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American Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniel (USA), American Cocker

The American Cocker Spaniel — in the United States simply the Cocker Spaniel — is a different breed from the English Cocker Spaniel. The AKC standard calls it the smallest member of the Sporting Group, with long, lobular, well-feathered ears, a rounded skull and a broad, deep muzzle, and a silky coat that is flat or slightly wavy; it comes in black, in any solid colour from lightest cream to darkest red, and in parti-colours with white. The standard asks for an equable temperament with no suggestion of timidity.

The Royal Kennel Club recommends grooming every day and more than 2 hours of exercise a day, and gives its lifespan as over 10 years; the AKC and PetMD write that it does not need a lot of exercise. PetMD calls these sweet-tempered dogs great family dogs, friendly with people and other animals, and advises starting socialisation and training early; VCA writes that they are usually very good with children, tend to become overweight and need their ears checked every week.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

American Cocker Spaniel — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
small — The Royal Kennel Club S305
Adult weight
males 9.1–13.6 kg, females 9.1–13.6 kg — American Kennel Club S308
Daily exercise
more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S305
Brushing
every day — The Royal Kennel Club S305
Shedding
sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S305
Lifespan
more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S305

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

Keep in mind:

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S305

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: long — The Royal Kennel Club S305
  • Brushing: every day — The Royal Kennel Club S305
  • Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S305

Meals

  • Strongly motivated by food — helpful in training, but watch the portions. — PetMD S309

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S305

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 9–12 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: small — The Royal Kennel Club S305
  • Height at the withers: males 38.1–39.4 cm, females 35.6–36.8 cm — American Kennel Club S307
  • Adult weight: males 9.1–13.6 kg, females 9.1–13.6 kg — American Kennel Club S308

Training

  • No. 20 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 167, group 8 (retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs); origin: USA. — FCI S303

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does an American Cocker Spaniel need?

According to our sources, the American Cocker Spaniel needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S305.

How long does an American Cocker Spaniel live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the American Cocker Spaniel is: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S305.

How big does an American Cocker Spaniel get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the American Cocker Spaniel, according to our sources: Size: small — The Royal Kennel Club S305; Adult weight: males 9.1–13.6 kg, females 9.1–13.6 kg — American Kennel Club S308.

How much grooming does an American Cocker Spaniel need?

Coat and grooming of the American Cocker Spaniel, according to our sources: Brushing: every day — The Royal Kennel Club S305; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S305; Coat: long — The Royal Kennel Club S305.

Who is the American Cocker Spaniel a good fit for?

Our sources describe the American Cocker Spaniel as a good fit for: family life — PetMD S309; families with children — American Kennel Club, VCA Animal Hospitals S308S310; homes with other pets — PetMD, VCA Animal Hospitals S309S310. Keep in mind: needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, VCA Animal Hospitals S305S310; loves food — watch the weight — PetMD, VCA Animal Hospitals S309S310; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S305.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12
Young dogmonth 929,000 → 12,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)212,000 steps
Seniormonth 90 (7.5 years)29,000 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands 1.5× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing 7 times a week.
  • Care: checking and cleaning the ears once a week — a task for the child.
  • Care: a visit to the groomer every 4 weeks — a reminder for the parent.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S305S310

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Ear infections can occur because of the long ears; bacteria can build up in the ear canal. — PetMD S309
  • Hip dysplasia, a loose, poorly developed hip joint, occurs in the breed and can eventually lead to arthritis. — PetMD S309
  • Von Willebrand's disease, an inherited problem with blood clotting that can cause excessive bleeding, occurs in the breed. — PetMD S309
  • Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, occurs in the breed; DNA tests and eye testing are available. — The Royal Kennel Club S305

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum

  • Genetic diversity — check the inbreeding coefficient — The Royal Kennel Club S305
  • Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S305

Further tests for best practice

  • DNA test for progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) — The Royal Kennel Club S305
  • Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S305

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S303FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — AMERICAN COCKER SPANIEL (167)https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/COCKER-AMERICAIN-167.html
  11. S305The Royal Kennel Club — Spaniel (American Cocker) — breed information page (Breeds A to Z)https://thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/gundog/spaniel-american-cocker
  12. S307American Kennel Club — Official Standard of the Cocker Spaniel (PDF, approved 2018-01-09)https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Cocker_Spaniel.pdf
  13. S308American Kennel Club — Is the Cocker Spaniel a Good Fit for Your Lifestyle?https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/cocker-spaniel-right-for-you/
  14. S309PetMD — Cocker Spaniel (American) — dog breed health and carehttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/c_dg_am_cocker_spaniel
  15. S310VCA Animal Hospitals — American Cocker Spaniel — dog breed pagehttps://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-breeds/american-cocker-spaniel
  16. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  17. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  18. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  19. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  20. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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