This
is a beautiful spaniel with very long hanging
ears, a rounded head, and a profuse, silky,
feathered, medium-length coat. The head
is chiseled with an abrupt stop. The muzzle
is wide, deep and broad with a square jaw.
The upper lip hangs down, covering the lower
jaw completely. The teeth are strong and
should meet in a scissors bite. The nose
is always black on black dogs, but may be
brown on other dogs. The eyes are round,
set on so they look straightforward. The
eye rims are slightly oval. The body is
compact, with a short back. The topline
should slope gently downwards from front
to back. The front legs are straight, with
good bone. Dewclaws on front and rear legs
should be removed. The coat comes in buff,
black, and other solid colors, black-and-tan
(like a Rottweiler or Doberman Pinscher),
parti-color (white with black, white with
buff or red, white with black and tan points)
Some requirements for correct markings are
specified in the standard. The tail is docked
to 2/5 it's original length and is carried
on a line with its back; it is constantly
in motion. Field lines generally have
shorter coats which are better suited to
work in brush. They also have better hunting
instincts. Both types make good pets.
Temperament
Bold
and keen to work, the American Cocker Spaniel
is equally suited to life as a gundog or
as a household pet. Cheerful, sweet, and
sensitive. The Cocker Spaniel is respectful
of its master's authority without much challenge.
Merry and endearing. A happy tail-wagger.
Gentle and trusting, with average intelligence.
They are lively, playful and devoted, but
should be socialized well when they are
young to avoid a tendency for shyness. Usually
good with children. Cockers love everyone
and need people to be happy. They can be
difficult to housebreak and some like to
bark. However they are mostly easy to train
and get along well with other animals. Note:
This is a very popular breed; the above
is the typical temperament of the American
Cocker Spaniel, like any breed there are
always exceptions. Due to this breeds popularity
one must be careful to choose a Cocker from
a reputable breeder; as some have reported
in to the Dog Breed Info Center® reports
of Cockers that have not had great temperaments
and were not good with children. Cockers
with this type of temperament are not typical
of the breed. Before adopting an American
Cocker, be sure to give it a puppy temperament
test and if possible ask to meet the parents.
Beware of poorly bred puppy-mill Cockers
as they may have bizarre temperamental changes
and behavioral problems. This would include
shy-sharpness, which is a combination of
fear and dominance that can cause viciousness.
Also Submissive urinating; aggressive guarding
of objects, people and places, hyper-sexuality
and roaming.
Height,
Weight
Height:
Dogs 15 ½ inches (38cm.) Bitches 14 ½ inches
(36.8cm.)
Weight: 15-30 pounds (7-14 kg.)
Health
Problems
Some
major concern in American Cocker Spaniels
are cataracts, glaucoma and patellar luxation.
Some minor concerns are hip dysplasia, ectropion,
entropion, PRA, allergies, seborrhea, lip
fold pyoderma, otitis externa, liver disease,
urolithiasis, prolapse of nictitans gland,
CHF, phosphofructokinase deficiency, and
cardiomyopathy. Occasionally seen are gastric
torsion and elbow dysplasia. Also IMHA
(Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia) One owner
stated, "Our cocker never had a sick day
in her life until she suddenly became lethargic
and urinated blood. Six days later, and
$3000 in vet bills, she died. I know you
can't list every illness due to space limitations,
but the internal medicine specialist that
treated our dog said that IMHA is relatively
common in cockers, and almost always fatal.
It's a fast-acting, silent killer.
Living
Conditions
Cockers
will do okay in an apartment if they are
adequately exercised, and are fairly active
indoors. A small yard is sufficient.
Exercise
American
Cockers have plenty of stamina and need
regular exercise. They should be taken on
daily, long walks. When walking, avoid brushy
thickets that can tangle the coat.
Life
Expectancy
About
12-15 years.
Litter
Size
1
- 7 puppies - Average of 5
Grooming
The
eyes need regular cleaning. Some owners
prefer to leave the coat long, brushing
daily and shampooing frequently with quarterly
scissoring and clipping. Others prefer to
clip the coat to medium length to be more
functional. Either way, the dog will need
regular trimming. When brushing, be careful
not to pull out the silky hair. This
breed is an average shedder.
Origin
The
popular Cocker Spaniel, sometimes called
the American Cocker Spaniel, was originally
developed from careful breeding of the English
Cocker Spaniels brought to the United States.
The American Cocker Spaniel is smaller than
the English Cocker Spaniel and has a different
conformation. The name "Cocker" comes from
the woodcock, a game bird these spaniels
flushed particularly well. Today, the Cocker
Spaniel serves primarily as a companion
and glamorous show dog. It can also be used
for hunting, tracking, retrieving, watchdogging
and agility.
