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Cocker Spaniels belong to the spaniel dog type and include the American Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel. Originally bred in the UK for hunting the Eurasian woodcock, they were later adapted in the United States for hunting the American woodcock. The English lineage traces back to Ch. Obo, while the American breed descends from Obo’s son, Obo II. Recognized as separate breeds in 1946 (US) and 1970 (UK), both share similar coat colors and health traits. A working strain of the English Cocker is bred for ability rather than standard, reflecting their diverse roles and histories.

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History

While their origins are unknown, "spaynels" are mentioned in 14th-century writings.1 They are commonly assumed to have originated in Spain, and Edward, 2nd Duke of York in his 15th-century work The Master of Game introduces them as "Another kind of hound there is that be called hounds for the hawk and spaniels, for their kind cometh from Spain, notwithstanding that there are many in other countries."2 The Master of Game was mostly an English translation of an earlier 14th century Old French work by Gaston III of Foix-Béarn entitled Livre de Chasse.3

In 1801, Sydenham Edwards wrote in Cynographia Britannica that the "Land Spaniel" is divided into two types: the hawking, springing/springer and the cocking/cocker spaniel.4 The term "cocker" came from the dog's use in hunting woodcocks.5 During the 19th century, a "cocker spaniel" was a type of small Field Spaniel; at the time, this term referred to a number of different spaniel hunting breeds, including the Norfolk Spaniel, Sussex Spaniel, and Clumber Spaniel. While no Sussex Cockers or Clumber Cockers existed, some dogs were known as Welsh Cockers and Devonshire Cockers.6 The Welsh or Devonshire were considered cockers until 1903, when they were recognized by The Kennel Club as the Welsh Springer Spaniel.7

Prior to the 1870s, the only requirement for a dog to be classed as a Cocker Spaniel was that it needed to weigh less than 25 pounds (11 kg), although breeders separated the cocker from the King Charles Spaniel, which remains a smaller breed of spaniel.8 This maximum weight limit remained on the Cocker Spaniel until 1900, with larger dogs being classed as Springer Spaniels.9 The colors of the Devonshire and Welsh Cockers were described by John Henry Walsh under the pseudonym Stonehenge in his book The Dog in Health and Disease as being a deeper shade of liver than that of the Sussex Spaniel.10 Following the formation of The Kennel Club in the UK in 1873, efforts were made by breeders to record the pedigrees of cockers and springers. In 1892, English Cocker Spaniels and English Springer Spaniels were recognized as separate breeds by The Kennel Club.11

Two dogs are thought to be the foundation sires of both modern breeds of cocker spaniels. Ch. Obo is considered by breed enthusiasts to be the father of the modern English Cocker Spaniel, while his son, Ch. Obo II, is considered to be the progenitor of the American Cocker Spaniel.12 Obo was born in 1879, when registration as a cocker was still only by size and not by ancestry. He was the son of a Sussex Spaniel and a Field Spaniel.13 Although Obo was an English dog, Obo II was born on American shores – his mother was shipped to the United States while pregnant.14 During his lifetime, Obo II was claimed in advertisements to be the sire or grandsire of nearly every prize-winning cocker in America.15

Modern breeds

The two breeds of cocker spaniel are the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel.16 They were bred as gun dogs, to use their sense of smell to cover low areas near the handler to flush birds into the air to be shot, and to use their eyes and nose to locate the bird once downed, and then to retrieve the bird with a soft mouth. The major differences between the English and American varieties is that the American is smaller with a shorter back, a domed head, and a shorter muzzle, while the English variety is taller with a narrower head and chest.17

Cocker Spaniel coats occur in a variety of colors, including black, liver, red, and golden in solids. Also, black and tan, and sometimes liver and tan are known, as well as a variety of color mixtures of those solid colors including roans, roan and tans, tricolors, and those solid colors with additional white markings.

Rare colours can appear unexpectedly in certain lines, for instance while an all-white cocker is usually bred by selective breeding of very light golden strains, they can still appear very uncommonly to parents that are dark-colored. A noted occurrence of this happened in 1943, when a grandson of My Own Brucie, Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1940 and 1941, was born all-white.18

In its native United States, the American Cocker Spaniel was ranked the 23rd-most popular breed according to registration statistics of the AKC in 2009, a decrease in popularity since 1999, when it was ranked 13th.19 For 25 years, the American Cocker Spaniel was the most popular dog in America. It was ranked number one first in 1936 prior to the English Cocker Spaniel being recognized as a separate breed, and held onto the spot until 1952, when Beagles became the most popular dogs. It regained the spot in 1983 and held on at number one until 1990.20 In the UK, the American Cocker Spaniel is far less popular than its English relative, with 322 registrations compared to the English Cocker's 22,211 in 2009.21

English Cocker Spaniel

Main article: English Cocker Spaniel

Called simply Cocker Spaniel in the UK,22 this is the breed that was originally recognized by The Kennel Club (KC) in 1892. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the English Cocker Spaniel as a separate breed in 1946.23

The size of the English Cocker Spaniel according to the KC is 15.5–16.0 inches (39–41 cm) at the withers for males, and 15.0–15.5 inches (38–39 cm) for females. The weight of a show dog should be 28–32 pounds (13–15 kg).24

The English Cocker Spaniel is the most popular dog breed for showing in the UK, Crufts, with seven best-in-show wins since the prize was first awarded in 1928.25 This was mostly due to the success of dog breeder H.S. Lloyd's Ware Kennel, dogs of which won best-in-show on six occasions between 1930–1950.26 They are the second most popular dog breed in the UK according to statistics released by the KC with 22,211 registrations in 2009, beaten only by the Labrador Retriever with 40,943. In third place was the English Springer Spaniel with 12,700.27 The English Cocker's popularity has increased steadily since 1999 in the United States when they were ranked 76th in registrations by the AKC, to 2009 when they were ranked 66th.28

Physical differences between show and working strains

In the United Kingdom, two distinct strains of the English Cocker Spaniel have developed: the show (or conformation) strain and the working (or field) strain. While both strains share the same breed ancestry, selective breeding for different purposes has resulted in notable physical and behavioral differences.

Show strain Cockers are bred to meet the breed standard established by kennel clubs, focusing on appearance and structure ideal for dog shows. These dogs typically have more domed skulls, longer and more luxuriant ears, and a thicker, silkier coat with prominent feathering on the legs, chest, and tail.

In contrast, working strain Cockers are bred primarily for field performance and hunting ability, particularly for flushing and retrieving game birds. As a result, they are often slightly taller and leaner, with flatter skulls, shorter ears, and shorter, finer coats that require less maintenance. Their feathering is minimal, reducing the risk of debris getting caught during field work. Additionally, working Cockers tend to have higher stamina, quicker reflexes, and a more intense drive to work, which makes them highly suitable for active environments or gundog roles. Their high energy levels and focus can make them more demanding as household pets without proper training and mental stimulation.

Despite these differences, both strains remain part of the same breed and share many of the friendly and affectionate traits characteristic of English Cocker Spaniels.

American Cocker Spaniel

Main article: American Cocker Spaniel

American Cocker Spaniels were recognized by the AKC in 1878. Generally smaller than the English, separate classes were created for the two types in America in 1935 and the Cocker Spaniel Club of America discouraged breeding between the two types in 1938.29 The American Cocker Spaniel was recognized as a separate breed by the KC in the UK in 1970. The American Cocker Spaniel is referred to as the Cocker Spaniel within the United States.30

The American Cocker Spaniel was bred smaller, as American woodcocks are smaller than their European relatives, and the breed's appearance changed slightly during the first part of the 20th century, as the preference by American breeders was for a more stylish appearance.31 The standard size according to the AKC is between 14.5 and 15.5 inches (37 and 39 cm) at the withers for males and 13.5–14.5 inches (34–37 cm) for females.32 The weight of the breed is typically between 24 and 30 pounds (11 and 14 kg).33

At the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the most prestigious dog show in the United States,34 the American Cocker Spaniel has won Best in Show on four occasions since its first award in 1907.35 The American Cocker Spaniel is judged in three separate breed classes under AKC rules; "black", "parti-color", and "any solid color other than black..." (ASCOB).36

Mixed breeds

A "Sprocker Spaniel" is crossed Cocker and Springer Spaniel.37

See also

Footnotes

Bibliography

Choosing an English Cocker Spaniel puppy

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cocker Spaniel. Look up Cocker Spaniel in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

  1. Sucher (1999): p. 7 - Sucher, Jamie (1999). Cocker Spaniels. Complete Pet Owner's Manual (2nd ed.). Hauppauge, New York: Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 978-0-7641-1034-4. https://archive.org/details/cockerspanielsco00jami ↩

  2. York (1909): p. 119 - Edward, Second Duke of York (1909). The Master of Game. London: Chatto & Windus. https://archive.org/stream/masterofgameoldexx00edwa#page/118/mode/2up ↩

  3. York (1909): p. xii - Edward, Second Duke of York (1909). The Master of Game. London: Chatto & Windus. https://archive.org/stream/masterofgameoldexx00edwa#page/118/mode/2up ↩

  4. Smith, A.C. (1932). Gun Dogs - Their Training, Working and Management. London: Seeley, Service & Co. p. 89. ↩

  5. Case, Linda P. (2005). The Dog: Its Behavior, Nutrition, and Health (2nd ed.). Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-8138-1254-0. 978-0-8138-1254-0 ↩

  6. Walsh, John Henry (1906). The Dogs Of Great Britain, America, And Other Countries. Their Breeding, Training, and Management in Health and Disease. New York: Orange Judd Company. http://chestofbooks.com/animals/dogs/Dog-Breeding/The-Field-Spaniel-Continued-Sussex-Spaniel-Cocker-Spaniel.html ↩

  7. "The Cocker Spaniel: Fine Feathered Friend". Dog & Kennel. 1999. Archived from the original on 2009-08-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20090810103545/http://www.petpublishing.com/dogken/breeds/cocker.shtml ↩

  8. Sucher (1999): p. 8 - Sucher, Jamie (1999). Cocker Spaniels. Complete Pet Owner's Manual (2nd ed.). Hauppauge, New York: Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 978-0-7641-1034-4. https://archive.org/details/cockerspanielsco00jami ↩

  9. Kolehouse, Bobbie. "Dusting Off History to Look at Cocker Hunting Tradition". Spaniel Journal. Archived from the original on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100215005015/http://www.spanieljournal.com/bkolehouse.html ↩

  10. Walsh (1887): p. 109 - Walsh, John Henry (1887). The Dog in Health and Disease. London: Longmans & Green. https://archive.org/stream/doginhealthandd00walsgoog/doginhealthandd00walsgoog_djvu.txt ↩

  11. Palika (2009): p. 19 - Palika, Liz (2009). Cocker Spaniel: Your Happy Healthy Pet (2nd ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: Howell Book House. ISBN 978-0-470-39060-3. cocker spaniel. https://archive.org/details/cockerspaniel0000pali ↩

  12. Palika (2009): p. 21 - Palika, Liz (2009). Cocker Spaniel: Your Happy Healthy Pet (2nd ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: Howell Book House. ISBN 978-0-470-39060-3. cocker spaniel. https://archive.org/details/cockerspaniel0000pali ↩

  13. "The Cocker Spaniel: Fine Feathered Friend". Dog & Kennel. 1999. Archived from the original on 2009-08-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20090810103545/http://www.petpublishing.com/dogken/breeds/cocker.shtml ↩

  14. Palika (2009): p. 21 - Palika, Liz (2009). Cocker Spaniel: Your Happy Healthy Pet (2nd ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: Howell Book House. ISBN 978-0-470-39060-3. cocker spaniel. https://archive.org/details/cockerspaniel0000pali ↩

  15. "Obo II Stud Card" (PDF). American Spaniel Club. Retrieved 26 April 2010. http://www.asc-cockerspaniel.org/images/history/obostud.pdf ↩

  16. Riggsbee, Nikki (2008). Training Your Cocker Spaniel. Hauppauge, New York: Barron's Educational Series. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-7641-4035-8. cocker spaniel 1946. 978-0-7641-4035-8 ↩

  17. Riggsbee, Nikki (2008). Training Your Cocker Spaniel. Hauppauge, New York: Barron's Educational Series. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-7641-4035-8. cocker spaniel 1946. 978-0-7641-4035-8 ↩

  18. "White Cocker: "Brucie" grandson is rare color". Life. 13 December 1943. p. 40. Retrieved 25 April 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=FVUEAAAAMBAJ&q=cocker+spaniel&pg=PA40 ↩

  19. "AKC Dog Registration Statistics". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 26 April 2010. http://www.akc.org/news/the-most-popular-dog-breeds-in-america/ ↩

  20. "AKC Registration Statistics Fact Sheet". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 26 April 2010. http://www.akc.org/press-center/facts-stats/?page=popular_pooches ↩

  21. "Quarterly Registration Statistics for the Gundog Group" (PDF). The Kennel Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2010. https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20081202104605/http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/3075/Quarterly-breed-stats-gundogs.pdf ↩

  22. "Spaniel (Cocker) Breed Standard". The Kennel Club. December 2008. Archived from the original on 2 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100402005045/http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/113 ↩

  23. Riggsbee, Nikki (2008). Training Your Cocker Spaniel. Hauppauge, New York: Barron's Educational Series. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-7641-4035-8. cocker spaniel 1946. 978-0-7641-4035-8 ↩

  24. "Spaniel (Cocker) Breed Standard". The Kennel Club. December 2008. Archived from the original on 2 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100402005045/http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/113 ↩

  25. Hogan, Michael (7 March 2019). "10 things you didn't know about Crufts". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2022-01-12. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-crufts/ ↩

  26. Jackson, Frank (1990). Crufts: The Official History. London: Pelham Books. pp. 198–200. ISBN 0-7207-1889-9. 0-7207-1889-9 ↩

  27. "Top Twenty Breeds in Registration Order for the Years 2008 and 2009" (PDF). The Kennel Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110516142417/http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/7748/Top-20.pdf ↩

  28. "AKC Dog Registration Statistics". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 26 April 2010. http://www.akc.org/news/the-most-popular-dog-breeds-in-america/ ↩

  29. Riggsbee, Nikki (2008). Training Your Cocker Spaniel. Hauppauge, New York: Barron's Educational Series. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-7641-4035-8. cocker spaniel 1946. 978-0-7641-4035-8 ↩

  30. Riggsbee, Nikki (2008). Training Your Cocker Spaniel. Hauppauge, New York: Barron's Educational Series. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-7641-4035-8. cocker spaniel 1946. 978-0-7641-4035-8 ↩

  31. "The Cocker Spaniel: Fine Feathered Friend". Dog & Kennel. 1999. Archived from the original on 2009-08-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20090810103545/http://www.petpublishing.com/dogken/breeds/cocker.shtml ↩

  32. "AKC Meet the Breeds: Cocker Spaniel". American Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 25 February 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100225073832/http://www.akc.org/breeds/cocker_spaniel/ ↩

  33. Palika, Liz (31 August 2007). The Howell Book of Dogs: The Definitive Reference to 300 Breeds and Varieties. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-470-00921-5. Retrieved 25 April 2010. 978-0-470-00921-5 ↩

  34. Del Rosario, Ron (17 February 2010). "Westminster Dog Show 2010 Results : Best in Show Results". The Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 20 February 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100220151241/http://www.thedailyinquirer.net/westminster-dog-show-2010-results-best-in-show-results/029596 ↩

  35. "Best-in-show Winners". Westminster Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 2007-12-25. Retrieved 25 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20071225033923/http://westminsterkennelclub.org/history/biswinners.html ↩

  36. "2010 Breed Judging Results". Westminster Kennel Club. 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 19 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100419022305/http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2010/results/breed/index2.html ↩

  37. "Sprocker Spaniel breed guide | Pet Health Club". Pet Health Club. Retrieved 3 July 2025. https://www.pethealthclub.com/uk/pet-advice/sprocker-breed-guide ↩