Saturday, August 8, 2009

The Adoringly Fluffy Gun Dog: The American Cocker Spaniel

By Meredith Blake

The American Cocker Spaniel is a medium sized breed of gun dog that developed from the same family as the English Cocker Spaniel. This breed originated from England and originally hunted woodcock and this is where the name cocker was derived. During the 1940s, the cocker was introduced and developed in the US and this new breed was named the American Cocker Spaniel.

In the US, this breed is simply known as the Cocker Spaniel. In Canada, Europe and other parts of the world, it is called the American Cocker Spaniel. In its early days, this breed was a reliable gun dog but today, although that hunting instinct is still as excellent, this breed is more taken in as a family pet.

Spaniels that came to England were actually brought in from Spain and then later on developed to become good hunters. In the early days, a Spaniel's litter was composed of a cocker spaniel and a Springer spaniel and these two were only segregated in to types when they grew up. But with the help of the English Setter, a different breed for the Cocker Spaniel has been developed.

One of the primary differences between an American Cocker Spaniel and an English Cocker Spaniel is that the American breed is smaller compared to the English variety. The coat of the American Cocker Spaniel is also particularly long than the English Cocker Spaniel. The head of the American Cocker Spaniel is rounder and its ears are dangling while the English Cocker Spaniel's head is rectangular and the ears shorter.

The ideal size of the American Cocker Spaniel is 15 inches and any dog which stands any higher than 15.5 inches is considered disqualified. The weight is generally 25 to 35 pounds although the males can be a bit heavier. The American Cocker Spaniel lives up to 12 years and is outlived by the English Cocker Spaniel by a year.

The fur of this breed is especially given attention to because of its importance during dog shows and so it is groomed and maintained regularly. This coat is silky, dense, long, flat and double coated. The coat colors are listed under categories: Black, ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black), Tricolor, and Parti Color.

Describing this breed as a pet, one can say that it is affable, sweet and cheerful. As a gun dog, it is an eager worker, an obedient companion and a courageous hunter. This dog is noted for its gentleness, devotion and sensitiveness that's why harsh reinforcement is not recommended.

The American Cocker Spaniel is fairly active and has an infinite stamina and so daily exercise should be given to it. Keeping the fluff healthy and beautiful requires daily brushing and shampooing. Additionally, regular nail clipping, coat trimming, and eyes cleaning should also be implemented.

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