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The following article was originally written to assist
shelter workers identify ECS and those relinquishing English Cockers to
rescue to understand the breed differences. This is not an exhaustive list
of diffferences and sometimes similarites make it hard to be certain. Others
may choose to use this article to learn about the breed differences. I hope
it it helpful.
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Registration |
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If you
have a dog that you wish to relinquish to rescue, and you are uncertain
as to which breed it is, first look at the registration papers from the American
Kennel Club (AKC.) If the term "cocker spaniel" is used, it is an American
Cocker Spaniel. An AKC registered English Cocker will clearly say "english
cocker spaniel."
On the other hand, if the dog is
registered with a country other than the United States, the term "cocker
spaniel" will refer to the English Cocker Spaniel.
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General
Description
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| English
Cocker Spaniels are most often confused with English Springer Spaniels
and American Cocker Spaniels. |
American
Cocker Spaniels
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American Cocker Spaniels have round
eyes, a rounded skull, a more pronounced stop, and a shorter muzzle than
English Cocker Spaniels. They come in many of the same colors as English Cockers,
but are rarely seen in the roan colors. The classic "buff" color that is
so popular among American cockers is not seen in the English Cocker, although
there are "red" English Cockers that have a darker red color. English Cockers are a bit taller and heavier than the American
breed and tend to have less coat. The head
of the English Cocker is more setter-like than the American Cocker. Just because a dog has a longer muzzle or is bigger than the
usual AC doesn't make it automatically an EC. Often, it takes someone expert
in the breed to tell the difference.
Below are pictures of some American
Cocker Spaniels. Two are buff colored and one is a show groomed liver American
Cocker. |
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Here is a picture of an American Cocker and an English Cocker
side-by-side.
Notice head and size differences!
Left: black and tan American
Cocker
Right: black and white ticked
English Cocker
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English Springer Spaniels
English Springer Spaniels may have a similar
coat pattern in open-marked (black/white, liver/white) English Cocker Spaniels.
The English Springer Spaniel stands taller and heavier (average 25-35 lbs.)
English Springer Spaniels have a longer muzzle, the eyes are not as prominent
and the coat is less profuse than most Cocker Spaniels. English Cockers
are smaller and have longer, and lower-set ears than English Springers.
Field-bred English Springer Spaniels often have a lighter build, with a
more moderate amount of coat and featherings than show-bred Springers. Their
markings are frequently predominantly white, or white with varied patches
of color. |
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English Cocker Spaniels
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English Cocker Spaniels may be many coat colors.
They may be parti-colored, with patches of black, liver, red, orange, or
gold against a white or roan background. ("Roan" is when the white background
is lightly to heavily speckled or mixed with hairs of a color listed above.
Roan colors are common in English Cockers, while relatively rare in other
spaniels.) English Cockers may be solid colors of black, red, liver, and
golden; or any of the above colors accompanied by tan points on the eyebrows,
muzzle, throat, rump, and feet. English Cocker Spaniels have a medium coat
length. The average size is from 15 to 17 inches at the shoulder, and 25
to 35 lbs.
Pictures below is a typical blue roan, a black and a red. Notice
the darker red coat on the red example. A picture of many English
Cockers and their coat colors is on the Breed Information page under "Coat
Colors."
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For more information on
English Cocker Spaniels, visit the Breed Information page.
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