires a fair amount of
maintenance, if you plan on keeping him looking
pretty. Long waves of silky hair cover his body
and should be trimmed in order to keep him neat,
in addition to requiring frequent brushing to
prevent mats. Many keep their Cocker Spaniels
clipped short, especially during hot weather,
but this will still mean regular trips to the
groomer.
In addition to his coat, the Cocker Spaniel’s
ears are so thick and heavy that they frequently
need to be cleaned and checked for signs of
infection. This is important to do on a weekly
basis, and perhaps even more often if your dog
is one that likes to swim or get into any
situation where he may get moisture in his ears.
Light-colored dogs can also be prone to
rust-colored stains from their eyes, though this
is easily maintained with special bathing
products.
The Cocker Spaniel is of a gentle and willing
disposition, always eager to please his owner.
While they aren‘t considered to be one of the
brightest dogs, they tend to be very determined
and can excel both in obedience and in the
field, as a hunter and retriever of birds. When
teaching your Cocker Spaniel puppy, remember to
be patient and consistent, as these are dogs who
learn from repetition and routine. Don’t get
frustrated, should you have to show him a few
times before he catches on.
American Cocker Spaniels can
be prone to a number of hereditary health
problems. That is why choosing a responsible
breeder from which to purchase your American
Cocker Spaniel puppy is very important.
Responsible American Cocker Spaniel breeders
will be well educated about the breed and
carefully screen their breeding dogs for
disorders that can affect these dogs.
Health concerns in the breed
include:
- Cataracts
- Retinal atrophy
- Susceptible to tonsillitis
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- Various skin disorders
- Prone to ear infections
You can find more detailed
information about these conditions and testing
that should be performed prior to breeding
American Spaniels on this page:
The Cocker Spaniel is a wonderful family pet,
but he is a pet that takes a fair amount of
attention, in order to keep him happy and
healthy. Requiring regular exercise and frequent
trips to the groomers may put the brakes on
would-be owners, as well as the knowledge that
Cocker Spaniels are notorious for "dribbling" or
having little accidents with their bladders when
they get too excited. If you can get past those
small hurdles and still want one of these sweet
and loving dogs, an American Spaniel may very
well be the right dog for you. Be sure to check
out several breeders and get to know some of
them in person before you make any final
decisions but, for the right family, the
American Cocker Spaniel is the perfect dog.
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There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the American Cocker Spaniel dog breed. We've compiled a
list of American Cocker Spaniel information sites to assist you in
quickly locating quality information about the American Cocker
Spaniel dog breed, while avoiding the "garbage" sites that are
nothing more than poor attempts to capitalize on the popularity of
dog breeds in general. If you know of an American Cocker Spaniel
information site that offers unique, quality information and photos
of the American Cocker Spaniel breed, please contact us with the URL
and a brief description so that our editors can consider it for
inclusion in our list below.
American Cocker Spaniels are a very photogenic dog breed. By
looking at American Cocker Spaniel pictures, you can usually gain
more insight into what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed,
and this can help you decide if you really want to become an
American Cocker Spaniel owner. The following sites below offer
pictures of American Cocker Spaniel dogs, American Cocker Spaniel
puppy photos, funny American Cocker Spaniel photos and more. Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the American Cocker Spaniel is the
right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible American Cocker Spaniel breeder from which to buy a
healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there
are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the
first American Cocker Spaniel puppy you find at the cheapest price
available! To buy a puppy from a responsible American Cocker Spaniel
breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional
money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste
from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll
likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and
heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy
with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special
care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even
euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring
American Cocker Spaniel breeder who home-raises their puppies with
love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a
health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the
American Cocker Spaniel breed and is in it for the love of the
breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of
getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family
companion that will provide you and your family with many years of
joy, laughter and companionship.
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised American Cocker
Spaniel puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many
sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for
puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear
of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
American Cocker Spaniel clubs and rescues web sites can help you
learn even more about the American Cocker Spaniel dog breed, help
you locate a responsible American Cocker Spaniel breeder, or help
you find an American Cocker Spaniel dog or puppy in need of a second
chance for a loving, forever home. We've compiled the following list
of American Cocker Spaniel clubs and American Cocker Spaniel rescues
web sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your American Cocker Spaniel puppy can be a
daunting task! There are so many names to choose from that it can
take a lot of thought and research to find just the right name for
your American Cocker Spaniel. Usually, it's best to get to know your
puppy for a few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will
help you decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a
sense of humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to
one side? A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new
American Cocker Spaniel puppy over the first days or weeks, you
should at least have a clue about what type of name you want to
give. There are a ton of dog names and pet names web sites on the
internet. Some are wonderful information resources, while others,
unfortunately, are just "garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose
of cashing in on visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new American Cocker Spaniel puppy. These sites offer
inventive, unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that
have helped thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the
right name for their new baby!
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