American Cocker Network
The American Cocker Spaniel, documented.
A clear, independent knowledge base on the American Cocker Spaniel — its breed standard, coat colors, grooming, temperament, health testing, and how to find a responsible breeder. One merry little sporting dog, explained page by page.
The American Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the American Kennel Club Sporting Group and one of the most recognizable companion dogs in North America. The pages collected here answer the questions people actually ask before, during, and after living with the breed — written plainly, organized like an encyclopedia, and free of sales talk.
Sporting companion · height 13.5–15.5 in (34–39 cm) · weight 20–30 lb (9–14 kg) · long, silky, feathered coat · merry and affectionate temperament · typical lifespan 12–15 years.
Browse the knowledge base#
Each entry stands on its own and cross-links to the rest. New readers usually start with the breed guide, then follow the topic that matters most to them.
Complete Breed Guide
Origin, breed standard, size, appearance and everything the American Cocker Spaniel is at a glance.
Read the guide → The BreedColors & Coat Varieties
The three AKC color divisions — Black, ASCOB and Parti-color — with markings and roans explained.
Explore colors → CareGrooming & Coat Care
Brushing, bathing, the puppy cut versus a show coat, ear care and a realistic maintenance schedule.
Grooming guide → The BreedTemperament & Family Life
Personality, trainability, life with children, sensitivity and daily exercise needs.
Understand the temperament → CareHealth & Genetic Testing
Common conditions, the recommended eye, hip and DNA tests, and preventive routines.
Read on health → Getting a dogPuppies — Buyer's Guide
What a responsible litter looks like, questions to ask, price expectations and early socialization.
Before you buy → Getting a dogBreeders Directory
How to recognize a responsible breeder, the red flags to avoid, and the breed's parent clubs.
Find a breeder → CompareAmerican vs English Cocker
Two distinct breeds since 1946 — size, head, coat, colors and temperament compared side by side.
See the differences →What is the American Cocker Spaniel?#
Bred down from spaniels that flushed and retrieved game birds, the American Cocker Spaniel was developed in the United States into a smaller, showier companion than its English cousin. The American Kennel Club recognized the American and English Cocker Spaniels as separate breeds in 1946. Today the breed is prized less for the field and more for its cheerful, affectionate character and its flowing, feathered coat.
That coat is the breed's signature and its main commitment: it is beautiful, and it needs consistent grooming. Alongside coat care, prospective owners should understand the breed's known health screens — particularly for the eyes and ears — and buy only from breeders who test their dogs. Every one of those topics has its own detailed page in this knowledge base.
About the American Cocker Network Review#
The domain ouracn.com was for years the online home of The American Cocker Network Review (ACN Review), a bi-monthly print and online magazine devoted to the breed — its shows, its kennels, and its dogs and handlers. The publication was carried on by editor and publisher Kelly Ladouceur of KLAD Cockers, continuing work begun by Daren Hatfield.
This site preserves that heritage as a reference and expands it into a broader, factual guide to the breed. You can read about the publication and its archived advertising information on the pages below.