FCI-Standard

The American Cocker Spaniel is the more popular of the two Cocker breeds in the United States. 
It differs from the English Cocker in being smaller, having a shorter muzzle and a more dome-shaped head. It is a direct descendent of the English Cocker but the Americans preferred a dog with a more refined-looking appearance and so selective breeding caused the American dogs to look differently. 
Today the two breeds are registered and shown separately.

The American Cocker is a stocky and sturdy dog that stands 13-15.5 inches tall and weighs 
20-28 pounds. It has a dome-shaped head, a well-pronounced stop and a short, square shaped 
muzzle. Its ears are long and covered with silky hair. It has round eyes that are very expressive 
and even though it is a small dog, it is powerful and muscular for its size. It has the same silky coat that the English Cocker has and can come in all-black, black with tan points, various creams, 
reds, and browns, and particolors. American Cockers are popular in the show ring and the 
show clip involves trimming the coat very short on the upper part of the body and letting 
it grow long on the underparts, ears, and legs. This gives the dog an appearance of having 
a skirt, which accentuates their cuteness. The tail is customarily docked.

Though the American Cocker was bred for appearance, many still retain the working 
ability for which the breed was created. They are used for flushing upland game birds, 
following their flight, and pinpointing where they fall if the hunter shoots them. 
American Cockers are bred to find the downed birds very quickly because the hunter's 
code of honor does not allow for wounded birds to be left on the field. Thus the American Cocker,
like its English cousin actually makes hunting more efficient and also more humane.

The American Cocker Spaniel also makes an admirable pet. 
These dogs make excellent watchdogs and are boisterously amusing. 
Owners of one American Cocker usually end up getting another one. 
A pair of Cockers is a delightfully merry experience. They love to play in the house 
and outside as well. American Cockers can be very good city dogs, so long as they are
allowed plenty of exercise and a romp in the park. They also get along well with other 
dogs and with cats. As long as children treat them well, they will be playful with children
in the family. They enjoy playing with balls and frisbees and compete well in flyball, frisbee, 
obedience and agility competitions. Cockers have developed a reputation for not being 
intelligent dogs and for being vicious. This is an unfounded reputation. American Cockers 
are easy to train, very eager to please, and are submissive dogs that do not challenge 
their owners for dominance and are very willing to accept their place in the home. 
While it is true that they have the highest rates of biting of any dog breed in the United States, 
this is only because they are extremely popular and have been extremely popular for many 
decades. This means that there are lots of poor breeders that breed dogs with unstable 
temperaments and health problems. However, there are also plenty of good breeders 
and if one gets a dog from one of these, one will get a jolly, eager to please, and very 
friendly companion with an extremely reliable temperament. Well-bred American Cockers 
also have a long lifespan and will delight their owners very well into their teens.

Perhaps no story illustrates the unique appeal that American Cockers have than the following 
story I read on a message board. A woman owned a very friendly Cocker, which was best 
friends with her neighbor's Rottweiler. The first time the two dogs met was when she was 
walking her dog and the neighbor, her Rottweiler. The Rottweiler growled and showed his teeth. The Cocker went over to the Rottweiler, looked at the bare teeth and began cleaning them with 
its tongue. Ever since then the two dogs were inseparable. This story shows just how cute 
and friendly these dogs can be. However, they also are willing to defend their turf and 
won't let a larger dog boss them around.

I can not emphasize enough the need to find a well bred Cocker, especially if one has children. 
American Cockers are less popular than their English cousins in other countries are, 
but they do have strong fancies in Britain, Scandinavia, and other countries. 
There, the American Cockers tend to be of good stock, though it is always a good 
idea to ensure the soundness of any breeder.

F.C.I. -Standard No. 167
American Cocker Spaniel

Origin: USA 
Utilization

Flushing Dog, Companion
FCI Classification:

Group 8: Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs; Section 2: Flushing Dogs

General Appearance
The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Sporting Group. He has a sturdy, compact 
body and a cleanly chiseled and refined head, with the overall dog in complete balance and of 
ideal size. He stands well up at the shoulder on straight forelegs with a topline sloping slightly
toward strong, moderately bent, muscular quarters. He is a dog capable of considerable speed, 
combined with great endurance. Above all, he must be free and merry, sound, well balanced 
throughout and in action show a keen inclination to work.
A dog well balanced in all parts is more desirable than a dog with strongly 
contrasting good points and faults.

Size, Proportion, Substance

Size
The ideal height at the withers for an adult dog is 15 inches and for an adult bitch, 14 inches. 
Height may vary one-half inch above or below this ideal. A dog whose height exceeds 15-1/2
inches or a bitch whose height exceeds 14-1/2 inches shall be disqualified. 
An adult dog whose height is less than 14-1/2 inches and an adult bitch whose height is 
less than 13-1/2 inches shall be penalized. Height is determined by a line perpendicular to the 
ground from the top of the shoulder blades, the dog standing naturally with its forelegs and 
lower hind legs parallel to the line of measurement.

Proportion
The measurement from the breast bone to back of thigh is slightly longer than the measurement 
from the highest point of withers to the ground. The body must be of sufficient length to 
permit a straight and free stride; the dog never appears long and low.

Head
To attain a well proportioned head, which must be in balance with the rest of the dog, it 
embodies the following:

Expression - The expression is intelligent, alert, soft and appealing.

Eyes - Eyeballs are round and full and look directly forward. The shape of the eye rims 
gives a slightly almond shaped appearance; the eye is not weak or goggled. The color of 
the iris is dark brown and in general the darker the better.

Ears - Lobular, long, of fine leather, well feathered, and placed no higher than a line to 
the lower part of the eye.

Skull - Rounded but not exaggerated with no tendency toward flatness; the eyebrows are 
clearly defined with a pronounced stop. The bony structure beneath the eyes is well chiseled with no prominence in the cheeks. The muzzle is broad and deep, with square even jaws. 
To be in correct balance, the distance from the stop to the tip of the nose is one half 
the distance from the stop up over the crown to the base of the skull.

Nose - Of sufficient size to balance the muzzle and foreface, with well developed 
nostrils typical of a sporting dog. It is black in color in the blacks, black and tans, and 
black and whites; in other colors it may be brown, liver or black, the darker the better. 
The color of nose harmonizes with the color of the eye rim.

Lips - The upper lip is full and of sufficient depth to cover the lower jaw.

Teeth - Teeth strong and sound, not too small and meet in a scissors bite.

Neck, Topline, Body
Neck - The neck is sufficiently long to allow the nose to reach the ground easily, 
muscular and free from pendulous "throatiness." It rises strongly from the shoulders 
and arches slightly as it tapers to join the head.

Topline - Sloping slightly toward muscular quarters.

Body - The chest is deep, its lowest point no higher than the elbows, its front sufficiently 
wide for adequate heart and lung space, yet not so wide as to interfere with the 
straightforward movement of the forelegs. Ribs are deep and well sprung. Back is strong 
and sloping evenly and slightly downward from the shoulders to the set-on of the docked tail. 
The docked tail is set on and carried on a line with the topline of the back, or 
slightly higher; never straight up like a Terrier and never so low as to indicate timidity. 
When the dog is in motion the tail action is merry.

Forequarters
The shoulders are well laid back forming an angle with the upper arm of approximately 
90 degrees which permits the dog to move his forelegs in an easy manner with forward reach. 
Shoulders are clean-cut and sloping without protrusion and so set that the upper points 
of the withers are at an angle which permits a wide spring of rib. When viewed from 
the side with the forelegs vertical, the elbow is directly below the highest point of the shoulder blade. Forelegs are parallel, straight, strongly boned and muscular and set close to the body 
well under the scapulae. The pasterns are short and strong. Dewclaws on forelegs may be 
removed. Feet compact, large, round and firm with horny pads; they turn neither in nor out.

Hindquarters
Hips are wide and quarters well rounded and muscular. When viewed from behind, the 
hind legs are parallel when in motion and at rest. The hind legs are strongly boned, and 
muscled with moderate angulation at the stifle and powerful, clearly defined thighs. 
The stifle is strong and there is no slippage of it in motion or when standing. 
The hocks are strong and well let down. Dewclaws on hind legs may be removed.

Coat
On the head, short and fine; on the body, medium length, with enough undercoating to give 
protection. The ears, chest, abdomen and legs are well feathered, but not so excessively as 
to hide the Cocker Spaniel's true lines and movement or affect his appearance and function as a moderately coated sporting dog. The texture is most important. The coat is silky, flat or slightly 
wavy and of a texture which permits easy care. Excessive coat or curly or cottony textured 
coat shall be severely penalized. Use of electric clippers on the back coat is not desirable. 
Trimming to enhance the dog's true lines should be done to appear as natural as possible.

Color and Markings
Black Variety - Solid color black to include black with tan points. The black should be jet; 
shadings of brown or liver in the coat are not desirable. A small amount of 
white on the chest and/or throat is allowed; white in any other location shall disqualify.

Any Solid Color Other than Black (ASCOB) - Any solid color other than black, ranging from 
lightest cream to darkest red, including brown and brown with tan points. The color 
shall be of a uniform shade, but lighter color of the feathering is permissible. A small amount of white on the chest and/or throat is allowed; white in any other location shall disqualify.

Parti-Color Variety - Two or more solid, well broken colors, one of which must 
be white; black and white, red and white (the red may range from lightest 
cream to darkest red), brown and white, and roans, to include any such color 
combination with tan points. It is preferable that the tan markings be located in 
the same pattern as for the tan points in the Black and ASCOB varieties.
Roans are classified as parti-colors and may be of any of the usual roaning patterns.
Primary color which is ninety percent (90%) or more shall disqualify.

Tan Points - The color of the tan may be from the lightest cream to the darkest red and is 
restricted to ten percent (10%) or less of the color of the specimen; tan markings in
excess of that amount shall disqualify. In the case of tan points in the Black or ASCOB variety, 
the markings shall be located as follows:

1) A clear tan spot over each eye;
2) On the sides of the muzzle and on the cheeks;
3) On the underside of the ears;
4) On all feet and/or legs;
5) Under the tail;
6) On the chest, optional; presence or absence shall not be penalized.

Tan markings which are not readily visible or which amount only to traces, shall be penalized. 
Tan on the muzzle which extends upward, over and joins shall also be penalized. 
The absence of tan markings in the Black or ASCOB variety in any of the specified locations in any otherwise tan-pointed dog shall disqualify.

Gait
The Cocker Spaniel, though the smallest of the sporting dogs, possesses a typical sporting dog gait. Prerequisite to good movement is balance between the front and rear assemblies. He drives with strong, powerful rear quarters and is properly constructed in the shoulders and forelegs so that he can reach forward without constriction in a full stride to counterbalance the driving force from the rear. Above all, his gait is coordinated, smooth and effortless. The dog must cover ground with his action; excessive animation should not be mistaken for proper gait.

Temperament
Equable in temperament with no suggestion of timidity.

Disqualifications
Height - Males over 15-1/2 inches; females over 14-1/2 inches.

Color and Markings - The aforementioned colors are the only acceptable colors or combination 
of colors. Any other colors or combination of colors to disqualify.

Black Variety - White markings except on chest and throat.

Any Solid Color Other Than Black Variety - White markings except on chest and throat.

Parti-color Variety - Primary color ninety percent (90%) or more.

Tan Points - (1) Tan markings in excess of ten percent (10%); (2) Absence of tan 
markings in Black or ASCOB Variety in any of the specified locations in an otherwise tan-pointed dog.

Note:
Males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into scrotum.
( F.C.I. - Standard No 167 / 17. 05. 1993 / GB - Date Of Publication Of The Original Valid Standard: 30. 06. 1992 )