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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+9
Dogs
# The American Cocker Spaniel: temperament, price, health, and breeders
United States
A small, cheerful and elegant spaniel, very attached to its family.
Size MediumLife expectancy 12–15 yearsBudget ≈ €90/monthPuppy €700 – €900
[Find a breeder 21](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=american-cocker-spaniel)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Very good
Daily exercise needs High
Apartment living Excellent
First-time owners Good
Other pets Very good
Tolerance of being alone Limited
Guarding instinct Limited
Strengths and weaknesses
- Affectionate companion: He seeks contact with his family and generally forms a very strong bond with his owner.
- Good aptitude for training: His sensitivity and desire to please make learning easier with a positive method.
- Adaptation to the home: He can live well in an apartment if his needs for outings and attention are met.
- High-maintenance grooming: Its fringed coat requires frequent brushing and regular grooming.
- Sensitive ears: Its drooping ears promote ear infections if hygiene is not maintained.
- Need for company: Very attached to its human, it does not cope well with a daily life that is too solitary.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Families with plenty of time: He appreciates a present, gentle home life punctuated by shared activities.
- Careful owners: He is well suited to people ready to take on regular grooming of the coat, ears and eyes.
- Active apartment living: His size and sociability make him a good candidate for urban housing with daily outings.
Not recommended for
- Prolonged absences: He does not cope well with being often alone without sufficient interaction or stimulation.
- People with little time for grooming: Grooming and monitoring the ears require regularity.
- Very sporty households: He likes to move but does not have the needs of a very enduring working dog on a daily basis.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
37 cmAmerican Cocker Spaniel
- Height at the withers
- 34–39 cm
- Weight
- 9–13 kg
- Coat
- Medium-long, silky
- FCI group
- 8
- Origin
- United States
- Grooming
- High-maintenance coat
## Photos and videos
See the American Cocker Spaniel in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The American Cocker descends from the English Cocker Spaniel, from which it gradually distinguished itself in the United States at the end of the 19th century. The development of the breed began after the importation of English subjects, then American breeders selected a more compact, more ornate dog, and very well suited to companionship as well as hunting. The breed was then recognized in its own right by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1965.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
The American Cocker Spaniel is a robust, compact and harmoniously built dog, the smallest of the hunting dogs of the group of game flushers. Its head is finely chiselled with a rounded skull, a pronounced stop, a broad muzzle and dark eyes with a gentle expression. Its coat is flat to slightly wavy, with a silky texture, shorter on the head and fuller on the body, with beautiful fringes on the ears, the chest, the belly and the limbs.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
Gentle, cheerful and very close to its owner, the American Cocker Spaniel is a companion dog appreciated for its joie de vivre and its balanced temperament. It is generally friendly, gets along well with children and cohabits quite well with its fellow dogs when it is properly socialized. Active without being excessive, it likes to take part in family life and remains sensitive to the atmosphere of its home.
Affectionate Playful Intelligent Easy to train Sociable
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
The American Cocker adapts well to apartment living provided it benefits from regular outings and an available owner. It likes to stay active, play, sniff and enjoy daily walks, while knowing how to be pleasant at home once it has burned off energy. Its hunting instinct still exists, but it is expressed mainly in individuals that are poorly guided or insufficiently stimulated.
Training
## Training and socialization
Its training is generally accessible thanks to its attachment to humans, its gentleness and its good learning ability. A consistent, calm and positive method gives very good results, avoiding any brutality with this sensitive dog. Early socialization and handling habits for grooming, the ears and the eyes are particularly useful.
Budget
## Price and budget for the American Cocker Spaniel
The purchase price varies mainly depending on the quality of the breeding, registration with the LOF, the reputation of the line, and the care given to the puppies' socialization. For this breed, it is preferable to favor a serious breeder who clearly documents the health and temperament of the breeding dogs.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/american-cocker-spaniel/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
The American Cocker Spaniel is overall a fairly robust dog, but the breed has several known points of vigilance, notably regarding the eyes, ears and joints. Regular veterinary monitoring, serious selection of breeding dogs and rigorous maintenance of the coat and ears help to limit many problems.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/american-cocker-spaniel/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The American Cocker needs a complete and highly digestible diet, adapted to its age, its activity level and its body condition. The quality of the ration matters as much as the quantity, because a silky coat, good musculature and a stable weight rely on a balanced nutritional intake.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/american-cocker-spaniel/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
The American Cocker is often confused with the English Cocker Spaniel, from which it originates, but it differs from it by a more compact silhouette, a more rounded head and a more abundant coat. Very popular as a show and companion dog in the United States, it also retains the abilities of a game-flushing dog and can prove skillful in disciplines such as agility.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the American Cocker Spaniel
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Can the American Cocker live in an apartment?
Yes, it adapts well to apartment living if it benefits from real daily walks, play, and sufficient human presence.
### Is the American Cocker easy to train?
Its training is generally manageable thanks to its intelligence, gentleness, and desire to please, provided that a consistent and positive method is used.
### Does the American Cocker shed a lot?
Shedding is generally moderate, but grooming needs are demanding because its long, silky coat requires frequent brushing and regular grooming.
## Find a American Cocker Spaniel breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most American Cocker Spaniel breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
[American Cocker Spaniel breeders in Nouvelle-Aquitaine5](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel/nouvelle-aquitaine) [American Cocker Spaniel breeders in Hauts-de-France4](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel/hauts-de-france)
### American Cocker Spaniel breeders by country
[21 breeders of American Cocker Spaniel in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel) [21 breeders of American Cocker Spaniel in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel/germany) [21 breeders of American Cocker Spaniel in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel/italy) [7 breeders of American Cocker Spaniel in Finland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel/finland) [7 breeders of American Cocker Spaniel in the United Kingdom](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel/united-kingdom) [4 breeders of American Cocker Spaniel in Denmark](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel/denmark) [4 breeders of American Cocker Spaniel in the Netherlands](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel/netherlands) [2 breeders of American Cocker Spaniel in Austria](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel/austria)
[All breeders of American Cocker Spaniel in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel)
## Ready to welcome a American Cocker Spaniel?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-american-cocker-spaniel)
## Discover other breeds
[English Cocker Spaniel
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/english-cocker-spaniel)
[Clumber Spaniel
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/clumber-spaniel)
[Field Spaniel
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/field-spaniel)
[English Springer Spaniel
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/english-springer-spaniel)
[Sussex Spaniel
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/sussex-spaniel)
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