American Cocker Spaniel
The American Cocker Spaniel started to develop to become the dog we know today in the 19th century, bred to retrieve quail he is quite significantly different to his English cousin, the Cocker Spaniel, known ooutside the UK as the English Cocker Spaniel. The differences in head and skull are very apparent; the skull is rounded and the eyes are round, full and set looking forward, whereas most breeds have the eyes set to the sides of the head. The eyebrows and stop are very definite, unlike the more graduated head of the English Cocker. The back is short and slopes from withers to tail.
The American Cocker Spaniel has many of the qualities of the English Cocker; he is a happy, cheerful dog with an easy-going nature and certainly makes a very good family pet. He is similar in height to the Cocker at around 38cm and weighs perhaps a little less.
The most obvious feature of the American Cocker is the coat; the Breed Standard requires that it is short on the head, of medium length on the body and well feathered elsewhere, but not so excessive as to affect his function as a sporting dog. This cannot be said to be the case with Americans in the showring; they appear to float over the ground, with only a driving rear leg and striding front legs peeping out to give away the fact that there are legs beneath the immaculately presented floor-length coat. It is in a wide range of colours and there are very specific definitions of its pattern.
As a pet, the American Cocker's coat is a major consideration and has to be cared for professionally, though still requires plenty of attention between visits to the grooming parlour. However, any reputable breeder would be happy to offer guidance to a potential pet owner as to how best to care for the coat with minimum of fuss.
To read the American Cocker Spaniel Kennel Club Breed Standard click here.
Selected Books
The time to make sure that this is the right breed for you is before you bring him home; if you and American Cocker
are to be happy together there is plenty of research to be done. Even if you do not intend to work him, having an appreciation of Gundog Training will help you understand why he behaves as he does.
In addition to learning what kind of behaviour is specific to Gundogs, understanding your dog, and what his motivations are on a more general level can save a lot of confusion and misunderstandings for both you and him. Many mistakes can be avoided, and quick solutions reached if you have the basics of puppy training to guide you through all the early settling in difficulties. It helps, too, to have some idea of basic healthcare so you can make informed judgements about whether a visit to the vet is necessary or if there is a simple remedy. For example, many cases of upset tummies are best cured by 24 hour starvation. The books we have chosen will be able to guide you as to whether your dog can be treated at home, or a visit to the surgery is necessary.
American Cocker Spaniel Breed Clubs
American Cocker Spaniel Rescue and Re-homing
Contact the Breed Club. They should be able to give you information about American Cocker Spaniels requiring homes and procedures for re-homing; if you are in the unfortunate position of having to re-home your own American Cocker, please go through breed rescue. They will not be judgmental and are best able to find the right permanent home for your dog.
American Cocker Spaniel Breeders
If you are looking for a puppy, contact the Breed Clubs and the Breeders listed and visit the puppyfinder website where there is a great deal of information on hereditary conditions. If you are a Breeder and wish to advertise your puppies puppyfinder is an excellent showcase.
