American Cocker Spaniel puppies

About the American Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel is the American branch of the family, developed from the English Cocker into a shorter muzzled, more heavily coated dog for hunting woodcock, and they are the smallest of the AKC sporting breeds at 9.1 to 13.6 kg and 34 to 39 cm. The look is unmistakable: a round domed skull, large dark eyes, very long low set feathered ears and a silky coat that carries down the legs and body. The temperament is cheerful, soft, and thoroughly people focused.

Energy is high for the size, so a decent daily walk plus retrieving games keeps them in shape. Grooming is the real cost: combing right down to the skin several times a week, plus a professional trim every few weeks and careful ear cleaning and drying after every bath. They suit families who will commit to that routine, given ordinary supervision with children. Keep corrections gentle: this is a sensitive breed, and under pressure they shut down or wet themselves.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a American Cocker Spaniel puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA), detectable by DNA test on both parents
• Cataracts and other inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Glaucoma, which can be flagged by gonioscopy and measured with tonometry
• Chronic ear infections caused by long, heavy, low set ears, found on a vet ear exam and reduced by routine cleaning and drying
• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
• Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, found on a patella evaluation
• Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and hypothyroidism, diagnosed on blood work and a thyroid evaluation

Your American Cocker Spaniel puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a American Cocker Spaniel.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 9.1 to 13.6 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 13.6 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the American Cocker Spaniel

Previous: American Bully · Next: American English Coonhound

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from American Cocker Spaniel breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cocker-spaniel/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Томасина, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.