The AKC’s book refers to the American Cocker Spaniel as just Cocker Spaniel. Basically, there are two separate breeds – the English and the American Cocker Spaniel. The English Cocker Spaniel is the older dog breed used to develop the American breed. So, to avoid any confusion, I will always call them the American Cocker Spaniel or the English Cocker Spaniel. That being said, the American CS is a part of the sporting AKC group, and it’s the smallest of them all. But that doesn’t mean they are less active or sturdy! On the contrary, as a true sporting dog, the American Cocker Spaniel is a lively and active dog with ‌great stamina to run all day long.

Size

The breed-standard size:

• Male height: 14.5 to 15.5 inches (36 to 40 cm)
• Male weight: 25 to 30 pounds (11 to 14 kg)
• Female height: 13.5 to 14.5 inches (34 to 36 cm)
• Female weight: 20 to 25 pounds (9 to 11 kg)

The male American Cocker Spaniel is usually larger than the females. They are more robust and heavier-looking. However, the difference is not very great. Both dogs are muscular but with an elegance that comes with their lush coats.

Their head shape is the main difference between American and English Cocker Spaniels. The American Cocker Spaniel has a rounded skull shape, and the eyebrows are well defined with a clear stop. The English Cocker Spaniel has a less defined stop, and the skull is less round.

Color

The American Cocker Spaniel comes in a variety of coat colors. 

• Solid black with possible tan points.
• Any other solid coat color (other than black) with some possible white markings on the chest and / or throat.
• Parti-color (two or more solid colors clearly distinguished) E.g. black and white

Tan points often appear, varying from light to dark shades. They appear on the sides of the cheek and muzzle, underside of the ears, on the chest, a spot above each eye, under the tail, and on the legs.

Social Traits

The American Cocker Spaniel should be, just like the English Cocker Spaniel, a friendly and outgoing dog with no aggressiveness toward other dogs or children. They are also not aggressive toward strangers.

However, as with any other dogs, socialization from an early age is the key to making sure a dog grows up into a confident, calm, and friendly dog. That’s what you must do with a Cocker Spaniel, as well. Early socialization and habituation.

Even though they are friendly dogs and they get along well with cats they grow up with, they have a strong prey drive, which can be a problem if your neighbor has a cat or when you go out on an off-leash walk. 

Trainability

In most cases, ‌American Cocker Spaniels are easy to train. They can be stubborn from time to time, especially if they find something that is worthy of exploring and feeding their prey drive. Even so, they are easy to train.

Keep the sessions fun and never use harsh training methods, no matter the dog breed. Of course, this doesn’t mean you ignore bad habits. You have to redirect unwanted instinctual behavior, such as biting, chewing, or digging.

Another important fact is to start early as soon as you bring a dog to your home. It doesn’t matter if they are still sweet and cute puppies. This is the best time to start ‌basic obedience training. 

Activity Needs

These dogs are generally regarded as medium-energy. So, they require more than just a stroll to relieve themselves. Allow them time to run, sniff, play, and investigate the park, yard, street, or any other place.

Giving them something to do and explore, or providing a good indoor game after a walk is crucial for their mental and physical health. Every dog needs a certain amount of mental and physical stimulation to keep it healthy and happy.

The main thing is to understand that both American and English Cocker Spaniels are sporting dogs, so they need more physical and mental stimulation than just a walk to the park.

Feeding

Generally speaking, an adult American Cocker Spaniel needs from 1.5 to 2 cups of kibble every day. It is always best to divide the amount into two meals. One meal in the morning and the other one in the evening.

The key is to keep our dogs healthy. That means it’s equally important to give them the right amount of food and balanced food. The best choice is food that has a higher percentage of protein and a lower percentage of carbohydrates. 

If you have any doubts regarding your dog’s diet, the best option is to consult a vet. They can examine your dog and decide ‌what’s best for your dog in particular.

Grooming

Depending on whether you want to keep the show or puppy cut, grooming an American Cocker Spaniel can be more and less complicated. The puppy cut means you shave the whole body to a short length, trim paws, sanitary area, and ears.

On the other hand, show trim requires more dedication and patience. Of course, a professional groomer is the best option. You can learn how to do it at home, but it can be time-consuming and tricky for an amateur. But practice makes perfect! 

Besides regular brushing at least two times a week, they need regular nail trimming and an occasional bath, depending on how dirty they got after the outdoor games/walks/runs.

Possible Health Issues

The American Cocker Spaniel is a healthy dog breed. They don’t have many breed-specific health issues. Some health problems that might occur are:

• Hip dysplasia
• Eye problems (cataract)
• Ear infections

You can prevent ear infections by regularly checking their ears after a walk and thoroughly drying the ear canals after a bath. Bacteria thrive in moist conditions, and Cocker Spaniels’ hairy ears are prone to trapping debris.

Life expectancy: 10 to 14 years

Final Thoughts

The American Cocker Spaniel is a beautiful, energetic, and friendly medium-sized dog. They are perfect for ‌active families, no matter if they have children or not. Even though Cocker Spaniels are friendly by nature, we have to socialize them since their puppyhood to ensure such friendly behavior. However, even then, the American Cocker Spaniel might not be the friendliest of dogs with cats outside of the family and other small animals. This is because of their high prey drive. But, there is a big difference between a show line and a sporting line. The show line is much more mellow and friendlier than a sporting line.

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Cover photo by Ryan Johnson