Until you get to know the English Cocker Spaniel, you might find him difficult to distinguish from the Cocker Spaniel; however, they are two distinct breeds. Both wonderful family pets, these close cousins share a long history.

Most likely originating in Spain, dogs known simply as Spaniels were brought to England many years ago, perhaps as far back as the Roman invasion of Julius Caesar in 55-54 BC. Wealthy land owners used these dogs to hunt game birds. Even within the same litter, dogs were given different hunting tasks depending on their physical characteristics. Smaller dogs were used to hunt woodcock, a type of bird, and were known as “cockers,” and larger dogs, called “springers,” were used to flush birds from cover. Ultimately, as breeders began selecting for either cockers or springers, two separate types came into being, the Springing Spaniels and the Cocker Spaniels. …show more content…
But by the early part of the twentieth century, the Cocker Spaniel in the States was beginning to develop in a different direction than its English counterpart. For example, the English Cocker Spaniel has a longer, narrower skull, more almond-shaped eyes, and is slightly taller and heavier than the Cocker Spaniel. These variations continued to grow until the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America was formed in 1935 with its members promising to stay true to the “English” variety. By 1946, the American Kennel Club recognized the English Cocker Spaniel as a distinct