American Cocker Spaniel
As a dog type, the American Cocker Spaniel (ACS) is native to the United Kingdom, but in the late 1800s this type was brought to the United States and Canada.
In the early 1900s, the American Kennel Club entered it as another breed in the AKC Stud. Because of the distinctive properties between the ACS and the English Cocker Spaniel (ECS), the two were each given a distinct place in the American Kennel Club.
Later, the “American” type was known in the U.S. by its shorter name Cocker Spaniel. These two breeds are the smallest of their group. They are a hunter’s best friend because of their sporting breed. Hunters find it easier to shoot birds once they are located by ACS somewhere inside the brush.
Appearance
The ACS can be easily identified from other breeds by its dark, animated eyes which give them their happy, loving and energetic appearance. Their ears sag and their coat grows fully as they mature. At old age, it is often given a different look by cutting its coat at the different body parts usually on the legs, sides and tummy. This would give the dog a “lighter” appearance.
Since its hair grows long enough to cover the ears, it is better to have it clipped in order to maintain air flow through the ears’ inner parts and to avoid ear infections brought about by different causes such as bacteria and other carriers of diseases of the ear.
There are some measurement standards that must be met for dogs used in shows. These standards determine which dog could join in contests and which could not. Cocker Spaniel dogs should have a height of 15 inches and 14 inches for bitches at the withers.
Males that are adult and exceeding 15.5 inches or an adult bitch exceeding 14.5 inches are not qualified from joining a show of conformation. The size of the bone and head should be of good proportion to its overall built. Some US dog owners have successfully raised fine breeds of cockers which have won in several contests.
Color
These groups can be easily grouped according to their color. There are three main groups of Cockers according to color in the North American shows of conformation– black, ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black), and parti-colors. These three groups are further subdivided into smaller groups of colors, some are solid, and some are combinations of the two or three basic color groups. Some dogs also sport a color that is called a “tri”.
There are also the so-called roans which may be blue, orange, and liver or chocolate with or without tan points. These colors of Cockers can be shown in the parti-color groups. Roans can be identified when individual colored hairs mix with the white.
Sable is another coloring that is accepted in shows of conformation in Europe and in Canada but not by the American Spaniel Club (ASC). Another coloring, the merle, is not recognized by the ASC because there is a question on breeding so they cannot be shown in conformation. Restrictions as to colors have prevented other color types from being shown shows of conformation.
Temperament
Compared with other breeds, Cockers are generally pleasant and unquestioning. This makes them lovable to their masters. A cocker would oftentimes be friendly to anyone including small children, and they can mingle with other home animals. They need gentle training so as to bring out the best in them.
Careless breeding has brought about some unwanted behavior among Cockers that are naturally good-natured. Due to the popularity of this breed, breeders have tried to keep up with the supply. Without due consideration of the probable outcome, breeding became more focused on production in terms of number and not on quality. This situation ended up to hostile and frightening behaviors of the dogs that did not undergo a strict process during breeding.
Efforts have been exerted by responsible breeders to correct the situation by eliminating these “unwanted” breeds and by educating people about responsible breeding. When it comes to breeding ACS, the most important consideration should be their temperament. It is known that they leak urine when they are agitated. It is best then that owners should pick a responsible breeder.
Mortality
Based from data on dogs gathered in USA/Canada and UK, the lifespan of ACS compared with other dogs that are purebred is shorter with an average between ten to eleven years, while when compared with other breeds of the same size, their existence is lower by one to two years. The ECS’s existence compared with the ACS is longer by about 1 year on the average.
Cancer is the leading cause of death at 23%, followed by old age at 20%, cardiac problems at 8% and immune-mediated causes at 8%. These are based on UK Kennel Club survey in 2004. The survey conducted in 2003 by Health Survey of USA/Canada using smaller sample population revealed that cancer leads the cause of death, followed by hepatic diseases or those that have to do with the liver, and then by causes related to immunity.
Morbidity
Ear infection is the most common illness of ACS followed by eye infections. Compared with other breeds, they require more visits to a veterinarian. Cataracts, glaucoma and Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), are the most common eye diseases.
Owners of breeder dogs should submit their dogs for a yearly examination of the eyes. Inflammation of the ears and immunity related diseases are also common problems among these dogs, while the less common ones are luxating patellas and dysplasia of the hips. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) can certify for dysplasia-free dogs.
History
The smallest among the breeds of spaniels used in sports, the ACS is very popular as a hunting dog for many upland wildfowl. With their earlier known popularity to be hunting woodcock, the name cocker was attributed to them.
It was in the 1930s when the names American CS and English CS were used to distinguish between these two breeds, but it is more commonly called “Cocker Spaniel” (without “American”) in the US as used by the American Kennel Club.
The ECS Club of America formed on June 20, 1930 paved the way for the increased importation of Cockers from England to the US. This club was formed by a group of English Cocker lovers who decided to give special attention to ECS. The club was then accepted by the AKC after a very strong recommendation by some groups.
There were twenty four Cockers which joined in their competitions by 1938 under the “English” classes. Of these, 6 were American strain and only 1 English strain. At that time, those who showed under the group of English strains had a lead in terms of giving points. As an example, five dogs have to be defeated by and English Cocker Spaniel so that it could be given 5 point major; 19 dogs have to be defeated by a solid American male Cocker to be given the same major points. This is true in California. Many people took this advantage considering that these dogs are all registered in the same group as Cocker Spaniels.
Some membership policies and requirements regarding breeding were signed in 1938 by the ECSCA. In one of their meetings, Mrs. Geraldine Dodge made a motion and it was approved that American type bitches should not be allowed to be bred with ECS studs. The Board of Directors approved of regulating the breeding activities of these dogs.
Moreover, a more specific definition of an ECS as “a bitch or dog of the Cocker Spaniel variety where lineage can be traced in all lines to dogs or bitches which were registered with the English Kennel Club (or eligible for export pedigree) not later than New Year of 1930” (Jubilee, 1986). This was done to thresh out the problem of using American type Cockers in classes for English Cockers.
Because of the foregoing, the American type Cocker became more popular and the ECS lovers also wanted the same recognition as a separate breed in the AKC Stud Book. Efforts along this line were pioneered by Mrs. Dodge in the US but not in England and Canada. A keeper of art and former editor of “Popular Dogs” finished the project.
After this project, efforts to secure recognition were enhanced and pursued. Mrs. Dodge was determined to get the recognition for the English Cocker. The official recognition by the AKC of the ECS as a breed different from the ACS was given in mid-1946. This was a great achievement in favor of the ECS as a dog breed.
No other breeds of spaniels can compete together in some games in the US except ACS and ECS. Most of the field-bred American cockers are outside the US but there is no clear-cut division between field and show-bred dogs in English Cockers.
Until today, the ACS is still considered as a small but multi-talented dog. Despite its size, its popularity surpasses those of dogs that are of bigger size. It could be a lovable pet, a hunter, or a dog used in games which its owner can be proud of.
