Most people know what a cocker spaniel looks like but everyone should be aware that there is an English Cocker Spaniel and an American Cocker Spaniel. These two may look the same but they are different in a lot of forms and are definitely separate breeds. Both breeds are being used as hunting companions and as conformation show competitors.

There are two varieties of the English Cocker Spaniel and they are the field/working cocker and the show cocker. The working cocker is used as a hunting companion wherein it drives game towards the guns instead of retrieving it. The show cocker on the other hand joins dog sports in conformation shows.

One interesting fact about the English Cocker is that it is continuously wagging its tail as a sign of a merry disposition therefore many have called this breed “merry cocker”. This dog is also notorious for independent and stubborn disposition although it does not mean that it is difficult to train. The English Cocker is innately intelligent and alert and these characteristics show in its face all the time.

The body of the adorable English Cocker is sturdy, compact and well-balanced. The eyes should be dark and the ears should be floppy and long that it should reach the tip of the nose when pulled forward. The tail of this breed is docked except in those countries where this practice id banned.

The coat color of the English Cocker is restricted according to its purpose. For the conformation variety, some colors are only allowed but for the working or field variety, any coat color is allowed. English Cockers are found in an abundance of color varieties and may be found in solid color, tricolor and roan.

Solid colors may come as black, silver, tan, chocolate, blue, red, gold, copper red and white. Color combinations can be black and white, black and tan, blue tick, blue roan, chocolate and tan, lemon and white, orange and white, red and white, and more. Today, hunters prefer their field cockers to have a white color on their coats for visibility purposes.

The English Cocker is well-known for a domineering and stubborn disposition but it can also be extremely loyal, likes to be around people and loves to get close with just one member of the family. This dog is also known to be very affectionate, optimistic, flexible and intelligent. According to Stanley Cohen’s the Intelligence of Dog, the English Cocker ranks 18th in working and obedience intelligence.

Interestingly, studies by the University of Cambridge have shown that the temperament of the cocker has a relevance to its coat color. The studies conclude that solid-colored cockers are more likely to be aggressive compared to the others. Additionally, findings have shown that Red/Golden colored cockers are the most aggressive towards humans when it is being disciplined or sometimes when there is no reason at all.

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