Breed History

What many may not understand is that the “Cocker Spaniel” is split into two different types of Cocker Spaniels; the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel. Both types of these breeds have differences and are both good at companionship as well as hunting and retrieving.

Breed Appearance

The American Cocker Spaniel is medium in size with males and females measuring 14-15 inches in height and weighing 17-30 pounds. Please note that males and females may be smaller or larger than show standard and still be purebred. This breed is built longer and lower to the ground than other breeds, with a distinct round skull, coming to an abrupt stop and forming into a broad, rectangular muzzle. This breed has a large black or liver colored nose at the end of their muzzle and two dark, almond shaped eyes. Their coat is slightly wavy and is available in black and white, white and red, white and liver, and all solid colors as well. The English Cocker Spaniel is a medium breed in size with males and females measuring 14-17 inches in height and weighing 25-40. This breed has a round and flattened shaped forehead with a short, rectangular muzzle. Their muzzle comes to an abrupt stop at their large nose, which is available in brown to black. This breed as two perfectly round eyes available in a golden yellow or dark brown to black in color. Their two long, pendant shaped years hang below their face. This breed has a solid and compact body build. Their tail is generally cropped, however if not, their tail is medium in length, flowing with long hair. This breed has a single layer coat that is medium in length and typically curly to wavy in texture. Their coat is available in brown, liver, black, red, or parti color of these combinations.

Breed Temperament

The American Cocker Spaniel is an active breed that would be best suited in a home environment with a fenced in yard, given the ability to run and play as they please, safely. This breed does well with children and other pets that it is raised along side of and will be sure to be a great watchdog within your home boundaries. This breed is very popular among hunters due to their drive to learn, obey and be alongside their owner. Generally speaking this is a wonderful family dog if raised properly and with positive reinforcement training methods only. The English Cocker Spaniel is a very outgoing, loving, loyal companion. Known to do extremely well with children of all ages he or she grows up around as well as non canine pets within the home. This breed can bark a lot, so it is important to consider this trait when thinking of adding an English Cocker Spaniel to your home. This breed is an extremely good listener and is eager to please their owner. Proper physical and mental exercise need to be met daily to ensure the best behaved dog within your home at night. This breed needs to feel like he or she is apart of the family and can help with things to be the happiest that they are able to be. The English Cocker Spaniel is sensitive to tone of voice and any potential owners need to keep this in mind. As always, only positive reinforcement training methods are recommended.

Breed Grooming

Brush daily and bathe when needed. Professional grooming recommended two to three times a year. This breed does shed.

Special Notes

Please fully educate yourself about both Cocker Spaniel types to ensure this is the correct breed for you. Do not add a new dog to your family unless you are able to provide life long physical and financial care to your new addition. Both of these Spaniels require a properly fenced in yard for when they are outdoors to ensure their safety. All dogs originate from wolves (Canis Lupus). Each breed of dog was originally created by mixing different breeds together in an effort to bring forth certain characteristics. Once a breeder has created acceptable “breed characteristics” within their bloodline and these “breed characteristics” have shown to be reliably reproduced in the offspring for three (3) generations, the bloodline may be upgraded from the category of “foundation stock” to “pure-bred”. The same “pure-bred” breed standards vary from different continents, countries, territories, regions, breed clubs, and canine pure-breed registries depending on the goals of their breeders.

Dog DNA testing companies can have accurate results for a specific bloodline of a small colony of dogs. However, there are tens of thousands of different bloodlines in the world which have not yet been tested for marker baseline results by Dog DNA testing companies as of 2024. For this reason Dog DNA testing companies do not guarantee the 100% accuracy of their breed lineage results and will also show different marker results for the same pure-bred breed in different continents, countries, territories, regions, breed clubs, and canine pure-breed registries depending on the goals of their breeders.