The very first impression that an American Cocker Spaniel gives is that of a show dog. It has long silky hair, which creates an attractive coat for it. This breed possesses a small brisk body that helps it performs tasks easily. This breed is a variation of the Cocker Spaniel from England but now, these two breeds are known as different breeds. First brought to America in 1620, American Cocker Spaniel was registered first in 1878 with the American Kennel Club.

American Cocker Spaniel is the smallest one among all the show dogs that are recognized by the American Kennel Club. What distinguishes this breed from the others is its long flowing coat and the distinct head-shape. According to the AKC standards, the normal size of this breed should be in between 13.5 inches to 15.5 inches. But if the size is more than 39 cm in case of males and 37 cm in case of females, then they are disqualified at the conformation show. American Cocker Spaniel generally weighs around 24 to 30 pounds, with the females weighing slightly less than the males.

In an American Cocker Spaniel, the most distinct feature is the shape of its head. There will be a rounded dome in the skull for this breed with a nose that is upturned. The color of the nose can vary between black to brown depending on the body color of the dog. It will also have a very well pronounced stop and the lips are generally of square shape. American Cocker Spaniel has large, round shaped and dark eyes with the eye rims resembling the shape of an almond. Blue eyes can be seen in the Merle Cocker Spaniel. American Cocker Spaniel also has more pronounced eyebrows that the Cocker Spaniel breeds in England. The former has ears that are long and hang down. Ears are covered with long sleek fur.

In American Cocker Spaniel, the muzzle is deep and broad. It has square shaped jaws. Its teeth form a scissor bite. It has a topline that gradually slopes from the front of the dog to its back. This breed has straight legs. The coat of an American Cocker Spaniel needs special mention. It is totally covered with silky, flowing fur and has feathering on the ears, chest, abdomen and legs. The length of the hair of the coat is longer on the body but is shorter on the head.

American Cocker Spaniel can be of different colors, all of which are accepted by the standard of the American Kennel Club. The three main color groups of this breed are - black/black tan, parti-color and any other strong shade, which are together called ASCOB. When an American Cocker Spaniel is black, its whole body color would be black. However, in black with tan shade, the head, legs and tail can have tan shades. ASCOB includes other strong shades like fully cream color or the color of red American Cocker Spaniels. Parti-colored dogs belonging to this breed will have other color patches of black or brown on the main body color.

American Cocker Spaniel can be a very sweet natured pet, if trained properly. However, owners should be careful about their health as they are prone to several eye, heart and other ailments.