American Cocker Spaniel

The American Cocker Spaniel is an active, cheerful and good-natured dog, an ideal companion who perfectly senses the mood of the owner and has a sense of tact. Despite the hunting talents, the Cocker Spaniel, in the first place, is a good pet and an excellent exhibitor.
Appearance.
American Cocker Spaniels are the smallest breed of hunting dogs. The maximum height of spaniels at the withers is 39 cm, weight – 13 kg.
These are compact, neat dogs with developed muscles, wide breasts, short robust body, bony legs. The Cocker Spaniels have a beautiful, rounded head of the original form, a transition from the forehead to the face is pronounced. Ears set low, long and wide, hanging in position. Eyes neat, very beautiful, almond-shaped, rich dark brown color.
Nose black or brown – depending on the main color of the dog. The tail is stopped, usually kept slightly above the back or flush with the back. One of the advantages of the breed is Cocker Spaniel wool. Coat of medium length, thick, with undercoat, silky to the touch, can be both straight and slightly wavy. The hair on the head is shorter, on the paws, stomach and ears – longer and thicker. The color is predominantly monochromatic: coffee, fawn, red, etc., there are tricolor and bicolor colors, and tan colors.
Character
Cocker spaniels are strongly attached to family members, they are affectionate, loyal, obedient, have a great attitude to children and get along with other pets, often become best friends for cats. They are easily amenable to training, love interesting activities and active games. Cocker spaniels always hold on decently and demonstrate refined manners. These are beautiful, charming, pleasant dogs in all respects.
A cocker spaniel would be the best option for a family with children. This dog loves communication and is very hard to tolerate loneliness, so if you rarely spend time at home or do not plan to give the dog a lot of attention, a Cocker Spaniel is not your option.
Health
Excellent appearance and excellent character – this is not all the advantages of the breed. Cocker spaniels also have very good health, and life expectancy reaches 16 years. However, Cocker Spaniels are prone to eye diseases and otitis, so the condition of the eyes and ears of dogs should be monitored regularly.
In addition, pet care requires careful care. Every day after walking it must be gently combed to remove dirt and prevent the formation of tangles. Once every two months, cocker spaniels are recommended to be bathed with special detergents. Also, dog hair needs trimming and grooming.
Story
The ancestor of the American Cocker Spaniel was the English Cockers who were brought to the USA in the early 19th century. Beautiful hunters with a charming appearance and friendly character immediately became very popular, but American breeders decided to experiment a little with the breed and at the end of the 19th century created their own American Cocker Spaniel, different in size and coat. However, the breed was fully formed only by the 30s of the next century, and was registered even later: in 1946. At about the same time, Cocker Spaniels were recognized as the most popular companion dogs in the United States, and today they are still popular, but worldwide.