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 American Cocker Spaniels are the smallest member of the sporting breed group. This breed was developed through selective breeding of the English Cocker Spaniel that originated in the United Kingdom. The English Cocker Spaniel is slightly larger then the American Cocker Spaniel. The English Cocker Spaniel was originally used in England to hunt woodcock, which is where they got the name “Cocker” from. The name was naturally passed on to the American Cocker Spaniel since they are direct descendents. The American Cocker Spaniels were originally and are still used in America to hunt water fowl and game birds.
It’s sensitive, gentle, and friendly qualities make the American Cocker Spaniel a great breed for use in therapy work. These qualities also make them great family pets as they are usually great with children. This breed is extremely friendly and sociable. They love people and need to be around them constantly to be happy. Unfortunately, due to popularity of this breed, accelerated and excessive breeding of American Cocker Spaniels did occur which has lead to some behavioral problems within the breed. Because of this, a reputable breeder is important when choosing an American Cocker Spaniel.
Since the breed is sensitive and gentle in nature, a softer approach should be taken during training. They do not respond well to harsh training. American Cocker Spaniels are relatively easy to obedient train, however, housetraining can sometimes be a challenge. Their eyes and ears need regular cleaning to avoid infection. If the coat is left long, routine brushing and bathing is required. Less grooming is needed for American Cocker Spaniels with medium trimmed coats, however even trimmed this breed requires a fair amount of regular grooming.
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American Cocker Spaniel Breed Information |
Breed Group |
Sporting Group |
Coat |
Black, Black with tan points, |
Color(s) |
Many varieties; black, black with tan points, parti-color, tan points, and any other solid color |
Size |
14-15 inches |
Weight |
15-30 lbs |
Exercise: |
Require regular exercise |
Temperament |
Trusting, Sensitive, Gentle, Playful, Eager to please |
Trainability |
Easy to train with a soft approach |
Average Lifespan |
12-15 years |
Common Health Problems |
Cataract, Cleft lip/palate, Cranioschisi, Distichiasis, Hip dysplasia,
Glaucoma, Luxating patellar, Hemolytic anemia, Progressive retinal atrophy, Ear and eye infection |
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