The Cocker Spaniel, Brittany Spaniel, Water Spaniel, and Foxhound are four breeds that have both American and international varieties. While some of the American breeds were specifically developed from their international counterparts, others naturally developed as a result of diverging breeding practices. Some American and international breeds remain extremely similar to each other, while others have become markedly different in physicality, temperament, or both.
1. American Cocker Spaniel vs. English Cocker Spaniel
The American Cocker Spaniel averages 13 ½ to 15 ½ inches in height and 20 to 30 pounds. An English Cocker Spaniel averages 15 to 17 inches in height and 26 to 32 pounds, making this breed just slightly larger. The American Cocker Spaniel also has a shorter head with a more domed skull, compared to the English breed’s longer head. Additionally, the American breed has a thicker, longer coat while the English Cocker Spaniel has a medium-length coat.
However, the personalities remain extremely similar, if not outright identical. They are one of the friendliest breeds with both other dogs and young children. Both breeds are very affectionate and energetic. Cocker Spaniels of both breeds also share other interesting traits and features, such as their suitability for first-time owners and incredible dog memory.
The Cocker Spaniel is believed to have originated in Spain around the 14th century, but quickly spread to Europe and America for woodcock hunting (thus, their name). According to the AKC, the American variety was developed as a companion, versus the English Cocker Spaniel’s original use for hunting.
Different varieties of Cocker Spaniel (e.g., English and American) were recognized as early as the 1930s. However, the AKC didn’t recognize the two as separate breeds until 1946. As late as the 20th century, the only difference between the two breeds was in height. Other physical differences have developed more recently.
2. (American) Brittany vs. (French) Brittany Spaniel
While the personalities of the American Brittany and French Brittany Spaniel remain the same, their physical characteristics differ slightly. An American Brittany averages 17½ to 20½ inches high with a weight of 30 to 40 pounds. The French Brittany Spaniel averages 18 ½ to 19 ½ inches tall. A specific weight is not given as a breed standard; the Société Centrale Canine states the dog must be “built harmoniously” and “solid, but not weighty.” However, this breed tends to average between 30 to 35 pounds.
Although both breeds remain physically similar, the American Brittany tends to be leggier and slightly taller. The French Brittany Spaniel also tends to display a more dramatic slope between the nose and the forehead. Coloring is another great differentiator, as only the French Brittany Spaniel displays black coloring and piebald patterns.
The American Brittany as we know it today is actually an offshoot of the French Brittany Spaniel (the ‘Epagneul Breton’). The Brittany Spaniel originated in France around the 17th century and was finally introduced to America in 1931. The AKC recognized the Brittany Spaniel in 1934, though it was still the French breed. And while the Brittany is one of the most popular working breeds in France, this dog has never ranked among the most popular spaniel breeds in America.
The French and American breeding lines didn’t diverge until the 20th century. At this point, the French breed remained a true spaniel, and the American breed became closer to a pointer. This prompted the AKC to actually shorten the American breed name in 1982 to just ‘Brittany.’ Regardless, both versions of the Brittany are high-energy, incredibly intelligent, and great choices as companion and working dogs. The Brittany is also ranked as one of the friendliest dog breeds.
3. American Water Spaniel vs. Irish Water Spaniel
The American Water Spaniel is native is the upper Midwest, specifically the Great Lakes region (as the name implies). This breed was curated as a midsize working dog, specifically suited to retrieving and flushing waterfowl from lakes and marshes. The American Water Spaniel averages 15 to 18 inches in height and 25 to 45 pounds in weight.
The Irish Water Spaniel is much larger than the American variety. This breed averages 21 to 24 inches and 45 to 68 pounds in weight, meaning that the largest American Water Spaniels are still typically smaller than Irish Water Spaniels.
The Irish Water Spaniel also has a tightly curled coat, while the American Water Spaniel can have a curled or wavy coat. Additionally, the Irish variety has a slim tail (affectionately dubbed a “rat tail”), while the American Water Spaniel has a fan tail more reminiscent of spaniels and retrievers.
In terms of temperament, the only difference is that the Irish Water Spaniel is reportedly much more affectionate. Both are decent with young children and other dogs, in addition to being intelligent and hardworking. Due to its excellent temperament, the Irish Water Spaniel is one of the most popular Irish dog breeds.
The Irish Water Spaniel certainly predates the American variety. This breed was recorded as far back as the late 1100s, while the American Water Spaniel wasn’t recognized by the AKC until 1940. It’s possible the American Water Spaniel as a breed was initially developing using the Irish Water Spaniel and now-extinct English Water Spaniel, but there is no documentation confirming this. Unfortunately, the American Water Spaniel is now ranked as one of the most vulnerable dog breeds today, possibly following the footsteps of its English cousin.
4. American Foxhound vs. English Foxhound
Both the American and English versions of the foxhound remain similar in appearance. The American Foxhound averages 21 to 25 inches in height, while the English Foxhound averages 24 inches in height. Both breeds average 60 to 70 pounds in weight.
However, there are some differences in physical stature. The American breed has a slightly arched back, whereas the English breed has a back that is level. The American breed also has longer and more finely boned legs, in addition to having a slightly arched back. Regarding temperament, both breeds do very well with young children and other dogs. However, the English Foxhound is more affectionate.
The English Foxhound is another dog breed that greatly predates its American cousin. The English Foxhound dates back to the Middle Ages, while the American Foxhound didn’t appear until into the mid- to late 1700s.
The American Foxhound is quite old when just considering America’s history, though. It is suspected, but not verifiable, that the American Foxhound was the first dog breed developed in America and it one of the only dog breeds with colonial origins. In fact, George Washington helped create a distinctly American breed from the original English Foxhound.
