Cocker Spaniel facts for kids
| Other names | American Cocker Spaniel (American breed outside of America) English Cocker Spaniel (British breed, outside of Britain) |
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| Common nicknames | Cockers | ||||||||||
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| Notes | The term cocker spaniel refers to two separately recognized dog breeds. | ||||||||||
| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||
Cocker Spaniels are a type of dog. There are two main kinds: the American Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel. People often just call them 'Cocker Spaniels' in their home countries.
These dogs were first bred in the United Kingdom. They were used as hunting dogs. The name cocker comes from their job of hunting a bird called the Eurasian woodcock. When the breed came to the United States, it was bred to hunt the American woodcock. Over time, the American Cocker Spaniel developed some different physical traits.
Cocker Spaniels are popular pets for families. The English version often has brown and ginger fur. Their fur is very soft, and they have big, floppy ears. There are two types of Cocker Spaniels today: those bred for dog shows and those bred for hunting. They are the smallest of the sporting dogs.
They were originally bred from a 19th-century dog called the Field Spaniel. The smallest puppies in a litter were called "cockers." This was because they were small enough to go under hedgerows. They could also move through brambles and bushes. This helped them to flush woodcocks out into the open for hunters.
In the United States, the English Cocker was recognized as a separate breed in 1946. In the UK, the American type was recognized as a separate breed in 1970. The American Cocker Spaniel was once the most popular dog in America for 25 years. It is still a very popular breed today.
Types of Cocker Spaniels
There are two main types of modern Cocker Spaniels. These are the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel. Both were bred to be gun dogs. This means they use their strong sense of smell to find birds hiding in low areas. They would flush the birds into the air for hunters. After a bird was shot, they would use their eyes and nose to find it. Then, they would gently bring the bird back to the hunter.
Differences Between Breeds
The American Cocker Spaniel is generally smaller than the English type. It also has a shorter back and a rounded head. Its muzzle (nose and mouth area) is shorter. The English Cocker Spaniel is taller. It has a narrower head and chest. These differences make each breed unique.
Images for kids
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An orange roan English Cocker Spaniel with docked tail.
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A drawing of English and Welsh Cockers from 1859.
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Champion American Cocker Spaniel Ch. Obo II.
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A recently groomed American Cocker Spaniel.
See also
In Spanish: Cocker Spaniel para niños
