The American Cocker Spaniel is a
breed of sporting dog. It is a spaniel type dog that is closely related to the
English Cocker Spaniel; the two breeds diverged during the 20th century due to
differing breed standards in America and the UK. In the United States, the
breed is usually called the Cocker Spaniel, while elsewhere in the world, it is
called the American Cocker Spaniel in order to differentiate between it and its
English cousin, which was already known as "Cocker Spaniel" before
the American variety was created. The word cocker is commonly held to stem from
their use to hunt woodcock in England, while spaniel is thought to be derived
from the type's origins in Spain.
The
first spaniel in America came across with the Mayflower in 1620, but it was not
until 1878 that the first Cocker Spaniel was registered with the American
Kennel Club (AKC). A national breed club was set up three years later and the
dog considered to be the father of the modern breed, Ch. Obo II, was born
around this time. By the 1920s the English and American varieties of Cocker had
become noticeably different and in 1946 the AKC recognised the English type as
a separate breed. It was not until 1970 that The Kennel Club in the UK
recognised the American Cocker Spaniel as being separate from the English type.
The American Cocker was the most popular breed in the United States during the
1940s and 1950s and again during the 1980s, reigning for a total of 18 years.
They have also won the best in show title at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog
Show on four occasions, and have been linked to the President of the United
States on several occasions, with owners including Richard Nixon and Harry S.
Truman. In 2013, the cocker spaniel ranked 29th the American Kennel Club
registration statistics of historical comparisons and notable trends.
The
breed is the smallest of the sporting dogs recognised by the AKC, and its
distinctly shaped head makes it immediately recognisable. In addition, there
are some marked differences between it and its English relative. It is a happy
breed with average working intelligence, although by being bred to a show
standard it is no longer an ideal working dog. Members of the breed suffer from
a wide variety of health ailments including problems with their hearts, eyes
and ears.
Temperament
Known
as the "Merry Cocker", the American Cocker Spaniel breed standard
defines the ideal dog of the breed as being "equable in temperament with
no suggestion of timidity." The breed ranks 20th in Stanley Coren's The
Intelligence of Dogs, a rating that indicates good "Working or Obedience
Intelligence", or trainability. IQ tests run on a variety of breeds in the
1950s and 1960s showed that the American Cocker performed the best when tested
on its ability to show restraint and delayed response to a trigger, a trait
which was put down to the breed's bred-in ability when hunting to freeze upon
finding a bird before flushing it out on command. However, they proved to be
the worst breed tested when it came to manipulating objects with their paws,
for instance uncovering a dish of food or pulling on a string.
With
a good level of socialisation at an early age, an American Cocker can get along
with people, children, other dogs and other pets. This breed seems to have a
perpetually wagging tail and prefers to be around people; it is not best suited
to the backyard alone. Cockers can be easily stressed by loud noises and by rough
treatment or handling.
Members
of the breed were originally used as hunting dogs, but increased in popularity
as a show dog. It was bred more and more in conformation with the breed
standard, resulting in certain attributes, such as a long coat, which no longer
make it an ideal working dog.
Health
American
Cocker Spaniels in UK and USA/Canada surveys had a median lifespan of about 10
to 11 years, which is on the low end of the typical range for purebred dogs,
and one to two years less than other breeds of their size. The larger English
Cocker Spaniel typically lives about a year longer than the American Cocker
Spaniel. In a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey, the most common causes of death were
cancer (23%), old age (20%), cardiac (8%), and immune-mediated (8%). In a 2003
USA/Canada Health Survey with a smaller sample size, the leading causes of
death were cancer, hepatic disease, and immune-mediated.
American
Cockers previously high popularity resulted in the breed frequently being bred
by backyard breeders or in puppy mills. This indiscriminate breeding has
increased the proliferation of breed related health issues in certain bloodlines.
American
Cocker Spaniels are susceptible to a variety of illnesses, particularly
infections affecting their ears and, in some cases, their eyes. Although the
number or percent of afflicted dogs is not known, progressive retinal atrophy
(PRA), glaucoma, and cataracts have been identified in some members of the
breed. The American Spaniel Club recommends annual eye exams by a veterinary
ophthalmologist for all dogs that are to be used for breeding. Autoimmune
problems in Cockers have also been identified in an unknown number or percent
of the breed, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Ear inflammations
are common in drop-eared breeds of dog, including the American Cocker, and
luxating patellas and hip dysplasia have been identified in some members of the
breed.
Heart
conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy, where the heart becomes weakened and
enlarged, and sick sinus syndrome, which is a type of abnormal heart beating
which causes low blood pressure, have been identified in the breed.
Phosphofructokinase deficiency is a condition caused by a recessive gene in the
breed which prevents the metabolism of glucose into energy, causing the dog to
have extremely low energy and be unable to exercise. The gene which causes this
appears in around 10 percent of the population, but DNA testing can prevent two
carrier dogs from breeding and thus creating puppies with this condition.
American
Cockers are also prone to canine epilepsy and the related condition known as
Rage Syndrome. The latter is a form of epilepsy which can cause a normally
placid dog to engage in sudden and unprovoked violent attacks. Initial research
shows that both conditions appear to be inheritable.
No comments:
Post a Comment