What does each club give for Height at the withers in the American Cocker Spaniel?

FCI, Male: 36.8–39.4 cm; AKC, Male: 36.8–39.4 cm; UKC, Male: 36.8–39.4 cm; KC, Male: 37–39 cm; CKC, Male: 36.8–39.3 cm; FCI, Female: 34.3–36.8 cm; AKC, Female: 34.3–36.8 cm; UKC, Female: 34.3–36.8 cm; KC, Female: 34–37 cm; CKC, Female: 34.3–36.8 cm.

American Cocker Spaniel breed standards compared

Each column is one club's published standard. An empty cell means the club says nothing on that point in our records.

Clubs compared: FCI, AKC, UKC, KC, CKC.

Size

Size
Measure	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Height at the withers, male	36.8–39.4 cmover 39.4 cmDisqualifying	36.8–39.4 cmunder 36.8 cmFaultover 39.4 cmDisqualifying	36.8–39.4 cmunder 36.8 cmFault	37–39 cm	36.8–39.3 cmunder 36.8 cmFaultover 39.3 cmDisqualifying
Height at the withers, female	34.3–36.8 cmover 36.8 cmDisqualifying	34.3–36.8 cmunder 34.3 cmFaultover 36.8 cmDisqualifying	34.3–36.8 cm	34–37 cm	34.3–36.8 cmunder 34.3 cmFaultover 36.8 cmDisqualifying
Height to length	No ruling	No ruling	1.2	1	No ruling
Shoulder angle	90°	90°	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling

Conformation

Conformation
Form	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
BiteScissors bite	Standard (“Teeth strong and sound, not too small and meet in a scissor bite”)	Standard (“meet in a scissors bite”)	Standard (“meet in a scissors bite”)	Standard (“perfect, regular and complete scissor bite”)	Standard (“meet in a scissors bite”)
DentitionFull dentition	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“A full complement of strong, good-sized, white teeth”)	No ruling	No ruling
StopPronounced	Standard (“Stop: Pronounced”)	Standard (“eyebrows are clearly defined with a pronounced stop”)	Standard (“There is a pronounced stop”)	No ruling	Standard (“clearly defined with a pronounced stop”)
Muzzle shapeSquare	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“Muzzle broad, deep, square, even jaws”)	No ruling
Ear setLow	Standard (“placed no higher than a line to the lower part of the eye”)	Standard (“placed no higher than a line to the lower part of the eye”)	Standard (“set no higher than a line to the lower part of the eye”)	Standard (“set on line no higher than lower part of eyes”)	Standard (“placed no higher than a line to the lower part of the”)
Eye shapeAlmond	Standard (“a slightly almond-shaped appearance”)	Standard (“a slightly almond shaped appearance”)	Standard (“suggests a slightly almond shape”)	Standard (“a slightly almond appearance”)	Standard (“a slightly almond-shaped appearance”)
Eye setProminent	Fault (“the eye is not weak or goggled”)	Fault (“the eye is not weak or goggled”)	No ruling	Fault (“Neither small nor protruding”)	Fault (“the eye is not weak or goggled”)
Neck lengthLong	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“Long, muscular and free from throatiness”)	No ruling
Neck shapeArched	Standard (“arches slightly as it tapers to join the head”)	Standard (“arches slightly as it tapers to join the head”)	Standard (“arches slightly as it tapers to join the head”)	Standard (“Rising strongly and slightly arched”)	No ruling
DewlapNone (clean throat)	Standard (“free from pendulous « throatiness »”)	Standard (“free from pendulous "throatiness."”)	No ruling	Standard (“free from throatiness”)	No ruling
ToplineSloping to the rear	Standard (“Topline: Sloping slightly toward muscular quarters”)	Standard (“Topline-sloping slightly toward muscular quarters”)	Standard (“The topline slopes slightly toward the strong, muscular hindquarters”)	Standard (“Back strong, sloping evenly and slightly downwards”)	Standard (“a topline sloping slightly toward strong, muscular quarters”)
Body typeCompact	Standard (“He has a sturdy, compact body”)	Standard (“He has a sturdy, compact body”)	Standard (“The short, compact, firmly-knit body”)	Standard (“compact sturdy body”)	Standard (“He has a sturdy, compact body”)
Body typeSquare	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“the Cocker is compact and square bodied”)	No ruling	No ruling
Body typeLong and low	Not recognized (“the dog never appears long and low”)	Not recognized (“the dog never appears long and low”)	Fault (“Serious Fault: A long, low appearance”)	Not recognized (“Never appearing long and low”)	No ruling
ChestDeep	Standard (“Chest: Deep, its lowest point no higher than the elbows”)	Standard (“The chest is deep, its lowest point no higher than the elbows”)	Standard (“The chest is deep, with the lowest part no higher than the elbows”)	Standard (“Chest deep. Lowest point no higher than elbows”)	No ruling
Tail carriageLevel	Standard (“carried on a line with the topline of the back, or slightly higher”)	Standard (“carried on a line with the topline of the back, or slightly higher”)	Standard (“carried on a line with the topline, or slightly higher”)	Standard (“carried on a line with topline of back or slightly higher”)	No ruling
Tail carriageRaised (gay)	Alternate (“on a line with the topline of the back, or slightly higher”)	Alternate (“on a line with the topline of the back, or slightly higher”)	Alternate (“on a line with the topline, or slightly higher”)	Alternate (“on a line with topline of back or slightly higher”)	No ruling
Tail carriageLow (hanging)	Not recognized (“never so low as to indicate timidity”)	Not recognized (“never so low as to indicate timidity”)	Not recognized (“never ... so low as to indicate shyness”)	Not recognized (“never so low as to indicate timidity”)	No ruling
Tail carriageCurled over the back	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Not recognized (“but never curled over the back”)	No ruling
Tail lengthMedium	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“Undocked: ... Moderate length”)	No ruling
FeetCat foot	Standard (“Compact, large, round and firm with horny pads”)	Standard (“Feet compact, large, round and firm”)	Standard (“The round, compact feet are large and firm”)	Standard (“Compact, not spreading, round and firm”)	No ruling
FeetSplayed	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Compact, not spreading”)	No ruling
HocksWell let down	Standard (“Hocks: Strong and well let down”)	No ruling	Standard (“The hocks are strong and well let down”)	Standard (“Hocks strong, well let down”)	No ruling
Rear angulationModerate	Standard (“Moderate angulation of the stifle”)	Standard (“moderate angulation at the stifle”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
Rear angulationWell angulated	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“well-angulated, powerful stifles”)	No ruling	No ruling
Front angulationWell laid back	Standard (“Shoulder: Well laid back”)	Standard (“The shoulders are well laid back”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling

Markings

Markings
Marking	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Chest patch	Alternate (“A small amount of white on the chest and/or throat”)	Alternate (“A small amount of white on the chest and/or throat is allowed”)	Alternate (“A small amount of white on the chest and/or throat is allowed”)	Alternate (“a small amount of white on chest and throat tolerated”)	Alternate (“A small amount of white on the chest and/or throat is allowed”)
Tan points	Alternate (“Solid colour black, to include black with tan points”)	Alternate (“Solid color black to include black with tan points”)	Alternate (“Tan points are acceptable”)	Alternate (“Amount of tan markings restricted to ten per cent or less of colour of specimen”)	Alternate (“Solid colour black, to include black with tan points”)

Cropping, docking and other procedures

Cropping, docking and other procedures
Procedure	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Tail docking	Standard (“The docked tail is set on and carried on a line with the topline”)	Standard (“The docked tail is set on and carried on a line with the topline”)	Standard (“with a tail that is generally docked”)	Alternate (“Previously customarily docked. Docked ... Undocked”)	No ruling
Dewclaw removal	Alternate (“Dewclaws on forelegs may be removed”)	Alternate (“Dewclaws on forelegs may be removed”)	Alternate (“Dewclaws on front and rear may be removed”)	No ruling	No ruling

The law on these procedures differs by country. A listing here says nothing about whether one is legal where you live.

American Cocker Spaniel colors and patterns

What each club's breed standard says about every American Cocker Spaniel color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.

Breed standards describe the American Cocker Spaniel in Black, White, Blue, Silver, Brown, Tan, Red, Gold, Buff, and Cream. Standard patterns: Solid, Tricolor, Parti-color, Roan, Sable, and Tan point.

Coat: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“Black variety: Solid colour black”)	Standard (“Black”)	Standard (“Black, to include the Black and Tan”)	Standard (“Jet black”)	Standard (“Black Variety: Solid colour black”)
White	Standard (“Two or more solid, well broken colours, one of which must be white”)	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“Two or more definite well-broken colors, one of which must be white”)	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“Two or more solid, well-broken colours, one of which must be white”)
Blue	Standard (“Roans are classified as Parti-Colours and may be of any of the usual roaning patterns”)	Standard (“Blue Roan”)	Standard (“Any of the usual roaning patterns are acceptable”)	Standard (“Roans are classified as parti-colours and may be of any usual roaning patterns”)	Standard (“Roans are classified as parti-colours and may be of any of the usual roaning patterns”)
Silver	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)	Standard (“Silver”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Silver Buff”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)
Brown	Standard (“including brown and brown with tan points”)	Standard (“Brown”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Chocolate”)	Standard (“including brown and brown with tan points”)
Tan	Standard (“The colour of the tan may be from the lightest cream to the darkest red”)	Standard (“Black & Tan”)	Standard (“The color of the tan points range from light cream to dark red”)	Standard (“colour of tan may be from lightest cream to darkest red colour”)	Standard (“The colour of the tan may be from the lightest cream to the darkest red”)
Red	Standard (“ranging from the lightest cream to darkest red”)	Standard (“Red”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Red”)	Standard (“ranging from lightest cream to darkest red”)
Gold	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)	Standard (“Golden”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black of uniform shades”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)
Buff	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)	Standard (“Buff”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Buff”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)
Cream	Standard (“ranging from the lightest cream to darkest red”)	Standard (“ranging from lightest cream to darkest red”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black of uniform shades”)	Standard (“ranging from lightest cream to darkest red”)
Albino	Disqualifying	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“Albinism”)	Not recognized	Disqualifying
Patterns
Solid	Standard (“Black variety: Solid colour black”)	Standard (“Black Variety-Solid color black”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black of uniform shades”)	Standard (“Black Variety: Solid colour black”)
Tricolor	Standard (“to include any such colour combination with tan points”)	Standard (“Black White & Tan”)	Standard (“Tan points are acceptable”)	Standard (“Tricolours, any of above colours combined with tan markings”)	Standard (“to include any such colour combination with tan points”)
Parti-color	Standard (“Parti-Colour variety”)	Standard (“Parti-Color Variety”)	Standard (“Parti-Color”)	Standard (“Parti-colours”)	Standard (“Parti-Colour Variety”)
Roan	Standard (“Roans are classified as Parti-Colours”)	Standard (“Roan”)	Standard (“Roans are classified as Parti-Colors”)	Standard (“Roans are classified as parti-colours”)	Standard (“Roans are classified as parti-colours”)
Sable	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“Sable”)	Standard (“A lacing of black hairs over a lighter background color”)	Standard (“Sable”)	Disqualifying
Tan point	Standard (“black with tan points”)	Standard (“Black & Tan”)	Standard (“the Black and Tan (black with tan points)”)	Standard (“Black and tan and brown and tan”)	Standard (“black with tan points”)
Merle	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“Merle Markings”)	Disqualifying (“Merle color”)	Not recognized	Disqualifying
Double merle	Disqualifying	No ruling	No ruling	Not recognized	Disqualifying

Eyes: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“dark brown to black in blacks, black and tans, buffs and creams”)	No ruling
Dark brown	Standard (“The colour of the iris is dark brown”)	Standard (“The color of the iris is dark brown”)	Standard (“The color of the iris is dark brown, the darker the better”)	Standard (“dark brown to black in blacks, black and tans, buffs and creams”)	Standard (“The colour of the iris is dark brown”)
Hazel	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“In reds and browns, dark hazel”)	No ruling
Blue	Disqualifying (“Eyes: blue, blue marbled, blue flecked”)	Disqualifying (“Eye(s) blue, blue marbled, blue flecked”)	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Eye(s) blue, blue-marbled, blue-flecked”)
Patterns
Marbled	Disqualifying (“blue marbled, blue flecked”)	Disqualifying (“blue marbled, blue flecked”)	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying (“blue-marbled, blue-flecked”)

Nose: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“black in colour in the blacks, black and tans and black and whites”)	Standard (“black in color in the blacks, black and tans, and black and whites”)	Standard (“The nose is black in the Black and Black and Tan dogs”)	Standard (“Nostrils black in black and tans”)	Standard (“black in colour in the blacks, black and tans and black and whites”)
Liver	Standard (“in other colours it may be brown, liver or black”)	Standard (“in other colors it may be brown, liver or black”)	Standard (“In other colors it may be brown, liver or black”)	Standard (“black or brown in buffs, browns, brown and tans, roans and parti-colours”)	Standard (“in other colours it may be brown, liver or black”)

ASCOB

Coat: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Silver	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)	Standard (“Silver”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Silver Buff”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)
Brown	Standard (“including brown and brown with tan points”)	Standard (“Brown”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Chocolate”)	Standard (“including brown and brown with tan points”)
Tan	Standard (“brown with tan points”)	Standard (“Brown & Tan”)	Standard (“Also includes tan points”)	Standard (“Chocolate & Tan”)	Standard (“brown with tan points”)
Red	Standard (“ranging from the lightest cream to darkest red”)	Standard (“Red”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Red”)	Standard (“ranging from lightest cream to darkest red”)
Gold	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)	Standard (“Golden”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black of uniform shades”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)
Buff	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)	Standard (“Buff”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Buff”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)
Cream	Standard (“ranging from the lightest cream to darkest red”)	Standard (“ranging from lightest cream to darkest red”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black of uniform shades”)	Standard (“ranging from lightest cream to darkest red”)
Patterns
Solid	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black”)	Standard (“Any solid color other than black (ASCOB)”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black of uniform shades”)	Standard (“Any solid colour other than black”)
Sable	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“Sable”)	Standard (“Sables may be solid or parti-colored”)	Standard (“Sable”)	Disqualifying
Tan point	Standard (“brown with tan points”)	Standard (“Brown & Tan”)	Standard (“Also includes tan points”)	Standard (“Chocolate & Tan”)	Standard (“brown with tan points”)
Double merle	Disqualifying	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying

Black

Coat: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“Black variety: Solid colour black”)	Standard (“Black”)	Standard (“Black, to include the Black and Tan”)	Standard (“Jet black”)	Standard (“Black Variety: Solid colour black”)
Tan	Standard (“to include black with tan points”)	Standard (“Black & Tan”)	Standard (“the Black and Tan (black with tan points)”)	Standard (“definite tan markings on jet black or brown body”)	Standard (“to include black with tan points”)
Patterns
Solid	Standard (“Black variety: Solid colour black”)	Standard (“Black Variety-Solid color black”)	Standard (“Black, to include the Black and Tan”)	Standard (“Blacks: Jet black”)	Standard (“Black Variety: Solid colour black”)
Tan point	Standard (“to include black with tan points”)	Standard (“Black & Tan”)	Standard (“the Black and Tan (black with tan points)”)	Standard (“definite tan markings on jet black or brown body”)	Standard (“to include black with tan points”)
Double merle	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling

Particolor

Coat: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“black and white”)	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“Two or more definite well-broken colors, one of which must be white”)	Standard (“Black & White Particolour”)	Standard (“black and white”)
White	Standard (“Two or more solid, well broken colours, one of which must be white”)	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“Two or more definite well-broken colors, one of which must be white”)	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“Two or more solid, well-broken colours, one of which must be white”)
Blue	Standard (“Roans are classified as Parti-Colours and may be of any of the usual roaning patterns”)	Standard (“Blue Roan”)	Standard (“Any of the usual roaning patterns are acceptable”)	Standard (“Roans are classified as parti-colours and may be of any usual roaning patterns”)	Standard (“Roans are classified as parti-colours and may be of any of the usual roaning patterns”)
Brown	Standard (“brown and white”)	Standard (“Brown & White”)	Standard (“Two or more definite well-broken colors, one of which must be white”)	Standard (“Chocolate & White Particolour”)	Standard (“brown and white”)
Tan	Standard (“to include any such colour combination with tan points”)	Standard (“Black White & Tan”)	Standard (“Tan points are acceptable”)	Standard (“Tricolours, any of above colours combined with tan markings”)	Standard (“to include any such colour combination with tan points”)
Red	Standard (“red and white (the red may range from lightest cream to darkest red)”)	Standard (“Red & White”)	Standard (“Two or more definite well-broken colors, one of which must be white”)	Standard (“Red & White Particolour”)	Standard (“red and white (the red may range from lightest cream to darkest red)”)
Buff	Standard (“red and white (the red may range from lightest cream to darkest red)”)	Standard (“Buff & White”)	Standard (“Two or more definite well-broken colors, one of which must be white”)	Standard (“Two or more definite colours appearing in clearly defined markings”)	Standard (“red and white (the red may range from lightest cream to darkest red)”)
Patterns
Tricolor	Standard (“to include any such colour combination with tan points”)	Standard (“Black White & Tan”)	Standard (“Tan points are acceptable”)	Standard (“Tricolours, any of above colours combined with tan markings”)	Standard (“to include any such colour combination with tan points”)
Parti-color	Standard (“Parti-Colour variety”)	Standard (“Parti-Color Variety”)	Standard (“Parti-Color”)	Standard (“Parti-colours”)	Standard (“Parti-Colour Variety”)
Roan	Standard (“Roans are classified as Parti-Colours”)	Standard (“Roan”)	Standard (“Roans are classified as Parti-Colors”)	Standard (“Roans are classified as parti-colours”)	Standard (“Roans are classified as parti-colours”)
Sable	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“Sable & White”)	Standard (“Sables may be solid or parti-colored”)	Standard (“Sable & White”)	Disqualifying
Tan point	Standard (“to include any such colour combination with tan points”)	Standard (“Black White & Tan”)	Standard (“Tan points are acceptable”)	Standard (“Tricolours, any of above colours combined with tan markings”)	Standard (“to include any such colour combination with tan points”)
Double merle	Disqualifying	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying

What the rulings mean

Standard: Described by the club's breed standard.
Disqualifying: The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this color or pattern.
Not recognized: The club does not accept this color or pattern for the breed.

Color changes

How a American Cocker Spaniel's colors can change over its life.

Blackchanges toRust
Coat · With body condition · can change back
Blackchanges toGray
Coat · Progressive
Blackchanges toBrown
Coat · In the sun · can change back
Whitechanges toRoan
Coat · With age · from 2 weeks
Tan pointchanges toSaddle
Coat · With age · from 6 to 156 weeks
Blackchanges toSnow nose
Nose · With the season · can change back
Blackchanges toPink
Nose · With the season · can change back

Sources

Each ruling comes from the club's published breed standard or color list.

Published standards

Back to the American Cocker Spaniel guide Grooming styles for the American Cocker Spaniel