Most people think of the cocker spaniel breed as just that , “the Cocker Spaniel Breed” but what they do not realize is that there are many types of Spaniels, there is: the Cocker Spaniel, the Springer Spaniel, the Field Spaniel, Clumber Spaniel and others…but for now lets learn about the American Cocker Spaniel.
The American Cocker Spaniel came from England, well actually, it was known as the English Cocker Spaniel then, and somewhere around 1880, the English Spaniel was brought to America from (of course) England. Over time the breed started tacking on characteristics of its own, because of this the dogs where officially named, “Cocker Spaniel” and in Europe, “the American Cocker Spaniel.”
After the Second World War, the cocker spaniel shot off on its path to become one of the most popular dogs in the United States and eventually Europe.
Due to the fact that the two breeds where so much alike, English Cockers and American Cockers where bred together and placed in the same competitions simultaneously, this started to cause problems, so the two breeds where separated and given their own breed standards and for registration they had to have an all English or all American line.
The life expectancy of the American Cocker Spaniel is 15 years, if he is kept well and properly taken care of. The correct height for the males is 15 inches and 14 inches for the females. Their weight should be around 14-29 lbs; the average litter size is 1-6 puppies.
With the Cocker Spaniel becoming so popular, may we never forget Tramp’s romantic Spaghetti Dinner with Lady, the puppy mills went into action completely flooding the market with ill bred, ill raised Cocker Spaniel puppies. That kind of irresponsible breeding has given to the rise of health problems in the breed, of which there are many, but also to temperamental and physical problems such as: cataracts, glaucoma, patellar luxation, also some concern is hip dysplasia, liver disease and otitis externa.
Some temperamental problems that also result from ill breeding are: resource guarding, submissive urination, aggression and fearfulness.
So please find a responsible breeder who knows what he is doing and who has a good reputation. Always ask to see the parents of the puppy you are considering to buy, if possible ask to see the place where the puppy was raised, what kind conditions are there, was he properly handled since birth? One thing to keep in mind is that most responsible breeders will already have taken their puppies to be vaccinated and looked over by a vet.
The puppies should look well fed and happy, they should not be fearful when you approach, never consider a puppy that shies away from you because there is the possibility that he will grow up to be either aggressive or fearful.
A good Cocker Spaniel has a delightful temperament, courageous, intelligent and energetic.
There are two types of Cocker Spaniels The Show type Spaniel and the Field type Spaniel, now these dogs are practically the same except for some very small differences, the field type Spaniel has a shorter coat and has better hunting instincts then the Show spaniel, that are just about the only two differences.
Did you now where the “Cocker” part of the name came from? It came from the fact that they were originally bred to hunt woodcock, hence the Cocker. Now as with any breed that started out hunting before being taken into the more modern century, the Cocker spaniel is energetic, it is definitely recommended that you have at the very least a small yard for you furry little friend or if you live in an apartment make sure he gets regular walks; not only to keep that energy level down but also to keep him or her from getting to chubby. A good idea is to keep an eye on how much your little friend eats because they do have the tendency to put on a little more then they should.
Cocker Spaniels are wonderful little dogs that have earned their fame, if by nothing else then the simple fact that they are great companions….they did not become the top dog in the AKC for nothing. They are worth it