There will also be a brief AKC Standard section for each breed. This is for those who really care or maybe do not know what the American Kennel Club says their purebred should look like. Most people who are pet owners could care less if their pet is the regulation size or build. If you would wish detailed information, type in any search engine and they will bring up 100’s of web sites. There are many books out that tell you about a specific breed. Many people in the animal profession would like to use those books as kindling. They are generally written by people who have some type of agenda since they are particle to that breed or they have pictures/ temperaments of show dogs. Your average pet owner does not have a show dog but a pet that was sold as that. This section is more designed for the “normal and average” pet owner and what they can expect in real every day life.

Official Standard:

Height - Male……Approximately 15 inches at shoulder

Height - Female….Approximately 14 inches at shoulder

Weight - Male.......Approximately 28 pounds

Weight - Female....Approximately 26 pounds

Medical Issues:

There are a few congenital and hereditary disorders associated with this breed. In order: Behavioural abnormalities, bilateral cataracts, cleft lip and palate, hip dysplasia and cranioschisis: soft spot in cranium. They also have a tendency to acquire thyroid issues making them overweight.

Characteristics:

Well here is an interesting breed that elicits one of two responses. You absolutely love them or you react the same way you did when you mom made you eat spinach and brussel sprouts when you were a kid. That is largely due to the fact that they are from the Sporting Group of which people will have one of the reactions mentioned above at the sight of a Sporting Group dog. There are 9 Spaniel Breeds in the Sporting Dog Group. The American Water, Clumber, English Cocker, English Springer, English Toy, Welsh Springer and American Cocker. That latter of which is the focus of the profile.

Unlike the Spaniels many grew up with years ago as kids, they CAN tend to be very aggressive with children. They had the distinction of having the number one bite rate of any breed three years in a row. Having worked with hundreds in 40 years I can say I have had my share of stitches working with this breed as many people in the pet profession have.

For the people who have Cocker Spaniels, they absolutely adore them. They do prove to be very loyal to family members although not the most attentive in the watchdog category. The Cocker Spaniel brain pattern thinking that everyone is a friend and everyone is present to see and pet them. They can be on the hyper side far exceeding playful. The are also very easy to train with the proper persistence.

For anyone wishing to share a household with this breed, be prepared for a very “active” and playful puppyhood.

Note on author: The advantage of opinions is they cannot be wrong and they cannot be right. Consequently all written material is strictly my opinion based on over 40 years working with animals. I do not believe in “experts” for one finds out quickly that there is always someone who is smarter, better educated and a wider life experience. If I was an expert and knew everything I would elect to be dictator of the world. I do not believe in statistics since for every con argument there are equal pro arguments to challenge those statistics. Consequently rarely, if ever do I use them. All information is copywrited by Mimi Davis d.b.a. Curbside Clippers. Any use must have prior permission.