English Cocker Spaniel

Although very similar to the American Cocker Spaniel in general traits, the English Cocker has more of a working dog background. English Cocker Spaniels are characterized as intelligent, playful, happy, and generally friendly dogs, although some can have a high amount of energy. Commonly English Cocker Spaniels are fairly food motivated, which makes learning and training easier, especially teaching the dog to relinquish rather than retrieve or guard items not intended for play. Reward-based training also helps to decrease the fearful behaviors occasionally seen in English Cocker Spaniels.

English Cocker Spaniel History:

The English Cocker Spaniel was originally bred in Spain during the14th Century, although some of the modern traits were not incorporated into the breed until the 1890’s. It is widely accepted that spaniels can be traced back to Spain for their development as a hunting and retrieving dogs. From Spain the dogs were often transported, traded, given away as gifts, and travelled with their masters to England. Spaniels were used in England mainly for hunting on the estates of the wealthy. Though it somewhat resembles its American cousin, the American Cocker Spaniel, it has closer links to the working dog form of the Field Spaniel and the Springer Spaniel. The breed is simply known as the Cocker Spaniel in the United Kingdom.