OMG, there was an American Cocker Spaniel on the new fabreeze advert!!!!!!!
(ok, waiting for the first visitor to say they want one of them!!!!!!!)
Lea :)

Have just seen the advert Sam was talking about for the Smart car, featuring her breed

Has there been a recent rush on bloodhounds too?

So she says

Dont panic Lea!  We did a Pedigree Chum ad a few years ago with a bunch of Yanks, and it didnt cause a great upswing in potential puppy buyers, or the puppy farms getting on the bandwagon!  
bye
Gwen

Thanks Gwen. Just was soooo shocked to see a Am cocker on an ad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lea :)

Hi Lea, what did Beano think, seeing another Buff in his living room?
bye
Gwen

yes :(

I used to show American Cockers in Ireland about 25 years ago - they were very popular then. Haven't seen many since.

Hi Manxpat,
I think there are quite a few in Ireland - we have certianly sent some over who have done quite well.  Of course, lots more in the UK at shows.  Not a breed you see many of in the street or park though (unless you live near us, when you would see our gang;) )
bye
Gwen

Weimaraners have appeared on Watchdog, Smirnoff, DFS and now Dog Food on the TV and on pet insurance flyers; I don't think their appearance resulted in an increased demand over and above the normal.

I have just saw that advert and AM Cocker are absolutely gorgeous!!! They have such cute faces. I have never really looked at one before, we are not looking for a puppy but they are defiantly a breed that I would like to learn a little about. Just to say that "yes, I like Cockers" Does anyone know a website where I can read a little about them?

Sarah xxxx

Yes, the are VERY appealing,, aren't they?  2 goods sites to look at are the spaniel club (the parent club in the USA) which is at www.asc-cockerspaniel.org   and also worth a look is www.cockers.com   The GB Club web site is at  http://acscgb.tripod.com/americancockerspanielclubofgreatbritain/index.html   but the site doesn't seem to be on line at the moment.
bye
Gwen

Thank you Gwen, i will defiantly have a look at them. :)

Sarah xxxx

What colour do you call the one on the telly?

sarah xxxx

was it a buff? hmm.. can't remember

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<was it a buff? hmm.. can't remember >>>>>>>>>>>>>
YHes it was. Same as Beano, but alot more hair!!!!!!!!
I was a lovely dog!!!!!!!
Lea :)

Isn't it bizzare that people will buy an animal because they've seen it on TV :-(.  Hundreds of people bought their children clownfish after Finding Nemo came out, with no clue how to care for them.  I believe the same thing happened with Dalmatians a few years ago.

We found it almost impossible to get a whippet, and I'm sure it was partly due to a whippet winning Crufts this year (we decided on the breed ages ago).

Oh, and in the '80s everyone got terrapins because they wanted Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles... I feel really sorry for these animals.

Sorry, didn't mean to rant.

HI, these things do seem to stir up the "I want" fervour.  I understand ginger kittens are currently a hot item, after Garfield the Movie, and a couple of years ago silver/grey tabbies were going for silly sums of money after appearing on both the Whiskas ad and one for a drink (vodka?).  However, as we have discussed above, it does not always follow, it is just some that catch the public eye and they go silly.  Men In Black certainly raised public awarness for Pugs, and while it probably generated quite a few peole looking for them, it did not raise the sort of fervour that the 101 Dalmatians films have done, apparently causing chaos at Dalmatian Rescue.  And I think the Whippet thing may be geographical rather than the Crufts BIS win, there are certainlly plenty of Whippet litter around here! 
bye
Gwen

Has anyone spotted the pointer at the start of that car advert?  Looks just like our Milly.

Helen

The Febreze advert must be American I think, because I just got back from Canada a couple of days ago, and I'ts showing there too. It would explain the reason for the choice of breed, as the Yankee is the most popular breed as a pet in the US.
I also noticed in Our Dogs, as I was catching up after my holidays, that the Irish Wolfhound fraternity have a petition going to try to persuade the BBC to write out the IW that is about to make an appearance with the new family in Eastenders. Apparently the dog is to be portrayed as unruly to say the least.

Dawn R.

I wondered about that Dawn,  the trim is not really typical UK pet, and she look rather like the Buff used on the Eukanuba literature.  Will ask on my USA lists and see i anyone knows her.  I read about the Irish Wolfhound thing, and can sympathise with the breeders concerns.
bye
Gwen

I watched Eastenders yesterday for the first time in ages I thought the IW looked to be the best actor & well behaved :D Just like the Dane in Corrie, Nice to see a little dog being rescued in Eastenders as well funny no one complained about that ! there was the lhasa as well I think at one time & what ever happened to the Racing Greyhounds ?

A Spanish Water Dog was in a Vodaphone add a couple of years ago and we only had one query in the breed from it that I know of.  There again everyone on here and also the Vodaphone people thought that it was a Puli so maybe that's why.

Still get comments when out with the pugs "Oh look its like Willy on Eastenders"  -  and just how long ago was Willy actually last seen on Eastenders?  Dont know if he led to a rush for people wanting pugs!
bye
Gwen 

thers an english cocker on the Matalan advert too.

ive been weighing the two types of cockers up do i get an american or an english . I think ill go for another english they look so elegant mabe next time ill get an american ill be back asking which is the best breeders girls so be ready with the ones you like best :D

i decieded on a american cocker spaniel because they are such beutiful dogs , and i know colour should not matter but i have fallen in love with the black and tans i think it is because i have grown up with dobes and rotts and they are the same colour too lol

best of luck with your new puppy whatever you deciede

georgina
future owner of an american cocker spaniel
hopefully in 2005

Georgina, Dawn R (see above) has a B & T who is litter sister to the one you have a pic of!  (sorry very un-grammatical)
bye
Gwen

Hi loveleady,  it is not just the appearance which is different, it is the character too!  American Cockers are much more "look at me" dogs than cockers.  They tend to insist on helping with whatever you are doing.  They are bright and naughty, but incredibly loving!

bye
Gwen

You got it Gwen, Kitty helps me unload the washing machine, she empties any bin she can get close to and she can't keep her nose out of the fridge or anybody else's business. Georgina, this is the B/T Gwen mentioned above. So mischevious but an absolute darling. Imagine a naughty school girl, shirt tail hanging out, tie on sideways, socks around her ankles. Yep, Saint Trinians. That's Kitty. Love her loads.

Dawn R.

My mate told me when I was considering getting Beano....
Americans are like Americans, meet everything and everyone head on............
Arms stretched out and Shout HELLLLLOOOOOOOOOO
English cockers are more reserved, like ..........the English!!!!!!!!
They come up to you and say hello quietly, and give you a handshake!!!!!!!!
Now I have Beano...............Oh how right she was!!!!!!!!
Only thing is...... I now like Americans better than English!!!!!!! (thanks Gwen!!!!!!!!)
Lea :D

Hey Dawn, your lucky,
Emptying the clean washing...............
Beano empties the dirty washing!!!!!!!!
Doesnt touch the clean stuff!!!!! His fav is dirty underwear, either mine or my kids boxers!!!!!! LMAO
Lea :)

i think all cockers vary on temprament english or american even working , I could send you my girl right now   shes exactly the same as you have said if not worse then what you have just said they will keep pawing you till they get attention all soppy My girl follows you round the room plays like mental but is very elegant trotting everywhere then standing there looking pretty legs out :D  shes nosey and very clever I dont mean adverage she knows different types of food I was telling john about this the other day :D , I dont think much changes there .

the only thing i dont like about some american cockers is some of there faces are very dished ive seen a few lovely ones theres a really nice black and white one on champs I think its stunning i looked at a tan one and it dident look normal but i have been looking seriously at getting one . but Ive been looking at solid black ones There so stunning tracey who posts on here has real stunners http://www.quintaviacockerspaniels.co.uk/quintessence.htm I just love betty so much tracey if your reading Id love one of your pups .

Lea id love you to meet my little blue roan you certainly would get a warm welcome , Has any of you owned both breeds id love to hear from those who have .A few girls on another forum have just got americans after loosing other dogs so ive been talking to them a little

Hi lovelady,

I have owned and bred both English & American Cockers.  Whilst it is generalising, the temperaments are VERY different - if you have an English Cocker as outgoing as a Yankee it is the exception not the rule!  this is onne of the reasons Americans make such succesful show dogs - they have inbuilt presence and  a "look at me" factor.  Unsure what you mean by dished face - this is a term I can see  relating to horses & deer.  However, the correct American head has to have a very prounouced stop, you really want a right angle!  Dont know the links you mentioned, so will have a look.
bye
Gwen

Hi again,  now confused Lovelady, looked at the Quintavia link you gave,  lovely dogs, and all English cockers.  Is the parti colour you talked about the one on the breed listings page?  If so, an attractive dog, but probably picutred at an unfortunate angle, and not well marked for showing.  Also the Tan dog you mentioned - Yanks dont come in tan, however Buff can be all shades from Silver down to Red.  When people call me about the breed and want to know the main differences to look at between the English & American I always tell them that the English Cocker has a very aristocratic face, whilst the American's is pure Disney ;)

bye
Gwen

The parti colour black and white one is beautiful . its one from the lincoln area i think .
i might be wrong ive look at loads . yes buff i remeber now , we dont have buff in english either , I have been reading up lots on yankie cockers mabe there pics dont do them justice , I know what you mean about the look at me thing . My english cocker is just like that and very bouncy she never stops :D ill have to meet an american in real life to see exactly what you mean :D
I know what you mean about disney i think your refering to the lady and the tramp who was a cocker american i think :D there faces look a bit like king charles I thought that then my friend came in the room looked at the pic and said the same :D ,
Gwen which english cockers did you breed and did you used to show them?

Hi, yes Lady was based on the American cocker, but was made so long ago, the breed has moved on a long way.  I really mean they have an almost cartoon style face, with the big eyes and the turned up noses, not they look like Lady.   My last litter of English Cockers are now 9 years old, so it is a while since we bred them.  However, they were under our affix of Afterglow.  A few did OK at open shows, but we never managed to breed one of the quality of our Americans.  If you want to see some great pics of American go to the American Spaniel club site and look at the library of winners from this years summer national - they were taken by a breeder/handler who is also a very talented photographer, and are some of the best show photos I have ever seen, giving a great cross section of the breed at its best.  You should see pretty much every colour featured there, apart from Sable (which is not allowed under AKC rules).  From what you have said, I think it make take you a while to "get your eye in" to the major differences between the 2 - English & American.  If you are attracted to any Ameican becasue it is reminiscent of an English Cocker, then it is not a good one!  i have noticed this wiht quite a few exhibitors who have both varieties, they tend to pick the Am. Cocker pups which could alsmost be mistaken for an English cocker, as this is what the eye has been trained to appreciate.  You need to take a completely fresh look, and the head is perhaps the biggest area of difference in importance.  The parti on the breed page is a cute little dog, but if you were at all looking for a pup to show the photo of him seems to demonstrate several faults.  Of course, it is always a mistkae to make up your mind from a pic, and sorry to his owner if they are reading!
bye
Gwen