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American Cocker Spaniel
The American Cocker Spaniel evolved in the United States from spaniels imported from Great Britain. The name cocker comes from the fact that the breed originally hunted woodcock. By the 1930s it had become so different from its English ancestors that it was given separate breed status. Responsible breeders of American Cocker Spaniel will screen their dogs for inherited eye diseases (retinal dysplasia, cataracts), hormonal disfunctions (hypothyroidism), and skin diseases (seborrhea, atopic dermatitis).
One of the oldest of the land Spaniels, the Cocker goes back as far as the 14th century. The dog got his name "Cocker" from the purpose for which he was originally used: the flushing out of woodcock from coverts and woodland.  Although kept nowadays mostly as pet, when carefully trained, he is still a good hunting and retrieving dog. Cockers have a keen smell of sense - the ability to sniff out the faintest of scents is one of the breed's best-known qualitites.
There are two varieties of Cocker Spaniels - the English and the American. The American Cocker Spaniel evolved in the US where breeders developed it from the English Cocker Spaniel to become the glamorous American type we see today. Slightly smaller than his British cousin, the American Cocker Spaniel has a more domed head and a shorter muzzle, a sloping topline and higher tail carriage. But the most noticeable difference is the abundance of coat which he carries, making him more demanding in terms of grooming.
As pet and companion, the American Cocker Spaniel's popularity has been exceptional. His small size and happy character make him an ideal house dog. Cockers are very perceptive and will notice the slightest changes around the house. They are excellent swimmers and love the water. A well-breed American Cocker spaniel is an intelligent, faithful, easily trained, and extremely loving and responsible children's companion. In the United States the breed is registered under the name "Cocker Spaniel", as is the English Cocker Spaniel in the UK which may cause confusion between these two breeds.
American Cocker Spaniel Breed Outline
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Country of Origin: | U.S.A. |
| FCI Classification: |
Group 8 -Retrievers, Flushing Dogs, Water Dogs; Flushing Dogs (without working trial) |
| Utilization: | Flushing Dog, Companion. |
| AKC Classification: | Sporting Group |
| Personality: | Intelligent, playful, highly adaptable, gentle, and fun-loving. |
| Size Category: | Small |
| Height: | 14-15 inches at shoulders |
| Colors: |
1. Black-Color variety: the solid color is black, to include black with tan points. Any solid color other than black (ASCOB), ranging from the lightest cream to darkest red, including brown and brown with tan points.
2. Parti-Color variety: two or more solid colors, one of which must be white; black and white, red and white (the red may range from lightest cream to darkest red), brown and white, and roans, to include any such color combination. |
| Other Names: | Cocker |
| Average Litter Size: | 5 |
| Life Span: | 9-15 years |
| Grooming Requirements: |
Cockers need daily brushing to avoid matting on their legs and regular trimming (at least every two months). Ears must be cleaned regularly. |
| Shedding: | Moderate |
| Social skills: |
Cocker Spaniels get along with other animals and dogs. |
| Suitability for Children: | Cockers are not recommended to families with young children. Many Cocker Spaniels have behavioral problems resulting in defensive biting. |
| Exercise Needs: | Cockers do not always fit well into family life in an apartment, as they are somewhat temperamental. They need 60-80 minutes daily walk to maintain his good spirits. They love fetch games. |
| Train Ability: | Highly trainable and responsive. |
| Health & Behavior Issues: | Cocker Spaniels have several serious health problems. Responsible breeders of American Cocker Spaniel will screen their dogs for inherited eye diseases (retinal dysplasia, cataracts), hormonal disfunctions (hypothyroidism), and skin diseases (seborrhea, atopic dermatitis). |
COMMENTS
Cocker Spaniel
"...My Cocker Spaniel was a wonderful dog. she was really good with kids. she was a really quiet dog and she always stayed with the kids and would protect the children. she was very active but we lived on the farm and she was my best friend and would run along beside me and stay with me all day. she was a wonderful dog was always really good..."
Posted by Chicken_motorcross_J on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Very stupid, and can be very nice
"...Very stupid, and can be very nice. For a while I had two
cocker spaniels. The first was grumpy and was a "princess". The second which we
still have, has a IQ lower then a doorknob but is very nice. My spaniel is also
obsessed about food and is getting very chubby..."
Posted by shasta on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Grooming your Cocker Spaniel
A Cocker Spaniel requires time and energy (and money) for grooming. An unkempt, unclipped cocker spaniel is a mass of knots and may even develop skin sores if the mats get too large or the skin becomes moist under the mats.
Show grooming is extremely labor intensive. Breeders said it took them 3 to 4 hours to do a dog. All show grooming is done by hand, with no scissors or electric clippers. If you are going to enter your Cocker in a show, call the breeder or hire a handler for the first tie. Do not take the dog to a commercial grooming salon for a show clip. Be aware that the American Cocker si a "Coated breed." In show terms, this means that the look and conition of the coat have a lot to dog with whether the dog wins or loses. Show coats take a lot of time to grow, and a lot of care to maintain. Therefore, the American Cocker is not a good breed if you want to show a dog once a month or a few times a year and keep him as pet during the rest of the time. Short coated breeds are much better suited for this type of dual purpose.
Pets will require a trip to the groomer every 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the clip and the ahir of the dog. If your dog runs outside a good deal through grass or bushes, keep the clip short and easy to care for if grass, leaves and twigs become entangled in it. If your dog stays inside most of the time, and you like the look of a longer cut and don't mind the brushing, less frequent visits to the groomer will make a longer clip more appropriate.
Regular basing is necessary. One thing that makes a Cocker a pet instead a show dog is a "cottony" coat. Although they are still lovely to look at, they are harder to maintain and have more of a tendency to mat than a good show coat.
Posted by cockers4life on Monday, April 28, 2008
Always playing, especially if the child has that ball in his hand
"...Always playing, especially if the child has that ball in his hand, along with some ice cubes. She knows when we are sick, sad, hurt and even worried. She would come becomes us and rub her nose on or cheek and put her head on our
chest. Very smart, huh?! ..."
Posted by lilian_b on Thursday, November 03, 2005
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