Quick Stats for the Cocker Spaniel Dog
- Height (at the shoulders): dogs: 15.5 inches (38 cm) ; bitches: 14.5 inches (36.8 cm)
- Weight: 15 – 30 pounds (7 – 14 kg)
- Life Expectancy: 12 – 15 years
- AKC Group: Sporting Group – AKC recognized in 1878
- Shedding: average shedder
- Living Conditions: okay in apartment (with sufficient exercise); fairly active indoors; small yard okay
Personality of the Cocker Spaniel Dog
The Cocker Spaniel is playful, very cheerful, and loves to please their owners. They make great family dogs and are great with children because of their gentle, sweet personality.
These dogs are as much at home as a gun dog as they are as a companion dog and household pet.
History of the Cocker Spaniel Dog
The Cocker Spaniel, the American breed, was bred from English Cocker Spaniels that were brought to the United States during the late 1800s. These English dogs were bred to be smaller in size, making them great for hunting quail and other small birds.
These new dogs were called American Cocker Spaniels to distinguish them from their English cousins. However, the AKC officially called them simply, the Cocker Spaniel.
The breed was officially registered by the American Kennel Club in 1878 as a member of the Sporting Group.
The Cocker Spaniel Dog Care and Grooming
These dogs require regular exercise. They have plenty of stamina so a long daily walk would be ideal.
Grooming a Cocker Spaniel takes some time and effort. Be prepared to groom them daily. They have very long hair with thick fur growing from head to toe. Brush them daily with a good quality Chris Christensen dog brush.
Consider having them professionally groomed at least monthly to keep their coat in good shape.
Pay special attention to their eyes and wipe under them as they tend to tear and can cause tear stains.
This breed is an average shedder.
Health Problems of the Cocker Spaniel Dog
The average life expectancy of the Cocker Spaniel dog is about twelve to fifteen years.
Major health concerns for this breed are:
- cataracts
- PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy)
- patellar luxation
- glaucoma
Minor health issues include:
- dog allergies
- cherry eye
- hypothyroidism
- cardiomyopathy
- urinary stones
- CHF (Congestive Heart Failure)
- liver disease
- seborrhea
- entropion
- fructokinase deficiency
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
For even more information about this dog breed check out the book:
[...] of this breed became further complicated by the fact that the smaller version of the dog, the Cocker Spaniel, and the larger Springer, were both the same breed but with different size variations. It [...]
[...] of the English Cocker Spaniel, which should weigh under twenty-five pounds, was designated the name Cocker Spaniel. And because both breeds share much of the same genetic makeup, they share much of the same hunting [...]
[...] dog was refined over time by crossings with the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Springer Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel dog, and the American Water [...]
[...] Cocker Spaniel [...]
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