American Cocker Spaniel

The American Cocker Spaniel, also called the American Spaniel, is the smallest of the spaniel breed. It was bred in the sixteenth century, together with its cousin, the English Cocker Spaniel, as a gun dog. It is believed that the cousins are descendants of the spaniel type found in thirteenth-century England. The name cocker is deemed to have come from woodcock, the specific bird it was made to hunt.

The two breeds, both referred to as cocker spaniels in their home countries, used to be shown in the same class. However, the American Kennel Club divided the two breeds in the 1930s—the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel. The Kennel Club officially recognised the American Cocker Spaniel in the 1970s.

This pooch can be difficult to house-train and will have a tendency to urinate when excited or scared. Training will be successful if you are positive, calm, and persuasive. It responds well with plenty of praises and food rewards.

Many people will describe the American Cocker Spaniel as a sweet-natured, happy, and spirited dog. Unfortunately, in recent years, it is believed that this dog breed has exhibited behaviours such as nastiness. Thus, it is essential to get a well-bred puppy from a reputable breeder, since a lot of factors can affect its behaviour growing up. Amongst the factors are the environment where the American Spaniel was raised, early training, and socialisation.

Typical calorie needs of an adult American Cocker Spaniel per day:

• Senior and less active: up to 680 calories daily
• Typical adult: up to 925 calories daily
• Physically active/working dog: up to 1,110 calories daily

Since the cocker is prone to bone issues, include food that contains glucosamine. Fat found in meat and fish or cod liver oil supplements is also essential to maintain its beautiful coat. Nonetheless, be careful not to overfeed it as it easily gains weight. Also include good carbohydrates found in oatmeal, rice, and barley to provide it with energy all day.

The cost of a new dog or puppy varies significantly. A breed from a local animal shelter will be cheaper than a purebred from a reputable breeder. A 'show-quality' puppy will be more expensive than those 'pet-quality' puppies.

More factors affect how much a puppy will cost. Luckily, since an American Cocker Spaniel is a common breed, it is significantly cheaper compared to rare breeds. If you’re looking to purchase an American spaniel, you will need about £700–£900.

The best pet insurance can offer broad coverage for whatever care your dog needs. Having the best coverage will also prepare you financially for treatments and medical care that is often not covered by basic pet insurance. The cost to insure an American Cocker Spaniel would be £27 a month for a basic cover and £65 a month for a lifetime policy.

Other costs include veterinary care, dog toys, dog supplies, and equipment such as beds, leads, collars, bowls, and more. Veterinary costs per year alone can cost around £1,000. In rough estimates, you will have to set aside £80–£120 a month to care for an American Cocker Spaniel.