Cocker Spaniel... American vs. English

[Disneyland1084]

Is there really a difference? If so, what? DH , our two kids and I are in the process of getting a small dog. Our last one died in January. There's a few breeds I'm interested in. Though I'm not ruling out going to a breeder, DH doesn't want to and would rather adopt one from the humane society. Truthfully, so would I. With that being said, I've always liked cocker spaniels. In high school, I walked two of them. They were owned by different owners. One was really hyper and playful and super sweet, the other was friendly but concieted. At least he came off like that. Is it common for cocker spaniels to act like that? These two dogs were small and I'm not sure if they were American or English.

 

[100AcreWood]

I've had a few cocker spaniels. I think you're going to have a difficult time finding a rescue cocker. They aren't as common as they used to be back when Lady and the Tramp was big. Good luck finding the right dog for your family! I don't think Cockers are known to be conceited but all of mine had different personalities and the last one made me lose interest in the breed. She had a lot of issues .

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

I have a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and I think she looks exactly like Lady from Lady and the Tramp. If you look at Lady's face markings, they drew her with a blenheim cavalier's face and not a cocker face. Anyway, resemblance to Lady aside, if you're looking for a small dog, I absolutely would recommend a cavalier. They're bred to be lap dogs, mine is incredibly submissive and so good with children. There's an organization called Cavalier Rescue USA that has dogs to adopt if you don't want to shop, unfortunately most of them are senior dogs or have health issues but they do get puppies sometimes. I love love love my cavalier, I can't imagine having any other breed in our family.

 

[johnsontrio]

I am now Mom to my 3rd English Cocker and am familiar with the American Cockers as well. The differences, as I see them, the English is preferable in my opinion as they are much smarter, easily trained, show them something once and they have it down. Less behavior issues, no submissive peeing as I've seen in many American Cockers and I've yet to know one that gets crabby when they get older. I known a few American Cockers that get snippy with small children as they age and difficulty house training is common complaint, pretty but stupid. I would think the English have less congenital issues as they haven't been overbreed. Most English Cocker breeders I've known, show their dogs, don't breed to make pets available and only sell those pups which are undesirable to show. Both my males were too big for confirmation standards and 2 have been black which is less desirable for show purposes. My little female I have now is tiny, smaller than the breed standard, 17 pounds, and was rehomed from a breeder that became ill and couldn't care for the dogs she had.

The American Cockers are smaller than the English, so the ones you walked in high school might have been American. The Americans also have a shorter nose so the face looks very different between the 2 breeds.

They are perfect for my family. They love to walk, run or just lounge around. They bond closely with the Mom or the person that feeds them. Very pleasant and affectionate. Get along well with other dogs and cats. They are foodies and spend their day waiting for something edible to drop from heaven so they are always underfoot in the kitchen, which may drive you crazy. My SIL constantly comments they are like aardvarks with their noses to the ground. One breeder I know, removed the doors from her lower kitchen cabinets so her dogs could lay in their condos while she works in the kitchen. Love to ride in the car and generally not anxious or afraid of strangers.

I have had Bassett Hounds, Dachshunds (Mini and Standard) and English Springer Spaniels but the English Cocker is my true love. Good luck with your decision.

 

[johnsontrio]

I have a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and I think she looks exactly like Lady from Lady and the Tramp. If you look at Lady's face markings, they drew her with a blenheim cavalier's face and not a cocker face. Anyway, resemblance to Lady aside, if you're looking for a small dog, I absolutely would recommend a cavalier. They're bred to be lap dogs, mine is incredibly submissive and so good with children. There's an organization called Cavalier Rescue USA that has dogs to adopt if you don't want to shop, unfortunately most of them are senior dogs or have health issues but they do get puppies sometimes. I love love love my cavalier, I can't imagine having any other breed in our family.

My sister currently has 2 male Cavaliers and has had extensive health issues with both her dogs. I know another person whose Cavalier died at an early age from cardiac issues so I would recommend anyone looking into a Cavalier be sure to have a vet familiar with the breed and their health issues examine the dog prior to making any decisions.

 

[okeydokey]

I don’t know if there is any truth to this, but I have heard from several people that the English has a better temperament and the American is a bit snippy.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

The English ones bark with a different accent.

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

My sister currently has 2 male Cavaliers and has had extensive health issues with both her dogs. I know another person whose Cavalier died at an early age from cardiac issues so I would recommend anyone looking into a Cavalier be sure to have a vet familiar with the breed and their health issues examine the dog prior to making any decisions.

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister's dogs, that must have been hard to deal with. Unfortunately, heart issues do run in the breed and almost all cavaliers will a heart murmur by age 10. Some, not all, will be able to live a symptomless high-quality life with no medication necessary. So far my girl is one of them, fingers crossed she will stay that way! If you are going to buy a dog (any breed) from a breeder, thoroughly investigating the breeder and making sure they are responsible/reputable is highly recommended and will help to avoid health issues.

The average life span of a cavalier is shorter than many small dogs, and that is absolutely because of the common heart issues. I would just add from personal experience though, that I would rather have a cavalier for a shorter time than another breed for a longer time. My last dog was a wonderful mutt who lived 14 years without health issues. But he needed a significant amount of exercise daily, he was aggressive around other dogs, and he once tried to bite the vet. There is never a single dog breed that can guarantee health or disposition. If you are interested in a cocker spaniel, I think it's worth checking out a cavalier.

 

[aprilgail]

I don’t know if there is any truth to this, but I have heard from several people that the English has a better temperament and the American is a bit snippy.

When we first got our cocker spaniel and took him to the vet the vet said "wish you would have talked to me first about getting this breed of dog-they are not a good choice for young kids in the house"- well turns out not a good choice around older people either- mine took such a bite out of grandmas arm for no reason and she ended up in the emergency room. We had three separate dog trainers all tell us that they are a VERY difficult breed and very snippy.

 

[Hrhpd]

My sister currently has 2 male Cavaliers and has had extensive health issues with both her dogs. I know another person whose Cavalier died at an early age from cardiac issues so I would recommend anyone looking into a Cavalier be sure to have a vet familiar with the breed and their health issues examine the dog prior to making any decisions.

Or go to a reputable breeder that actually has had the parents tested for cardiac problems before they breed. Most responsible Cav breeders are fully aware of the lines that carry cardiac disease and are working hard towards eliminating it from the breed.

Cockers are a breed you need to be very, very careful with and get one from a reputable breeder. Since they were so popular, lots of dogs were bred without any consideration of proper cocker temperament, which led to all the problems you see today like the submissive peeing. There is also a trend today for backyard breeders to breed colors that are not part of the breed standard like Merle. Unfortunately, the reason many of those colors are not part of the breed standard is because the genetics also carry a whole host of problems.

The best place to start are the official breed clubs for each breed. The people there can recommend responsible breeders. You can also find out a whole host of info about each breed to help you make your decision. I would highly recommend going to an AKC show in your area and watch the breeds to see which one you like. Then, if they are not busy, talk to the handlers about the pros and cons of the breed.

American cocker spaniel breed club: https://www.americanspanielclub.org/
English cocker spaniel breed club: http://www.ecsca.info/

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Cocker Spaniels happen to be my least liked breed of dog and that comes from having worked a number of years in veterinary medicine. In that setting they’re generally nasty dogs, very prone to biting and, moreso than any other breed, have you reaching for the muzzle before you can even attempt to work with them. Cockers have a pretty negative reputation among the veterinary profession and I found that sentiment to be consistent across all the places I worked. That said, I’m sure they behave much differently in the family setting and the people who own them are often very loyal to the breed. Anecdotally, my best friend’s family dog was a cocker when we were growing up. He was a sweet dog, though kind of crusty and gross, obnoxiously in-your-face all the time, and was absolutely terrible about submissive peeing. I might’ve preferred it if he had been a standoffish biter instead.

In my experience, one of the very best small dog breeds (and there are not many) is the other spaniel being mentioned in this thread, the Cavalier. Their sweetness can absolutely not be denied — I don’t even know if those dogs are capable of any other behavior. The health problems though? Make sure you have a good cardiologist on speed dial.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I have a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and I think she looks exactly like Lady from Lady and the Tramp. If you look at Lady's face markings, they drew her with a blenheim cavalier's face and not a cocker face. Anyway, resemblance to Lady aside, if you're looking for a small dog, I absolutely would recommend a cavalier. They're bred to be lap dogs, mine is incredibly submissive and so good with children. There's an organization called Cavalier Rescue USA that has dogs to adopt if you don't want to shop, unfortunately most of them are senior dogs or have health issues but they do get puppies sometimes. I love love love my cavalier, I can't imagine having any other breed in our family.

OMG I love Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. I met one that was a therapy dog and fell in love with it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I agree with other posters here, there can be a lot of problems with the Cocker Spaniel, unfortunately.

We have a Cairn Terrier (like Toto, from The Wizard of Oz) and they are really great family dogs. There is a big rescue network for the breed called Col Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue. We've worked with them and they are great, but ultimately we went to a top breeder because we had suffered so much with two of our previous dogs (GSDs) that I had to try to stack my odds from a health standpoint; I was just too burnt out and traumatized from what we had to go through. And our guy has been very healthy and has a great temperament. You should watch where you get one from, as I've met a lot of people out and about who said their Cairns weren't as well tempered as mine is. I think it's not only where you get them from, but how they're treated. A lot of people want to keep small dogs on their laps and frankly, it can make the dog irritable to be poked and prodded all the time, especially if they're teased or made to be uncomfortable when people hold them. I think the grooming piece of small dogs plays a part too - it can be painful and a stressful process, and they learn to get snippy as a way of self-protection. All things to consider when getting a small or smaller dog.

 

[LSUmiss]

Is there really a difference? If so, what? DH , our two kids and I are in the process of getting a small dog. Our last one died in January. There's a few breeds I'm interested in. Though I'm not ruling out going to a breeder, DH doesn't want to and would rather adopt one from the humane society. Truthfully, so would I. With that being said, I've always liked cocker spaniels. In high school, I walked two of them. They were owned by different owners. One was really hyper and playful and super sweet, the other was friendly but concieted. At least he came off like that. Is it common for cocker spaniels to act like that? These two dogs were small and I'm not sure if they were American or English.

For years they were very popular & so they were overbred, but that really isn’t the case anymore. All dogs are individuals, of course, no matter the breed. But, they’re behavior is usually similar to what you’d expect of any spaniel breed from my experience. I have very limited experience with English cockers. Personally, I think they’re precious little dogs with a lot of personality. They can have severe ear infection issues & require routine professional grooming. However, I think the ear infection thing was more of a problem back in the overbreeding times.

 

[LSUmiss]

Cocker Spaniels happen to be my least liked breed of dog and that comes from having worked a number of years in veterinary medicine. In that setting they’re generally nasty dogs, very prone to biting and, moreso than any other breed, have you reaching for the muzzle before you can even attempt to work with them. Cockers have a pretty negative reputation among the veterinary profession and I found that sentiment to be consistent across all the places I worked. That said, I’m sure they behave much differently in the family setting and the people who own them are often very loyal to the breed. Anecdotally, my best friend’s family dog was a cocker when we were growing up. He was a sweet dog, though kind of crusty and gross, obnoxiously in-your-face all the time, and was absolutely terrible about submissive peeing. I might’ve preferred it if he had been a standoffish biter instead.

In my experience, one of the very best small dog breeds (and there are not many) is the other spaniel being mentioned in this thread, the Cavalier. Their sweetness can absolutely not be denied — I don’t even know if those dogs are capable of any other behavior. The health problems though? Make sure you have a good cardiologist on speed dial.

Interesting opinion. I worked in veterinary medicine too for a long time & agree with the snippy thing, but there were so many worse breeds (imo) that if you told me to list the 10 worst, I’m not sure cockers would make my list. Not trying to argue with you b/c, of course, your experience is your own, but I thought it was interesting. Off topic, but a few of the breeds on my worst list in random order are Akitas, chows, german shepherds, shar peis, dachshunds (even though I have always had one), Dalmatians.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Interesting opinion. I worked in veterinary medicine too for a long time & agree with the snippy thing, but there were so many worse breeds (imo) that if you told me to list the 10 worst, I’m not sure cockers would make my list. Not trying to argue with you b/c, of course, your experience is your own, but I thought it was interesting. Off topic, but a few of the breeds on my worst list in random order are Akitas, chows, german shepherds, shar peis, dachshunds (even though I have always had one), Dalmatians.

Accurate list, minus the glaring chihuahua omission.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

^ In my large training group aggressive dogs had to be identified with a colored bandana. Labs most often were the ones wearing them.

I have had three bites - two were from two different Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties) and one was from a Cockapoo.

 

[LSUmiss]

Accurate list, minus the glaring chihuahua omission.

Lol! Guess I was naming the ones I feared! Chi were probably consistently the most likely to bite but so little.

 

[LSUmiss]

^ In my large training group aggressive dogs had to be identified with a colored bandana. Labs most often were the ones wearing them.

I have had three bites - two were from two different Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties) and one was from a Cockapoo.

I’m sure the venue matters too. This was at the vet so behavior may change. I know many German Shep owners swear they are some of the best pets, but in the veterinary community they may be one of the top most feared esp white or black ones! They were absolutely unpredictable! It wasn’t impossible but very unlikely to see a mean lab, but, if you did, it was typically choc males that were most aggressive.

I have 3 bites also...Jack Russell, Pomeranian & a cat. The JR & the cat were the vet’s fault really. The Pom was just from reaching in his cage to get him & he was usually nice. Didn’t hurt much though, lol! The other 2 were worse.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I’m sure the venue matters too. This was at the vet so behavior may change. I know many German Shep owners swear they are some of the best pets, but in the veterinary community they may be one of the top most feared esp white or black ones! They were absolutely unpredictable! It wasn’t impossible but very unlikely to see a mean lab, but, if you did, it was typically choc males that were most aggressive.

I have 3 bites also...Jack Russell, Pomeranian & a cat. The JR & the cat were the vet’s fault really. The Pom was just from reaching in his cage to get him & he was usually nice. Didn’t hurt much though, lol! The other 2 were worse.

I believe you. But just saying, we never had a problem with any of the six of our German Shepherds at the vet's. As a matter of fact they used to say how nice they were. Maybe in comparison, idk. At one of our biggest shelters where I live the shelter manager called my last German Shepherd the nicest she'd ever met - we were there to adopt a small dog. We'd found one and were all set to go, when I had the small dog on my lap, and my Shepherd came over to me. (We'd had to bring her to see that they got along.) When she came over, the little dog bit her in the face, twice, and my dog never even reacted at all. Prompting the comment from the manager. Ultimately she thought it wasn't fair to my Shepherd to have this dog in our home since my Shepherd had DM so we had to leave the dog there. (And the shelter manager scolded her saying "That's the second good family you've lost now!") This was my first encounter with "lap aggression" since I'd never had small dogs before. I made sure with my Cairn that we didn't invoke that problem with him. Oh and after that, we tried to adopt another small dog at an adoption fair. We asked about lap aggression and they said it wasn't an issue for the dog. But the foster mom pulled my DH aside and said, in fact, it was. So another dog who missed out. Which is why I say to people just be careful where you get the dog from and be careful if you have other animals and children with dogs like this. I think the reason Chihuahuas are so aggressive is because people hold them too much and don't let them be dogs. We watch one and he's the same way. If you try to put him down he quivers; doesn't even know what to do. Let dogs be dogs, even if they're small!

Oh, and just one more thing, sorry OT. But the way lap aggression happens is that dogs get inadvertently rewarded for this type of behavior when people laugh, think it's cute, or even subtlety praise the dog for "protecting" them. Gosh, this is so selfish! It's not funny or cute, and as I've explained, it can cost a dog a good home, or even its life if circumstances are right, so put the dog down most of the time and let him be a dog, teach him how to be a dog, etc. Rant over!