All About American Cocker Spaniel Lady

Whenever someone met my red and white dog, Brandy Noel, they often said she looked just like American Cocker Spaniel Lady. 

My Brandy Noel had such a kissable face, and she resembled a stuffed animal that came to life. A puppy mill rescue dog, she implanted herself into our hearts and souls and never let go. We loved that comparisons to Lady from Disney’s famous 1955 cartoon movie, Lady and the Tramp. 

Lady is a pampered, well-to-do American Cocker Spaniel who develops feelings for a dog named Tramp from the other side of town. If you’ve seen the movie, you know how endearing the couple is, especially Lady with her long flowing ears and wide-set eyes that capture your heart.

If you ever wondered all about Lady, fun facts from the movie set, and how she became so popular, read on. This is everything you’re yearning to know about the famous female American Cocker Spaniel. 

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Who Is The American Cocker Spaniel Lady?

Lady was based on a real dog. Walt Disney saw sketches that animator and artist Joe Grant did of his Springer Spaniel. Walt encouraged Grant to develop a complete storyboard featuring the dog named Lady. Ironically, Grant’s household was dealing with a new baby, just like the movie’s real storyline. 

Lady is an American Cocker Spaniel who, in the movie, is pampered and doted upon. When her family, the Darlings, have a human baby, she finds things changing. While outside on her own, she meets a street dog named Tramp.

Despite their differences, they develop a romance and fall in love. However, Lady’s family threatens to keep them apart. Love always wins. 

Do Cocker Spaniels Act Like Lady In Real Life?

​Female American Cocker Spaniels are playful, merry, loving, and bond closely with their family. In that sense, Cocker Spaniels do behave like Lady in real life. 

When they are bred, raised, and socialized properly, they are great with small children, engage in dog sports, display unconditional love, and respond well to positive reinforcement. 

However, Cocker Spaniels are a lot of work with their own set of health problems, which are not depicted in the cartoon movie. In Disney movies, things are generally happy, and despite any wicked witches or scary moments, the main characters prevail in the end. 

Cockers do not respond well to harsh treatment. They should never be left on their own to roam the streets. Like in the movie, they make great family dogs, but this comes with proper training and love. 

Cockers are not stuffed animals, they don’t enjoy kids poking at them or having their tails pulled, and children should be taught how to treat dogs before and during any interactions. 

FUN FACT: Gayle King loved meeting my second Cocker Spaniel, Dexter, when we appeared on Oprah Winfrey Radio’s Gayle King show together. 

How Big Do Female American Cocker Spaniels Get?

​A well-bred adult female American Cocker Spaniel weighs between 20 and 25 pounds on average. 

She stands around 14 inches at the withers, the tallest point on a dog’s body. The withers are found between her shoulder blades and at the back of the neck. 

​The American Spaniel Club, of which I am a member, agrees that an “adult bitch is 14 inches.”

I know female Cocker Spaniels who weigh 18 pounds and others that weight 32 pounds. It all depends on their frame, breeding, genetics, and what they are fed. 

Personality Traits of American Cockers

​​I’ve owned both male and female Cocker Spaniels. Cocker Spaniel puppies start out full of life, energy, and are incredibly spunky. They seem to keep that puppy attitude and spirit as they become adults and even into their senior years. 

The American Kennel Club (AKC) calls American Cockers smart, happy, and gentle. They are affectionate, good with young children if treated properly, and overall good with other dogs. 

​I asked members of my Club Cocker Facebook group whether they prefer males or females when it comes to Cockers. Here are a few of their answers when it comes to personality:

“100% merry with wagging tails!” ~ Nancy K. Carter

“Oakley’s tail never stops wagging.One of his many endearing qualities that always impressed our class instructors and judges when we showed in rally & obedience. He is merry!” ~ Karen Goemmel

“Total wiggle butts….loving, want attention, snuggles, etc. I love my cocker babies SO much. And yet they have unique personalities, too.” ~ Marilyn Milano

“Lexi is the perfect example of a Cocker – always merry, athletic, sweet, a typical hunter with her nose to the ground. She wags in her sleep sometimes and goes to the vet with the exuberance of a kid in a candy store. She has even won over some people afraid of dogs or ones who aren’t really keen on them.” ~ Elissa Fink McEnaney

All About American Cocker Spaniel Grooming

​Lady’s appearance is gorgeous, as she has a luxurious coat that moves like she is in the show ring. American Cocker Spaniels require a lot of upkeep, brushing, and regular grooming to keep this appearance. 

Personally, I learned to groom my Cocker Spaniels at home. For close to 20 years, my Cockers visited a professional dog groomer. I opted to learn how and invested in the right equipment. 

You definitely brush a Cocker daily and keep a metal comb handy. Not everyone prefers long hair, and I keep my Cockers in a puppy cut or sporting cut, which means less hair flowing to the ground. 

Most Cockers are groomed every four to six weeks, whether by a professional groomer or if you prefer to do it yourself. If you keep your Cocker in full coat, you’ll be enjoying regular baths and brushing sessions. 

​Here’s how to find a good Cocker Spaniel dog groomer.

FUN FACT: The dog tugging on the little girl’s bikini in a famous beach ad is the Coppertone Cocker.

10 Fun Facts From Lady and the Tramp Movie

1. Animators used their own faces for the characters’ real expressions in the movie. 
2. In the movie, Peggy Lee, a famous singer in the 1950s and 1960s, voiced the female character Peg. Lee later sued and won a $3.83 million lawsuit for royalties from VHS sold later. 
3. Walt Disney wasn’t fond of the famous spaghetti scene. He was convinced only after seeing a draft of how the scene would unfold. 
4. For reference, real dogs were brought into the studio so everyone involved could see them for inspiration. 
5. Walt Disney came up with the name Tramp for Lady’s love interest. 
6. Lady is about one year old when she meets Tramp.
7. Although my Cocker Spaniel, Brandy Noel, was mostly red with some white, Lady is beige and brown with a tan muzzle and belly. She has dark brown ears and brown eyes. 
8. Although Tramp looks like a Schnauzer, the character is a mixed-breed dog who likely has some Terrier in his lineage.
9. Walt Disney gave his wife a puppy in a box, which inspired the famous Christmas tree scene with Lady the puppy popping up out of a present. 
10. Tramp never calls Lady by her given name in the original movie. Instead, he gives her cute nicknames like “Kid” or “Pigeon.” (I had to go back and re-watch the movie, and it’s true!)

History of the American Cocker Spaniel

The American Cocker Spaniel, the smallest member of the AKC’s sporting group, is believed to have originated in medieval Spain like all Spaniels. This distinct breed traveled to several countries, including England, Canada, and the United States. 

Amazingly, it is believed Cocker Spaniels came to North America with the pilgrims.

In 19th century England, their Kennel Club recognized the very first Cocker Spaniel in 1883. It wasn’t until 1936 that the American Spaniel Club separated Spaniels into English Cockers and American Cockers. In the 1940s, the AKC recognized this separation. 

If you go to a dog show, such as the yearly Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, you will see the English Cocker Spaniel shows separately from the American Cocker Spaniel. 

Learn more about the History of the Cocker Spaniel and the Difference Between American Cockers and English Cocker Spaniels 

Why Are Cocker Spaniels So Popular?

​This small-to-medium-sized dog once ranked high atop the AKC’s most popular and most popular breed in their annual registrations listing. In 2022, American Cocker Spaniels ranked at number 29 among all registered purebred dogs with the AKC.

Their personalities and big dog mentality in a smaller body are some of the reasons they wrap themselves around their owners’ hearts. They need regular exercise but are content to play indoors, go for walks, and if you can get them involved in other activities, that would be awesome. 

Members of my Club Cocker Facebook group describe these beautiful dogs as:

• Snuggle bugs
• Loyal
• Loving
• ​Silly
• Fun 
• Velcro dogs
• Curious 
• Needy
• Cuddly
• Playful
• Sporty
• Smart
• Friendly dog

One look at their expressive eyes and long, lush ears and people fall in love. They have a thick coat and a sweet temperament, which makes them the whole package. 

​Over the past 30+ years of sharing life with American Cocker Spaniels, men and women stopped to meet and pet my dogs. 

Here’s more about why Cocker Spaniel personalities are the best.

FUN FACT: Sometimes Cockers are confused for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or Springer Spaniels. 

Do Cocker Spaniels Have Health Issues?

Yes, Cocker Spaniels have health issues. Disney movies don’t depict things like hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), separation anxiety, seizures, immune disorders, or allergies. 

American Cocker Spaniels are over-represented when it comes to conditions affecting:

Ears: Ear infections and allergies

Immune System: Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT), the latter of which affected my second Cocker Spaniel, Dexter

Skin: Lumps, bumps, mast cell tumors, allergies

Eyes: PRA, glaucoma, cataracts, blindness

Learn more in our article about Cocker Spaniel Health Issues.

Where to Adopt or Buy an American Cocker Spaniel 

If you want to welcome an American Cocker Spaniel into your life, you can choose a reputable breeder or rescue. 

Learn more about Cocker breeders and Cocker rescues in our posts on each topic.

Where to Buy Lady and the Tramp Merchandise

Here are some of our favorite Lady and the Tramp items that are still available as of this writing. We own many of these items and love them all.

60th Anniversary Figurine

Bella Note T-Shirt

Lady Nighlight

Bag Charm

Coasters of Love

Set of 2 Mugs

Crossbody Bag

Official Movie