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About American Cocker Spaniel
Dogs
The American cocker spaniel, also
known simply as the cocker spaniel in the U.S.A.,
is a breed of sporting dog. It is closely related
to the English cocker spaniel, from which it became
a separate breed in the 1900s because the U.S.
and the UK have different breed standards for
the two cocker spaniel breeds.
Spaniels were first introduced to
the U.S. following the voyage of the famous Mayflower
in 1620. The AKC recognized the cocker spaniel
late in the 19th century, when the national breed
club was also established in America for the cocker
spaniel. Several decades later, it came to be
noticed that American cocker spaniels and English
cocker spaniels had developed to appear noticeably
different, and the American cocker spaniel was
recognized as a separate breed in 1946 by the
AKC and in 1970 by The Kennel Club of the UK.
A small breed, the American cocker
spaniel typically measures 13.5 to 15.5 inches
in height at the shoulders and usually weighing
between 24 and 30 pounds, and is therefore smaller
than its English cousin. As with many breeds of
dog, female American cocker spaniels are slightly
smaller than their male counterparts. The American
cocker spaniel is the smallest breed considered
a sporting dog by the AKC.
The American cocker spaniel has
a medium-length coat that is silky and either
straight or slightly wavy in texture. The coat
is thin and short on the dog's face, and has feathering
on the legs, chest, and ears. In color, it may
be any solid color ranging from cream to deep
red, black, black and tan, merle, or parti-colored,
meaning white featuring patches of a different
color.
A pleasant dog, the American cocker
spaniel is sweet, cheerful, and even-tempered.
The American cocker spaniel is affectionate and
loves the company of people, but must be well-socialized
to avoid its becoming shy. It is mostly easy to
train and generally has excellent restraint, especially
when withholding a reaction to a stimulus, but
can be easy to housebreak.
The American cocker spaniel has
great endurance and a fair amount of energy, and
therefore requires regular exercise. It should
be taken for at least one long walk every day.
A small yard is typically enough to satisfy the
exercise and play needs of the American cocker
spaniel, especially since it is relatively active
inside, and it can fare well in an apartment if
its owner is careful to meet its exercise requirement.
The American cocker spaniel's coat
requires a high amount of maintenance. The coat
should be gently brushed as often as daily, and
should be washed regularly with shampoo. It also
requires regular trimming, with the exact frequency
of trimming depending on how long the individual
dog's owner chooses to keep the coat. As the American
cocker spaniel's eyes tend to tear, the area under
its eyes should also be wiped regularly.
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