Traits and History of the American Cocker Breed
Little is known about the origins of the American cocker dog breed. Originally, the American cocker was a variant of the English cocker spaniel and the first cocker spaniel from England arrived on American soil in 1882. Then some American dog fanciers started breeding the cocker spaniel of European origin and gradually developed a separate strain, which only began to be considered a true breed around 1930.
This separation of the two breeds is largely due to the careful work of the cynologist Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge. In 1940 it obtained its own standard and in 1951 the FCI recognised it as its own breed. The difference lay in the fact that in England the cocker spaniel was bred mainly for hunting, whereas in America the focus was more on the companion and family dog aspect.
Around the middle of the 20th century, the American cocker spaniel was considered one of the most popular and sought-after dogs in its homeland. Then it experienced a real boom in popularity when a female American cocker was chosen to become Little Lilli in the Walt Disney cartoon ‘Lady and the Tramp’, thus becoming a much-loved star among children.
In America it is a very popular dog, in Europe much less so and in the rest of the world it is almost unknown.
Character of the American cocker dog breed
The American cocker is truly the classic companion dog. It has a good, cheerful character, always ready to play and gets along well with everyone, people and animals alike. It is very attached to its owner and family, likes to play with children and is always looking for company. He likes to go out and go for long walks, and if he can, he also goes for good runs. He likes the country environment, especially if the house he lives in has a garden where he can spend a few hours a day, but he also adapts very well to a flat.
He is suitable for everyone, whether families with children, single people or the elderly; he needs very little to keep him happy, going out for a walk a couple of times a day, but he does not disdain long sleeps on the sofa on short, rainy winter days.
It must be remembered, however, that it belongs to the hunting dog group and is therefore also a very sporty dog; its instinct for retrieving allows it to play for hours, searching for and retrieving a ball.
Appearance of the American cocker dog breed
The American cocker is a small to medium-sized dog and is the smallest of the group of hunting and stationary dogs. Everything about him is balanced and of an ideal size. It is a dog capable of considerable speed and stamina, which is why it is often used in hare, bird and game hunting.
It has a compact and robust build; its height at withers is about 38 centimetres for a weight of about 12 kilograms, the female usually a little less. The front limbs are very straight, firm on the paws and muscular, the hind limbs are also muscular and developed, and the thighs are even more powerful, very suitable for snapping. The tail is attached slightly lower than the line of the back and is always moving, but carried horizontally and never raised.
The head is well proportioned and rounded with a broad muzzle. The truffle is generally black or otherwise dark with wide nostrils. The eyes are almond-shaped, deep and dark, the ears are long, drooping, with the hairline at the base of the skull and well covered with fur.
The main characteristic of the American cocker is its fur. The coat is in fact short and very thick, on the head, abdomen, chest and hind legs, while on the rest of the body the hair is of medium length. All the hair has a silky texture, but never too harsh, wavy or curly. There is abundant fringing on the forelimbs, trunk and hindquarters, above the hocks.
The coat colours accepted in the breed standard are many: unicolour, which have basic black, or brown, red or cream in different shades. Multi-coloured varieties may be white with red, cream, light or dark brown. White specimens can also be found whose white coat is crossed with streaks of dark fur.
Health and care of the American cocker dog breed
Overall, this breed is considered very robust. The life expectancy of the American cocker is about 12 years, but there are specimens that have lived as long as 15 to 16 years. The delicate point of the American cocker are its eyes, which are watery and shabby and which must always be kept clean, and its ears, which it is always recommended, when it returns from a walk in the country, to check the ear pinna to avoid ticks and thus ear infections.
He does not suffer much from high or even cold temperatures, although it is good to keep him indoors when they are too extreme, and he loves to swim a lot.
With regard to coat care, it should be brushed often in relation to the length of its coat and taken regularly to the groomer.
As far as feeding is concerned, this must be weighted according to the dog's age and level of daily physical activity.
