Where are American Cocker Spaniels from?

American Cocker Spaniels are from the U.S. They trace their roots back to the early settlers in North America who brought Spaniels with them from Europe, especially from England, in the 17th century. These Spaniels were descendants of the larger English Cocker Spaniels and other European hunting spaniels. By the late 1800s, American breeders started to refine the breed’s characteristics, favoring a smaller size, rounder head, and unique facial features that eventually set them apart from their English ancestors. 

This dedicated breeding effort led to the distinct American Cocker Spaniel we know today, with the American Kennel Club officially recognizing them as a separate breed in 1946.