Dog picture taken by sachman75.

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All breeds have their heroes - those dogs that stand out as exemplary examples of the breed and the Cocker Spaniel is no different. For the Cocker Spaniel she was perfectly groomed, immaculately well behaved, had a fondness for pasta with a mongrel and captured the hearts of adults and children alike. Everyone wanted a dog like Lady from Lady & The Tramp.

The flesh and blood Cocker Spaniel doesn't always live up to that angelic image but it is never boring with one around! These are popular pets but were bred to be a working dog. The American version of the English Cocker Spaniel is distinctly American. These were hunting dogs - 15 inches of fire with a medium length double coat. This coat has been bred longer and requires regular grooming to keep it in good condition and free of tangles or mats.

The American Cocker Spaniel is shown in several varieties: black, parti-color and "ASCOB" (Any Solid Color Other than Black). The American Cocker can be solid black, black & tan, tri color, brown, brown and tan, buff, red, silver, blue roan, cream, golden, red roan and sable with or without white to make them "parti-color".

Developed for hunting meant they needed athletic stature and energy as well as outstanding temperament. They've been at or near the top of the AKC standings for many years. This is the smallest member of the sporting dog class and they took their name from being especially talented at hunting woodcock.

Basic obedience training and consistent handling is the only way to get a dog even close to "Lady". Cockers need to be challenged. They should be expected to obey basic commands and walk without dragging the owner when on leash. Beyond that teaching them tricks or giving them a job makes for a happy Cocker Spaniel and a happier still owner.

Early in their development the forerunner to the Cocker, called "Spanyells" date to the mid 1300s. They were smallish, fast, "birdy" dogs that would work their hearts out. The expression of the Cocker hasn't changed greatly. In 1946 the AKC divided the Cocker to American and English Cockers - different breeds with the American slightly smaller with a more rounded head. The Cockers of that time were still keen on hunting.

With the popularity of the breed as pets they are seldom thought of as hunting dogs, but they still are intelligent to learn and some have proven themselves as tracking dogs. By the standard they are sturdy with a compact body and a balanced dog with a slightly sloping topline from front to back.

The modern Cocker gets attention with their beautiful coat which should be silky with feathering but allow a clear look at the movement. Excess trimming is not desired. As a hunting dog their function and appearance should be matched with an outstanding temperament that shows no timid characteristics.

Their normal size of 20-30 pounds, with males on the top end, allows for them to be in any homes even without large amounts of land. Because of their hunting heritage they love people and typically are not good guard dogs. They will bring your attention to everyone who passes by, but guarding is not a selection trait.

That beautiful coat takes maintenance - be prepared to groom your Cocker Spaniel regularly and comb often to keep matted areas from forming. This is much easier to prevent than try to deal with a matted dog!

Like Lady the Cocker will eat anything which may not be a good thing! Training and keeping your Cocker healthy means that short tail will be wagging in your home for a long time.

There are health issues that can affect the Cocker Spaniel including epilepsy, canine eye disease and for some a tendency to have adverse reactions to vaccinations. While there are fewer issues than in many breeds it is still worth testing for health and genetic issues before breeding and an incentive to breed only the best dogs. They can also be prone to ear infections, heart conditions and thyroid disorders.

For those who think only big dogs can be heroes the Cocker Spaniel doesn't believe that. There's "Muffy", the buff Cocker playing with a two year old girl when she began barking and standing in front of the child, taking multiple strikes from a snake in the face and chest, ultimately giving her life for the child.

Cocker Spaniels compete successfully in agility, obedience, field trials, flyball, rally and as therapy dogs. They have been trained and received tracking titles. They've been military dogs and detected underground pipeline leaks, pinpointing what humans could not see. Taking this to a new level Cocker Spaniels are finding a new talent as cancer detection dogs. Giving man's best friend a whole new meaning, they can pinpoint cancerous samples

In tests and training for this humans kept saying the dogs were wrong on one patient. The patients had been screened so the samples would be known to the humans. The dogs identified one that cleared screening but indeed on the 'word' of the dogs did more tests and found what might have been a fatal tumor in a kidney.

Cocker Spaniels are also among those trained for K9 use. No they aren't likely to chase down an escaped prisoner nor does anyone need to suit up for bite work. The Cocker Spaniel's job is using that outstanding nose that won him favor in the hunting field and detecting drugs or other items according to their training. Smaller dogs often work well when they must climb and get on things as their size does less damage than a large dog.

Cockers may need very strict routines and some can be a challenge to house train. Some will tend to bark or alert on everything that passes. Consistent training helps insure your pet understands what you want and, as a sensitive dog that wants to please, heavy doses of praise helps them to repeat the good behavior also!

Work with a breeder to get a dog suited for what you want, and commit to that dog completely. They require a daily brushing, training, a little food and a safe place to sleep. The Cocker Spaniel can return so much more than they take and are great small dogs for active families that can devote time to being with them. Any dog will need these basics, but the Cocker Spaniel has "that look". That expression, those big brown eyes that melt the bad things away for just a little while as they take their ultimate role of companion and confidant.

different grooming cuts on cocker spaniel

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Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniels (the American version) were derived from English Cocker Spaniels after they found their way to the United States in the late 1800s. Americans preferred to breed a smaller sized Spaniel that would be ideal to hunt quail in various other small birds. Although the exact practice and decision to which the American version was created is not entirely known, we do know that the first true American Cocker Spaniel was recorded to be born sometime in the 1880s and his name was the dog Obo 2nd.

At that time, both the American Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel were considered to be the same breed by the American kennel club.  However, in 1935 the AKC decided to finally separate the two as different breeds. The Cocker Spaniel then rose to popularity and was considered the most popular dog breed for a large number of years.  It was then divided into three color types: black, particolor, and ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black).

This dog breed is extremely cheerful, playful, and always willing to please.  They are great family dogs which are wonderful with little children.  If there was a scorecard to rate the Cocker Spaniel on its affection level and friendliness towards animals and people, it would rate at the highest score. This dog is also easy to train and is considered to be a moderate watchdog.

Upkeep And Maintenance

Keeping up with the Cocker Spaniel in terms of grooming takes a little work on a daily basis.  They have extremely long hair with heavy fur growing from head to toe.  Even their ears and its long hair will need a brushing on a daily basis. Professional clipping should be taken into consideration at least once per month in order to maintain a decent coat.

Cocker Spaniels can receive plenty of exercise with a least one daily walk on the leash. It loves to socialize and be a part of its family, as well as get a taste with the outside world and the people and other animals that it offers. Although Cocker Spaniels are meant to live indoors with its family, keeping this animal socialized with the outside should be considered a necessity. They are extremely friendly and eager to meet other pets and people.

Health Information

Cocker Spaniels have a lifespan of up to 15 years which is a long time considering this dog is a member of the sporting group.  Major health concerns include cataracts, PRA, patellar luxation, and glaucoma. Minor health concerns include allergies, cherry eye, hypothyroidism, cardiomyopathy, urinary stones, CHF, liver disease, seborrhea, entropion, and fructokinase deficiency.

History

Cocker Spaniels were hunters of the woodcock and thus, part of their name came from the work they did for man. It is thought that spaniel is taken from “Hispania” meaning Spain. They were brought to England from Spain and where they became gun dogs that flushed out fowl and other small game.

The historical record shows that the initial Cocker Spaniel to come to the U.S. sailed with the Mayflower. This is recorded in Mount's Relation, written in 1622 by Edward Winslow.

General Looks

The body is robust, and condensed. His skull is round, his neck is arched, and his back sloped. His paws are big and round.

Is This Your Breed?

Cocker Spaniels need exercise each day. They are sporting dogs. They require frequent brushing and a fur cut a few times a year to prevent matting.

Coat

The head's coat should be short and thin meaning fine. The body fur should be of medium length. The undercoat should be ample enough for protection.

Color

There are three color categories: completely black, solid besides black, and multicolored.

Locomotion

There is a balance between his front and hind quarters, with the later propelling his movement.

Personality

Cocker Spaniels are intelligent, enthusiastic, and lively. They are affectionate and are close to their owners or family.

Cocker Spaniel video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmHAUs5Dslk

is there a toy version of the the american cocker spaniel

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Photos, video, and music all created by Casey, G, 2008. All rights reserved for this video. Casey, age 11.

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Here's a few dog tricks we taught our our Am Cocker Spaniel: sit shake down crawl dance close door scratch door leg balance dance stay rollover play dead (bang!) leave it jump (loops) shake hands high five turn left turn right criss-cross legs bow leave it cry on cue stand up She loves to eat vegetables and steamed cauliflower is one of them. Check out our dog blog at www.stormwindkennel.blogspot.com

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