The American Cocker Spaniel is a medium size breed of dog. It is one of the Spaniel type breeds, similar to the English Cocker Spaniel, and was originally bred as a gun dog. In the United States, the breed is usually referred to as the Cocker Spaniel, while in Canada and elsewhere in the world, it is called the American Cocker Spaniel. The word cocker is commonly held to stem from their use to hunt woodcock in England. Although the Cocker Spaniel type originated in the United Kingdom, by the 1940s the American breed was recognized as distinct from the English breed.
Appearance
The American Cocker Spaniel is a medium sized dog of normal proportions, with medium long silky fur on the body and ears, hanging down on the legs and belly (feathering). The head has a rounded look and the ears hang down (drop ears). The tail is often docked, though is only required for show, and is recommended for American Cocker Spaniels who hunt. Coat colors are described extensively in the Standard. The English Cocker Spaniel has a more rectangular head, a shorter coat, and is larger.
Height and Weight
American Cocker Spaniels have an ideal size of 14.2-15.4 inches (36-39 cm) at the withers for male dogs and 14.2-15.4 inches (34-37 cm) for females. The breed standard states that size over 15.5 inches for males and 14.5 inches for females is a disqualification at a breed show, in order to discourage the breeding of oversize dogs. Both sex weigh to approximately 11-13 kgs (24.3–28.6 lbs).
Head
The head of an American Cocker Spaniel makes the breed immediately recognizable, with the rounded dome of the skull, well-pronounced stop, and square lip. The drop ears are long, low set, with long silky fur, and the eyes are dark, large, and rounded.
Coat
The American Cocker Spaniel is usually kept as a companion dog, since “very few are used for hunting any more.” As pets and showdogs, the breed’s coat and the colors of the coat have taken on great importance, as they are very beautiful if well groomed and cared for. The coat should never be curly or have a cottony texture, but should be silky and flat, short on the head and medium length on the body, with an undercoat. Colors are divided in to categories:
Black, including
Solid black
Black with tan points
ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black), defined as any color with or without tan points, and only a very small amount of white
Buff (Most common color, looks like a very light tan usually.
Brown (Chocolate)
Parti-color and other colors
Tricolor, including
black and white with tan points
black and white
brown and white
brown and white with tan points (brown tri)
red and white.
Roan (individual colored hairs mingled in with white hairs), with or without tan points
blue roan or black
orange roan or red
liver or chocolate roan, shades of brown
Sable
Merle
Blue Merle (Also known as a black merle)
Blue Merle Parti
Blue/Black, Chocolate/Brown Merle Parti with tan points
Chocolate/Brown Merle Parti
Buff/Red Merle
Brown Merle (Also known as chocolate merle)
The merle gene is actually a gene that controls color. A merle dog (M) bred to a dog of any other color (X) will result in a dog of color X with dappled, lightened patches of the coat and possible blue eyes. A merle bred to another merle, however, will usually produce white, possibly deaf and blind puppies. A merle cocker spaniel can be registered but not shown. Merle is sometimes referred to as a “deadly gene”, in that it causes various ailments; this is only true when breeding two merles together.
