The merry and frolicsome Cocker Spaniel, with his big, dreamy eyes and impish personality, is one of the world’s best-loved breeds. They were developed as hunting dogs, but Cockers gained their wide popularity as all-around companions.

English Cocker Spaniel lovers often use the word “merry” to describe their breed. Upbeat in the field and mellow at home, this compact, silky-coated bird dog is widely admired for his delightful personality and irresistible good looks.

Did you know that the Cocker Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel are two different breeds? Learn more about the breed with these Cocker Spaniel fun facts.

The Cocker Spaniel is one of the AKC's most popular breeds. But did you know there is another Cocker Spaniel breed? That's right, the Sporting Group also contains the English Cocker Spaniel. To add to the confusion, in the rest of the world, the English Cocker Spaniel (ECS) is known simply as the Cocker Spaniel [...]

With their wagging tails and friendly temperament, the Cocker Spaniel has long been one of the most popular dog breeds. Learn more about this merry breed.

Fanciers of English Cockers cherish the unique combination of qualities essential to this sturdy, merry, small sporting dog. A relatively new breed in the specific sense — records of the “modern” Cocker Spaniel date from about 1850, and the breed was first registered with the Kennel Club (England) in 1873— the flushing spaniel as a type goes back [...]

Spaniels go back to at least the 14th century, but their ancestry may be even older. As of 2025, the AKC recognizes 15 types of spaniel breeds.

By: Mike Bothwell  A Cocker Spaniel Club of Georgia member shares his experience in taking part in the club's hunt test in December.   The air is crisp and the sky is a rich blue with stars on one horizon and the sun trying to rise on the other. Trees and hedgerows line [...]

Originally published in the AKC Gazette. Writing in 1667, Nicholas Cox describes small land spaniels of courageous mettle, “strong, lusty and nimble rangers, of active feet, wanton tails and busy nostrils”—still a good description of the Cocker Spaniel. A less flattering description was given in 1647 by the “Witch-Finder General,” whose [...]

(Originally edited and written by A. Hamilton Rowan, Jr.; updated by M. Sue Richey from material submitted by Evelyn Monte Van Horn and Lisa Brown as cited in the Poughkeepsie Journal.) American sportsmen used Spaniels for hunting game birds and waterfowl long before there were Spaniel field trials. The Cocker Spaniel, recognized by The Kennel [...]