Cocker Spaniel

Spaniels have been around for quite some time. They are believed to have originated in Spain and, along with the Mastiff, were one of two dogs that came over on the Mayflower. Standards for pure-bred dogs didn’t become a thing in Europe until the early 19th century so, before then, Spaniels were catagorized simply as either land or water Spaniels.

The early standard for Spaniels was if they weighed more than 28 pounds, they were catagorized as a Field, or Springer, Spaniel. Anything under that weight became officially known as a Cocker Spaniel. The term “Cocker” came from their skill hunting the Woodcock bird.

In the United States in 1940’s, Cocker Spaniels were split into two more breeds. Those with a longer head and taller became English Cocker Spaniels while the smaller ones became known as Cocker Spaniels. In 1946, the American Kennel Club officially listed the Cocker Spaniel.

Trainability: C
The Cocker Spaniel is catagorized as a sporting dog and as such is pretty high-energy. They need quite a bit of exercise but are very driven by becoming a great pack member. Cocker Spaniels are very receptive to training and respond well to verbal queues from their handlers. As with most dogs, early training and socialization are the most effective.

Learn more about Cocker Spaniels at the American Kennel Club and the American Spaniel Club