Breeds / Medium
American Cocker Spaniel puppies
Energetic, merry and responsive, the American Cocker Spaniel is the smaller of the two Cocker breeds, shorter in the muzzle, more domed in the skull and heavier in coat than the English Cocker Spaniel. The long coat needs daily attention, and the breed was developed as a compact flushing gundog rather than a lap dog.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Adult weight 9.1 to 13.6 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 20 to 30 lb
- Adult height 34 to 39 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming High
- Typical lifespan 10 to 14 years
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 it will need a job to do long before it needs 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 it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, screened by a hip evaluation of breeding stock
- Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA), detectable by DNA test
- Phosphofructokinase deficiency (PFK), detectable by DNA test
- Inherited eye disease including goniodysgenesis, screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme with gonioscopy
- Ear canal infections in the long pendulous ears, found on routine ear checks
- Skin problems under coat mats, prevented by thorough regular grooming
From American Cocker Spaniel breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cocker-spaniel/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
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.
Other medium breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.