American Cocker Spaniel

About the breed

What the FCI standard says about the American Cocker Spaniel

According to the text of FCI Standard No. 167 the American Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Sporting Group, and the FCI gives its utilisation as flushing dog and companion. The FCI places it in Group 8, Section 2 (flushing dogs), marked “without working trial”; the country of origin is the U.S.A. It asks for an equable temperament with no suggestion of timidity and a sturdy, compact body.

History: shared roots, two paths

The American and English Cocker Spaniels share roots but have been separate breeds in the U.S.A. only since the mid-20th century. The Kennel Club (UK) writes that the breed traces back to the blood of the black dog Obo, and that by the 1920s some American breeders were selecting for more domed heads, shorter muzzles and a more profuse coat. The American Spaniel Club (ASC), founded in 1881, states that spaniels were long sorted by weight: a dog of 28 pounds or more counted as a Field or Springer Spaniel, a lighter one as a Cocker. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognised the English type as a separate variety in 1936 and gave the English Cocker separate breed status in 1946 (the Kennel Club (UK) gives 1945). The ASC adds that Cockers topped the AKC registration list in 1947 and warns that such popularity attracts breeders chasing profit.

Height and weight: how big is it

For ideal height at the withers the FCI standard gives 15 inches (about 38 cm) for dogs and 14 inches (about 35.6 cm) for bitches, with a permitted variation of half an inch either way. The standard gives height in inches only; the centimetres are a conversion, also given in the HKS Croatian translation of the standard (38.10 and 35.56 cm). Dogs over 15.5 inches (39.4 cm) and bitches over 14.5 inches (36.8 cm) are disqualified. The standard gives no weight. The ASC and the AKC state 25–30 pounds for dogs and 20–25 pounds for bitches, roughly 11–14 kg and 9–11 kg, so about 9–14 kg is a fair range for the breed. The Kennel Club (UK) gives 37–39 cm for dogs and 34–37 cm for bitches, but notes that an individual dog may differ from the standard.

Head, ears, body and tail

The standard describes a rounded skull with a pronounced stop and a broad, deep muzzle whose length from stop to nose tip is half the distance from stop over the crown to the base of the skull. The ears are long, of fine leather, well feathered and set no higher than the lower part of the eye; the iris is dark brown, and blue eyes are a disqualifying fault. The body is slightly longer than the height at the withers, but the standard expressly says the dog must never appear long and low. The FCI standard describes a docked tail; the Kennel Club (UK) writes that the tail was previously customarily docked and also describes an undocked tail. For docking, check the rules where you live.

Colours and tan points: three groups in the standard

The FCI standard distinguishes three groups: black (including black with tan points), any solid colour other than black (ASCOB) and parti-colour. Solid dogs range from lightest cream to darkest red and brown, also with tan points; a small amount of white on the chest or throat is allowed, but white anywhere else disqualifies. In parti-colours one colour must be white (black and white, red and white, brown and white, or roan, meaning white and coloured hairs mixed), and a primary colour of 90% or more disqualifies. Tan points may cover no more than 10% of the dog’s colour and sit in set places: over each eye, on the sides of the muzzle and cheeks, on the feet and legs and under the tail.

Coat care: how often and who does it

Coat care is the largest permanent commitment, and sources give different intervals. The Slovenian Spaniel Club calls it “extremely demanding” and, to keep the typical shape, recommends clipping and trimming at least once every two months (shaving is not desirable); for a dog kept purely as a companion the coat is shortened and thinned accordingly, and the dog brushed every three to four days. The AKC writes of daily combing and brushing and trimming at least every six weeks, with less needed for a shorter puppy cut. The FCI standard says the coat is silky, flat or slightly wavy and of a texture that permits easy care. The AKC advises a metal comb and thorough drying of the ears after bathing.

Temperament and time alone: attached, sensitive, a poor guard dog

Breed clubs describe the American Cocker as a sociable dog, very attached to its family. The Slovenian Spaniel Club calls it constantly on the move, temperamental, cheerful and curious, rarely barking and with almost no hunting instinct; it rates the breed 2 out of 5 as a guard dog. The ASC says a Cocker may announce a visitor but will then want to be the visitor’s new best friend, and that a dog who wants to be your shadow will not suit everyone. The Kennel Club (UK) notes that, like many spaniels, the breed can be sensitive to harsh handling. The Merck Veterinary Manual states that dogs which follow family members around the house are at no greater risk of separation anxiety than others; for moderate to severe cases it describes graduated departure training, and such a case is best discussed with a veterinarian or behaviour specialist.

Exercise, work and training

Sources differ on exercise: the Slovenian Spaniel Club says a fenced garden or a ball game is enough alongside walks, the AKC mentions daily exercise and mental games, the Kennel Club (UK) more than two hours a day. On hunting drive opinions differ: the Slovenian club sees almost none, and the AKC writes that with proper training it can be a hunting companion, while many succeed in obedience and agility. Training: the AKC says the breed does not respond to harsh corrections but does respond to food, praise and play; early socialisation and consistency matter. The ASC warns that Cockers love food and tend to put on weight, especially as they age.

Family, children, other pets, apartment living

The American Cocker can make a good family dog, but only under the conditions the sources name. The Kennel Club (UK) writes that it gets on with children and other pets when properly socialised early; the AKC that it gets on well with other dogs and can be reserved with strangers. The ASC warns that long ears look like tempting toys to small children, so adults must teach children how to handle a dog. On housing, the ASC says a small dog fits comfortably into an apartment, while the Kennel Club (UK) lists a small house with a large garden as suitable; if the owner is away for long hours the breed is less suitable, as it needs company.

Health and lifespan: eyes, hips, ears

Breed clubs stress above all eye and hip checks of the parents. The Slovenian Spaniel Club names hereditary eye diseases (progressive retinal atrophy, cataract, glaucoma, retinal dysplasia) as one of the main hereditary health problems, which according to the club responsible breeding should weed out. The ASC recommends an eye examination by a specialist (DACVO) within 12 months before breeding, annually for both parents, and hip X-rays sent to the OFA at 24 months of age or older. The Kennel Club (UK) lists among its recommendations attention to genetic diversity, an eye examination under the BVA/KC/ISDS scheme (with gonioscopy), a DNA test for prcd-PRA and hip testing; its DNA package for the breed (PFK and prcd-PRA) is labelled “for monitoring purposes only”. It places the breed in Breed Watch Category 2, with protruding eyes, incorrect bite and small teeth as points of concern for judges.

The Slovenian Spaniel Club also describes the breed as prone to ear inflammation. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists a pendulous pinna and hair in the ear canal among the risk factors for inflammation of the outer ear canal and advises keeping the canals dry and well ventilated; the AKC also writes about sensitive skin. A veterinarian assesses the cause of a problem in an individual dog. Lifespan: the AKC gives 10–14 years, the ASC about 12 years on average, the Kennel Club (UK) over 10 years; these are club summaries, not registry statistics.

American or English Cocker Spaniel: what sets them apart

The American Cocker Spaniel (FCI No. 167) is smaller than the English (FCI No. 5), and the AKC adds that it usually carries more coat. Standard 167 gives an ideal height of 15 inches (about 38 cm) for dogs and 14 inches (about 35.6 cm) for bitches; Standard 5 gives approximately 39–41 cm and 38–39 cm, and a weight of approximately 13–14.5 kg; the AKC gives the English 15–17 inches (about 38–43 cm) and 26–34 pounds (about 12–15 kg), so figures differ between sources. The American has a rounded skull, pronounced stop and broad, deep muzzle; for the English the standard asks for a square muzzle and a stop set midway between nose tip and occiput. The American coat is medium length on the body, with well-feathered ears, chest, abdomen and legs; the English coat is flat, silky, “not too profuse and never curly”. The FCI classes the English Cocker as a flushing dog “with working trial” and the American “without working trial”; this is a label in the standard, not a trait of an individual dog. The AKC also says the American usually needs more coat care and the English more exercise; by the AKC, the American lives 10–14 years and the English 12–15. We present the English Cocker on its own page.

Myth or fact

• “The coat is easy to care for.” The FCI standard does say the texture should permit easy care, but clubs describe the care as extremely demanding or daily; a shorter puppy cut reduces the load.
• “American and English Cockers are one breed.” The FCI lists them under separate standards (No. 167 and No. 5), and the AKC says it has kept them apart since 1946.
• “As a hunting breed it has a strong hunting drive.” The Slovenian club says it has almost none, while the AKC says that with proper training it can be a hunting companion; sources differ, so ask the breeder about an individual dog.

What to ask a breeder

Ask for the eye and hip results of both parents; the ASC recommends you be given a copy of the parents’ eye exams (or that they are on file with the OFA) and of the hip results. The Slovenian Spaniel Club states that in Slovenia dogs with a valid pedigree must pass a breeding assessment before mating, and puppies must be at least 8 weeks old at handover, vet-checked, microchipped and have a passport; for Croatia, check the rules with the Croatian Kennel Club (HKS). The ASC says a responsible breeder lets you see the mother and puppies and gives you a contract and coat-care advice, and it ranks buying from pet stores among the worst options. Look for a responsible breeder in the directory.

Who it suits and who it suits less

It suits owners who have time for daily company, walks, regular coat care and groomer visits, and families who will teach children how to handle long ears. It suits less those who are away most of the day or want a guard dog or a dog needing minimal coat care. The conditions are gentle handling, early socialisation and the parents’ health results.

Pros & cons