American Cocker Spaniel 2010 Wall Calendars
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Breed Brief - History - Appearance - Temperament - Exercise - Grooming
Training - Health - Is Breed Right For Me? - Breeders/Puppies For Sale
 Dog Names - Pictures - Further Info - Clubs/Rescues

American Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed

American Cocker Spaniel Size Variations: Standard only
American Cocker Spaniel Colors: Buff
Black
Black and White
Chocolate
American Cocker Spaniel Height: 13.5 to 15.5 inches at the shoulder
American Cocker Spaniel Weight: 24 to 28 pounds
American Cocker Spaniel Exercise Needs: Moderate
American Cocker Spaniel Grooming Needs: Demanding
American Cocker Spaniel Life Expectancy (Lifespan): 12 to 14 years
Are American Cocker Spaniels Child-Friendly? Yes
American Cocker Spaniel Training:  Medium Difficult
Breed Group:  Sporting

Breed Brief - History - Appearance - Temperament - Exercise - Grooming
Training - Health - Is Breed Right For Me? - Breeders/Puppies For Sale
 Dog Names - Pictures - Further Info - Clubs/Rescues

American Cocker Spaniel History

The American Cocker Spaniel dog breed originated in United States of America. 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.

American Cocker Spaniel Appearance

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.

American Cocker Spaniel Temperament

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 Spaniel Exercise Needs

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.

Breed Brief - History - Appearance - Temperament - Exercise - Grooming
Training - Health - Is Breed Right For Me? - Breeders/Puppies For Sale
 Dog Names - Pictures - Further Info - Clubs/Rescues

American Cocker Spaniel Grooming Requirements

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.

American Cocker Spaniel Training

Cocker Spaniels are very intelligent and are relatively easy to train, provided that early and consistent training is provided.

Housetraining your American Cocker Spaniel can be a bit more of a challenge - they are notorious for having "accidents" around the house. It is very important to put time and effort into housetraining your puppy with lots of praise and rewards when progress is made. Your breeder or local dog trainer can be an excellent resource for more information on housetraining Cocker Spaniels.

Breed Brief - History - Appearance - Temperament - Exercise - Grooming
Training - Health - Is Breed Right For Me? - Breeders/Puppies For Sale
 Dog Names - Pictures - Further Info - Clubs/Rescues

American Cocker Spaniel Health Information

Like any breed of dog, the purebred Cocker Spaniel is subject to a variety of health concerns. For this reason, when deciding to choose a new American Spaniel puppy, check around with several breeders and ask about the various health issues that can affect these beautiful dogs. A reputable breeder should be well-versed in the health concerns and should be able to give you more details, as well as showing you the sire and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the health problems that can affect Cocker Spaniels include:

Cataracts
Retinal atrophy
Susceptible to tonsillitis
Hip dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia
Epilepsy
Various skin disorders
Prone to ear infections

Is the American Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed Right For You?

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.

Finding A Responsible American Cocker Spaniel Breeder

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.

Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...

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 Puppies For Sale
• American Cocker Spaniel Breeders Showcase
• American Cocker Spaniel Puppy Finder on Pet Net
  
  

Breed Brief - History - Appearance - Temperament - Exercise - Grooming
Training - Health - Is Breed Right For Me? - Breeders/Puppies For Sale
 Dog Names - Pictures - Further Info - Clubs/Rescues

American Cocker Spaniel Names

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!

American Cocker Spaniel Dog Names

• Dog Names
• Choosing A Name For Your Dog Or Puppy
• Unique Pet Names
  
  

Breed Brief - History - Appearance - Temperament - Exercise - Grooming
Training - Health - Is Breed Right For Me? - Breeders/Puppies For Sale
 Dog Names - Pictures - Further Info - Clubs/Rescues

American Cocker Spaniel Pictures

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!

• American Cocker Spaniel Dog Pictures
  
  

Breed Brief - History - Appearance - Temperament - Exercise - Grooming
Training - Health - Is Breed Right For Me? - Breeders/Puppies For Sale
 Dog Names - Pictures - Further Info - Clubs/Rescues

Additional American Cocker Spaniel Information Resources

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.

• Wikipedia - American Cocker Spaniels

Breed Brief - History - Appearance - Temperament - Exercise - Grooming
Training - Health - Is Breed Right For Me? - Breeders/Puppies For Sale
 Dog Names - Pictures - Further Info - Clubs/Rescues

American Cocker Spaniel Clubs and Rescues

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:

American Cocker Spaniel Clubs - American Cocker Spaniel Rescues