American Cocker Spaniel vs English Cocker Spaniel

Photo: usbotschaftberlin

Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT

Side by side

American Cocker Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel

Adult weight

Males 11–14 kg (25–30 lb); females 9.1–11 kg (20–25 lb) (breed club figure)1

13–14.5 kg (29–32 lb)2

Height

Males 36.8–39.4 cm; females 34.3–36.8 cm (breed club figure)1

No sourced figure

Lifespan

Median 13.3 years3

Fully grown

10 months, both sexes4

Group

Retrievers & water dogs5

Retrievers & water dogs6

Coat

Coat of medium length5

Coat with feathering6

Shedding

Moults most as the seasons change

Sheds through the year

Grooming

Brushing a few times a week

Exercise

Plenty

Health

Cherry eye (far more likely); Dry eye (far more likely)7,8

Dry eye (far more likely); Ear discharge (far more likely)8,9

Class

Companion

Family

Which suits you

Size

The English Cocker Spaniel is a little larger on average: about 14 kg (30 lb) as an adult, against 11 kg (25 lb) for the American Cocker Spaniel.

Shedding

Their coats shed differently: the American Cocker Spaniel moults most as the seasons change, the English Cocker Spaniel sheds through the year.

Temperament

They differ most on handler demand (American Cocker Spaniel: suits a first-time owner; English Cocker Spaniel: needs steady training) and on prey drive (American Cocker Spaniel: usually fine with small pets; English Cocker Spaniel: chases; needs managing).

Alike

Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.

Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.

Take the breed matcher

What they're like

American Cocker Spaniel

Retrievers & water dogs · Small

In temperament the American Cocker is gentle, cheerful and affectionate, usually eager to please and quick to learn.

English Cocker Spaniel

Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament it is cheerful and affectionate, and it is often called the merry cocker, a nod to its lively nature and busy tail. It is keen to please and closely attached to its people.

The American Cocker Spaniel page →The English Cocker Spaniel page →

Breed traits

Day to day

American Cocker Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel

Activity

A good daily walk and play

Intelligence

Learns readily, likes games

Handler demand

Differs

Suits a first-time owner

Needs steady training

With people

American Cocker Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel

Affection

A lap or leaning dog

Loyalty

Bonded to its family

Independence

Keen to work with you

Around the home

American Cocker Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel

Sensitivity

Needs a calm, predictable home

Voice

Barks to alert, then settles

Prey drive

Differs

Usually fine with small pets

Chases; needs managing

Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour10. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home11,12.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes

Summary

Detail

The English Cocker Spaniel grows to the heavier adult, about 14 kg against the American Cocker Spaniel's 11 kg.

American Cocker Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel

More comparisons

Compare the American Cocker Spaniel with

English Cocker Spaniel vs English Springer Spaniel Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs English Cocker Spaniel English Cocker Spaniel vs Golden Retriever English Cocker Spaniel vs Field Spaniel American Cocker Spaniel vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel English Cocker Spaniel vs Welsh Springer Spaniel All breed comparisons →

Sources

1
American Kennel Club. American Cocker Spaniel breed page. ↑
2
The Kennel Club. English Cocker Spaniel breed standard. ↑
3
McMillan et al., 2024. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports 14, 531 (VetCompass). CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w
4
Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.8.2027S
5
FCI. Breed standard no. 167. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/167g08-en.pdf
6
FCI. Breed standard no. 5. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/005g08-en.pdf
7
O'Neill et al., 2022. Breed and conformational predispositions for prolapsed nictitating membrane gland (PNMG) in dogs in the UK: A VetCompass study. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260538
8
O'Neill et al., 2021. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK: an epidemiological study. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13382
9
Engdahl et al., 2024. English Cocker Spaniels under primary veterinary care in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1186/s40575-023-00136-x
10
Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
doi.org/10.1126/science.abk0639
11
Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/getting-dog/choosing-dog/finding-a-breeder
12
American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/screening-puppy-buyers-how-top-breeders-find-the-best-homes/
13
Salt et al., 2017. Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes. PLoS ONE 12(9): e0182064 (WALTHAM). CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182064

Parts of this page were written by AI ·