Lurcher vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Lurcher vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed ComparisonAmerican Cocker Spaniel is originated from United States but Lurcher is originated from United Kingdom. American Cocker Spaniel may grow 35 cm / 13 inches shorter than Lurcher. American Cocker Spaniel may weigh 18 kg / 39 pounds lesser than Lurcher. Both American Cocker Spaniel and Lurcher has same life span. Both American Cocker Spaniel and Lurcher has almost same litter size. American Cocker Spaniel requires Moderate Maintenance. But Lurcher requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Working dog
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United States
United Kingdom
Height Male:
38 - 40 cm
14 - 16 inches
50 - 75 cm
19 - 30 inches
Height Female:
34 - 38 cm
13 - 15 inches
50 - 75 cm
19 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
11 - 14 kg
24 - 31 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
7 - 12 kg
15 - 27 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 7
3 - 8
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Cocker Spaniel, Cocker
None
Colors Available:
Black, black with tan, merle, buff ASCOB
white, grey, cream, black, tan, All colors - fawn, silver or grey and bi-colored
Coat:
Long, fine, shiney
Short- or long haired
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Cheerful, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

american cocker spanielDescended from the English Cocker Spaniel when the latter were brought to the United States in the late 1800s. American hunters wanted a smaller dog for bird hunting, so they crossed them with smaller spaniel breeds. The English and the American Cockers were considered the same breed until 1935 when the American Kennel Club officially separated them into 2 distinct breeds. After this the American Cocker’s popularity increased dramatically. To this day they are one of the most popular breeds in the U.S. Recently their popularity has spread back to England. The American Cocker Spaniel has evolved from a hunting dog life to a very popular family pet.

lurcherThe Lurcher is a crossbreed dog that doesn’t seem to have too much certainty around it. There are stories that Lurchers may have been bred to produce a sighthound with more intelligence for hunting.

Hunters discovered that breeding certain breeds with sight-hounds produced a dog better suited for hunting and working purpose.

A Lurcher is a sighthound, a classic working crossbreed and some of the dogs used to bring about this breed were Greyhounds, Deerhounds, Whippets, Border Collies, Bedlington Terriers and Irish Wofhounds among others. This means that the Lurcher has many different looks as well. In the UK, Lurchers have their own shows, but no registry recognizes the dog.

Description

american cocker spaniel puppy - descriptionThe American Cocker spaniel is a sturdy dog of medium size. The have a rounded head with a broad and deep muzzle. The jaw is even and square while the teeth have a scissors bite. The American Cocker has round eyes that are almost always dark with the exception of the Merle who can have blue colored eyes. They have long ears and a docked tail in the U.S. Docking is illegal in most of Europe. The American Cocker bred for field hunts have shorter coats than those bred for show. Grooming is essential for this longhaired breed. It is especially important for the eyes and ears to be kept clean.

lurcher puppy - descriptionIt is difficult to put a size and weight to the Lurcher, This is because of the many dogs used in his development, so that they vary in size and coat type. Generally though, he is a deep chested dog that stands roughly between 50 – 75cm and weighs 25 – 32kg.

However, because Whippet was a dog used in his development, he could be as small as a Whippet, the size of a Greyhound or Deerhound.

Generally he has a shortish coat. Colours of the coat vary greatly so you can find fawn, cream, white, grey, black, tan, silver or grey and bi-colored. The ears are usually small and can be floppy or held erect or back and the tail is usually long.

Temperament:

The Lurcher’s temperament is much like that of the sighthound – loving and calm. It is a good idea to have the Lurcher trained and socialized to help prevent both timidity or aggression.

He is an independent and intelligent dog and can be easily trained. He is a gentle dog and will get on well with children and pets in the home as he is a fairly relaxed breed with a quiet temperament, loving to spend time with his human family. Another advantage is that he is low maintenance and makes a great pet when shown love and care.

Characteristics

Favored Qualities

american cocker spaniel dog - characteristicsThis is a gentle, happy dog. They are high energy, high spirited, friendly dogs who like people and other animals alike. They are happy to be with you and want to please you. He can find a home in the country and in the city alike. He is inquisitive and easy to train.

Potential Difficulties

But be warned they can be stubborn and hard to housebreak. They can be shy and need a lot of socialization as a pup. They can take over a household if you are not the strong pack leader they need. They have a tendency to urinate when excited and must live inside with the family. They are far too social to be left outside. An unhappy, unstable cocker can be into resource guarding of things, spaces and people. They can bark obsessively or be hyperactive. They must have a loving home with the family.

lurcher dog - characteristicsThe Lurcher is a working- and hunting dog that won’t do well in the city, as he requires large spaces to run.

He is a dog that will need you to provide him with games and other activities as well as a walk every day to keep him fit and lithe. He will therefore require an owner who loves to be active and who is consistent, firm, fair, patient and kind.

With the right human family, the Lurcher is a loving, devoted dog who will make an excellent family pet.

Health Problems

american cocker spaniel puppies - health problemsPerhaps the least of the American Cocker Spaniel’s health concerns are the tendency to overeat and become obese. The more serious concerns include glaucoma, cataracts, dysplasia, allergies, Cherry eye, lip fold pyoderma, liver disease, cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure (CHF).

IMHA

The most serious health issue the breed faces is IMHA or Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia which can be deadly. In fact, it is almost always fatal and comes on quickly. With this condition the dog can bleed out internally and there is little that veterinary medicine can do.

lurcher puppies - health problemsEvery dog has the potential to develop genetic health problems, but the way you feed a dog and look after it will play a huge role in his wellbeing.

Lurchers are looked upon as being a pretty healthy dog breed and they can be with you for between 10 and 15 years.

Some of the main health concerns with this dog would be bloat, ear- and eye infections or heatstroke.

Remember that if you’re getting a new puppy, you can prevent some of the major life-threatening diseases by having your puppy vaccinated.

Heat Stroke:

Dogs pant heavily when they’re hot. When the panting isn’t enough, the dog’s body temperature rises and this can be fatal for your pet.

The signs of heatstroke in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, dullness and loss of consciousness. Being locked in a hot car, being over-exercised or left in a yard without shade and water can bring on heatstroke.

It is imperative to remove the dog from the hot place immediately and cool him down by spraying cold water gently over him while making sure no water enters the mouth or nose. Get him to the vet if you can because of shock and the fact that other problems could have developed.

Caring The Pet

Feeding puppies and adults

american cocker spaniel dogs - caringThe American Cocker Spaniel breed requires attention to detail and making sure your puppy gets enough and your adult doesn’t get too much. Feed the pups twice a day until they reach the age of 4 months and then cut them back to the adult dose of once a day at supper time. Feed from a cup to a cup and a half.

Health Issues

not previously mentioned include Ectropion and Entropion, Prolapse of the nicititans gland, gastric torsion and elbow dysplasia. Have your puppy tested for eye diseases and any issues with the knee and hip. These are social dogs and will not do well alone outside. They need to live inside.

Exercise and games

The American Cockers love to play and need a lot of exercise. Nice long walks, games of fetch or even agility will keep your Cocker happy. have plenty of stamina and need regular exercise. They also enjoy a good hunt.

lurcher dogs - caringBrush your pet’s coat at least twice a week.

The Lurcher just loves to run and be free, so this is a dog that will want a long walk every day.

Check his eyes and inside his ears for ear infection. Find out how to clean inside the ears and make sure they are kept dry.

Keep his nails clipped, as long nails can hook and cause painful injury to the paw area. Check his teeth too and brush them because dental disease is the root cause of many other diseases.

Make sure your dog has a comfy, dry, warm place to sleep.

Encourage health and longevity by giving your pet high quality food full of vitamins and minerals. If you’re going be giving him commercially manufactured food, make sure its one of the better ones. Try and add in homemade food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables and add this to his kibble as a tasty treat. Some raw meat added in when you can afford it will also be to his advantage.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. American Cocker Spaniel vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  8. American Cocker Spaniel vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. American Cocker Spaniel vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. American Cocker Spaniel vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
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  26. Lurcher vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Lurcher vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Lurcher vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Lurcher vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Lurcher vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Lurcher vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Lurcher vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Lurcher vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Lurcher vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Lurcher vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Lurcher vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Lurcher vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Lurcher vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Lurcher vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Lurcher vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Lurcher vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Lurcher vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Lurcher vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Lurcher vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Lurcher vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Lurcher vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Lurcher vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Lurcher vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Lurcher vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Lurcher vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison