American Cocker Spaniel
Find American Cocker Spaniels for sale on this page
For more information about the American Cocker Spaniel Click hereThe American Cocker Spaniel dog was initially a bird dog and a beloved companion for many families. This breed is beautiful and requires labor-intensive grooming. Its a friendly breed thats pleased and happy to sit in the couch as well as playing with kids in the yard.
History
The modern American Cocker Spaniel breed originally came from the Spaniel family, which was a huge dog group. As its word suggests, Spaniel means a Spanish dog and is believed to have originated from Spain. In the 1800s, this dog breed was categorized into two broad groups, namely the large hunting dogs and toys (mainly companions). The hunting breed was further classified into land and water spaniels. The American Cocker Spaniel as given the name for his great woodcock hunting skills.
In England, this dog breed belonged to a functional category for hundreds of years. In 1892, the Obo Kennel of Mr. James Farrow became the first of Englands distinct breed to be recognized. Just before, in the late 1870s, some American pet lovers had started importing the breed to the US. The first American Cocker Spaniel to be recognized by the American Kennel Club was called Captain, who was white. In 1885, a second dog that was black named Brush II was also recognized. Commings Cocker Spaniel Kennel imported this particular dog from England.
In 1881, James Watson and Clinton Wilmerding started the American Spaniel Club, which had a wide range of Spaniels. After some time, breeders began to separate from this club and joined other organizations as differences in the breed rose. From this time, the American Cocker Spaniel dogs gained a lot of popularity across the globe. Some breeders started showing more favors to the smaller Spaniel breed that had different conformation compared to the original English Cocker.
In 1936, certain English Cocker breeders started a specialty club called the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America, which made them gain recognition from AKC. After two years, the club strengthened its position by passing a motion that restricted interbreeding of English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel. In 1939, an American Cocker Spaniel called CH My Own Brucie emerged as the top American breed at the prestigious Westminster Dog show. This repeated itself the following year.
Size
The male American Cocker Spaniel stands at 15 tall whereas the female stands at 14. The average weight for male and female dogs is 24 - 28pounds, respectively.
Coat color
Most American Cocker Spaniel dogs have wavy, silky, or flat coats. They come in black, parti-colored, black and tan, and other solid colors. The breed has a life expectancy of 15 years.
Personality
This breed has a great temperament, is affectionate and likes participating in different family activities. Additionally, the Cocker Spaniel is always alert, playful, active, and enjoys having exercised, including hunting in the field. The American Cocker Spaniel is also sensitive both physically and mentally. It also have a soft personality and doesnt react well, especially if treated harshly. Additionally, it requires early socialization and training to ensure its well behaved.
Health
American Cocker Spaniel dogs are usually healthy, although they can be affected by some diseases and conditions as listed below:
- Eye problem
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA)
- Hypothyroidism
- Primary seborrhea
- Canine hip Dysplasia
- Allergies
- Patellar luxation
- Idiopathic epilepsy
Care
The American Cocker Spaniel is best suited for living in apartments or condos, although he likes spending some time in the yard. The breed needs various physical and mental activities daily for a good mood. However, the dog breed dislikes being left alone for long and can start digging or even barking to become busy and amused.
Although the Cockers have beautiful and round eyes such that it may seem very lazy, they have a lot of hunting skills at heart. The dog can also take part in canine sports, hunt tests, tracking, flyball and obedience competitions
Feeding
Dog specialists recommend giving your dog 1.5-2.5 cups of dry food daily. The dog species has a lot of appetite and will even overeat given a chance. However, the amount of food eaten most adult Cockers will depend on size, metabolism, age, build, and level of activity. Ensure you always get high quality food for your dog to nourish dog.
In conclusion, this dog is an excellent family dog that gets along with kids, dogs, cats, and other small animals.
All | Pointer | Retrievers | Flushers | Versatile | Hounds | Terriers
Have a hunting dog for sale? List it here for Free.
Gun Dog Chat
View Kennel
