Overview
The Cocker Spaniel dates back to the 14th century and was brought to America and bred into a smaller size, thus the American Cocker Spaniel. This breed is well known for its hunting and flushing techniques all over the world and makes a great hunting companion. They work well in both dry and wet terrain and need a fair amount of exercise.
Activity
American Cocker Spaniels are an active breed that requires constant exercise. They prefer a large backyard that they can run around in but do well in apartments if you walk them on a regular basis. They make great hunting dogs and love getting out in nature.
Care
American Cocker Spaniels will need regular trimming and grooming. Brushing daily will keep their coat healthy and free of dead hair, and bathing should also be done on a regular basis. You should also wipe under their eyes as they have a tendency to tear a lot.
Character
This breed is happy and sensitive and makes a great household pet. American Cocker Spaniels are great with children if they are trained to recognize that their place is under humans, and should be socialized at an early age to avoid any kind of shyness. They are in constant demand for companionship and exercise, and are the happiest when given commands in a gentle, yet firm voice.
Coat
The coat of the American Cocker Spaniels is long and luxurious when maintained on a regular basis and has a soft and silky undercoat. Most owners prefer to clip their coats to a medium length so that it is more functional, but seeing an American Cocker Spaniel with a long coat is not rare at all.
Temperament
American Cocker Spaniels are a great breed if you take the time to train them and give them the attention needed to be happy. They can be difficult to house train but are easily socialized to be around other pets. You must take the stance of pack leader or this breed can give you many behavior issues as they are always trying to become the pack leader themselves. Show them their place in the household and you will have a wonderful dog.
Training
Training an American Cocker Spaniel is very easy compared to some breeds. Taking a firm tone and being consistent is important. They need to be in a place below humans as far as pack mentality is concerned, and harsh treatment will tend to make them become shy and weary of everyone in the house.