The American Cocker Spaniel And The English Cocker Spaniel
"What Are Their Differences?"The American Cocker Spaniel was developed from the English Cocker Spaniel around the 19th century. Originally bred as gundogs, the Cocker Spaniel was used to flush, point and retrieve small birds such as woodcock and quail.At first, the two 'breeds' were differentiated by their size; the smaller of the two became known as the American Cocker Spaniel, and the larger of the two as the English Cocker Spaniel. Later, they were purposely bred for different traits, so their differences began to grow and, in 1945, both breeds were formally recognised with their own standards. The American Cocker Spaniel is a medium-sized dog, and is the smallest of the gundog group. It is compact and muscular, and has great endurance and speed - don't let its dainty appearance fool you! It is outgoing and very friendly, has a rather loveable nature, and is particularly good around children which makes it an ideal family pet. They are intelligent and respond well to training, however, they are very gentle dogs and don't like rough handling or training. This breed is very eager to please and quite adaptable, making them easy to train for field work, for showing, or simply for companionship.
Although there are similarities between the American Cocker Spaniel and its English cousin, the head and skull are very different. The American Cocker's skull is much more rounded, with a broad deep-set muzzle, which is much shorter than that of the English Cocker Spaniel. Their ears are long, low set, and drooping, and are covered with long silky fur which may be straight or slightly waved. Their dark eyes are large, round, and forward looking, rather than set to the sides of the head. Their look is alert, but gentle and appealing. Their eyebrows are distinct and have a very definite stop, unlike the more gently graduated head of the English Cocker. Their back is shorter, and gently slopes from withers to tail. Their coats come in three major colours: black, ASCOB (any solid colour other than black), and parti-colours. The body of their coats (which can be either flat or slightly wavy) is long, silky, and flows luxuriously to floor length. They're heavily feathered on their ears, legs, chest and underbelly. If the dog is a working dog used in the field, its coat will need to be kept well-trimmed to ensure their movement is not impeded. Both the English and American Cocker Spaniel's coat needs a lot of attention. We recommend brushing your dog at least two to three times each week and taking him to a professional groomer once every three months.
The American Cocker Spaniel
The American Cocker Spaniel is a little smaller than the English Cocker. |
According to the Kennel Club (UK), their average height ranges between 34.3 cm and 39.4 cm (13.5 ins and 15.5 ins).
The American Kennel Club however, suggests slightly different sizes for the English Cocker, ranging in size for both male and female from 38-43 cm (15 to 16.9 ins) tall at the shoulder and 11.82-15.45 kg (26 to 34 lbs) in weight.
