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American Cocker Spaniel: Origin, Temperament, Training, Exercise
About Cocker Spaniel
Country of Origin, History of Cocker Spaniels
The American Cocker Spaniel was developed from the English Cocker Spaniel breed and transported to the United States to serve as a hunting dog. The American Spaniel is smaller in size than the English Spaniel, and both breeds make good hunting dogs as well as companions, show dogs, and watch dogs. The American Spaniel is the smallest of the sporting breed group of dogs.
Cocker Spaniel Tools
Breed Selector Tool - is the Cocker Spaniel the right breed for you?
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Do you know how many calories your Cocker Spaniel needs every day and how many cups of food you should be giving it every day? Click here to use our Cocker Spaniel Calorie Calculator.
A General Appearance
of the Dog
The American Cocker Spaniel has long ears
that hang straight down the side of its head,
which is smaller and more rounded than the
head of an English Spaniel.
Of all the dogs in the ‘sporting’ group, the American Cocker Spaniel is known to be the smallest. The American Cocker Spaniel demonstrates a balanced and powerful physical movement.
Coat color
Coat colorings range from a solid black to black
mixed with tan or brown shadings.
Coat type (whether
thick, or with undercoat etc.)
The American Cocker Spaniel’s coat is made
up of short, fine hair on the head, with medium-length
hair on the body. The dog’s undercoat tends
to have short, fine hair, also.
Height
Male: 15 inches
Female: 14 inches
Weight: American Cocker Spaniels weigh 15-30 pounds (7-14 kg.).
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Cocker Spaniel Personality Traits
Temperament of the Dog
The American Spaniel is a form of 'working' dog. It makes a good animal in the home, or it can be a hunting, or 'gun,' dog. American Spaniels exhibit less dominance than English females, and tend to avoid challenging authority figures. The American breed is lively, playful, and devoted; however, they need to be socialized well as puppies, otherwise they will develop a shy personality in later years. American Spaniels are seen as good companion animals for children and household pets.
American Cocker Spaniels are very popular. A potential owner needs to purchase this breed from a reputable breeder to ensure that the Cocker Spaniel's temperament is compatible with young children. If an American Spaniel pup has not been bred well, it will exhibit unexpected temperament shifts and behavior problems, including viciousness caused by shyness and fear. In addition, the dog may aggressively guard objects or people and display excessive sexuality.
Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?
American Spaniels are suited to an indoor lifestyle if they receive house training and obedience training as puppies. Spaniels are also comfortable in the outdoors due to being bred as outdoor 'working' dogs.
Are they suited to homes with kids?
Cockers are extremely sociable dogs, with a strong need to please. So they make fantastic family pets and well-suited to raising with children.
Training
American Cocker Spaniels should be trained very gently, yet firmly. American Spaniels are known to be sensitive, independent, and intelligent.
The Spaniel breed is intelligent; yet, during training, it may give up easily if the dog feels that it cannot please its owner. Any person training an American Cocker Spaniel needs to be aware that the dog is happy when the authority figure is happy; however, if a trainer becomes frustrated and gives up the training effort, the dog will follow suit.
Trainers should keep housebreaking and obedience training simple and brief, with repeat attempts made frequently, before much time passes. If an American Cocker Spaniel is trained with pressure or punishment, they will perceive training as a negative experience, and the overall training effort will fail. The Spaniel needs to be encouraged to repeat a training task; then, the training should be successful.
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Cocker Spaniel Activity Level
How active is the breed?
The American Cocker Spaniel, like the English breed, has a great deal of strength and stamina; it responds well to regular exercise such as walking, chasing, or 'fetching' activity.
How to take care of a Cocker Spaniel Puppy?
First, a puppy should never be purchased from a pet store; a reputable breeder will not sell Cocker puppies outright to a pet store as pet stores are notorious for purchasing puppies (not just Spaniels) from puppy 'mills.' Breeders and Spaniel owners recommend that a puppy be obtained when it is between eight and ten weeks old.
After six weeks, a Spaniel pup will be eating solid food, but, more importantly, it is more able to leave its litter at the minimum age of eight weeks than the standard six weeks.
Grooming
The American Spaniel needs to have a regular eye cleaning to prevent mucous build up or tearing. If the coat is kept long, regular brushing, shampooing, and clipping will be required. If the coat is maintained at medium or short lengths, trimming will be required less frequently.
Free Cocker Spaniel Training Secrets
Free Course on Cocker Spaniel Training & Obedience
Stop All Bad Behavior, Excessive Barking and Biting
Health and Care
A healthy male American Spaniel measures an average of fifteen and one half inches in height. A female measures an average of fourteen and one half inches in height. Both males and females weigh an average of fifteen to thirty pounds.
The American Spaniel may develop eye diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma. Other health concerns are hip dysplasia and cardiomyopathy.
National Breed Clubs
National Breed Club
In the United States, this breed is represented by The American Spaniel Club, Inc. This organization can be reached via the internet at http://www.asc-cockerspaniel.org/.
Recognition
The American Cocker Spaniel is recognized by The
Kennel Club in the United Kingdom and The American
Kennel Club in the sporting breed classification
of dogs.
Group: Sporting Group, UKC Gun Dog.
AKC Popularity Ranking: 30
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How to lead and think like a pack dog - the new psychology.
3 dangerous mistakes that most Cocker Spaniel owners make when they are trying to potty train their dogs.
The 2 main reasons why your dog barks excessively and how to control its excessive barking.
How to obedience train your Cocker Spaniel to permanently end behavioral problems like Jumping, Aggression, Pulling on Leash.
A surprisingly easy way to teach your dog cool new tricks.
How to improve your dog's lifespan and keep it from getting overly heavy with a healthy and nutritious diet.
Getting Pro help fast - how to get access to our expert trainers when you need them most.
One hidden psychological trigger that all Cocker Spaniels have... that practically allows you to "analyze" and "control" your dog's every action.
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Whereas other dog training related web sites and books offer generic information for dogs in general, ours is the ONLY web site that offers Cocker Spaniel information specifically, from a renowned panel of experts - because as you probably know, Cocker Spaniels have their own special training requirements that other dogs don't have.
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