Breed FAQ
Here are a few commonly asked questions about English Cocker Spaniels.
While similar at first glance, the English and American Cocker Spaniels have differences in both appearance and function. A separate English Cocker Spaniel Club was formed in the 1930s, shortly before the American and English designations were recognized by the AKC. The English Cocker has been bred continually as a sporting dog, while the American Cocker has become more of a family companion. Appearance-wise, the English Cocker Spaniel is larger than the American, and the American has a more rounded head and shorter muzzle than the English. They both have luxurious coats, but the English Cocker's coat is shorter than the American's.
Spaniels originated in Spain and may have appeared in England as early as 55 BC. Shakespeare mentioned the spaniel type in A Midsummer Night's Dream. The first Spaniel-type dogs in the United States were said to have come across on the Mayflower. They were bred as hunting dogs as early as the 1400s and the breed type was eventually split into water and land spaniels. The types were further separated in the 1800s to specify Cockers, Springers, and others. Yet another distinction was made when American and English types were recognized in the mid-1900s.