Cocker Spaniel: breed description, character, care and maintenance

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Many want a dog that is obedient, smart, kind and funny. Then the Cocker Spaniel is exactly the breed that is ideal for all of the above characteristics. These dogs love their owners very much, they are affectionate, docile, quick and easy to train. We will talk about how long Cocker Spaniels live, what they need to be fed, how to care for them and the basic rules for raising them in more detail in this article.

History of the breed

The origin of Cocker Spaniels is legendary. According to one of them, this breed of dog comes from Spain, since their names are consonant. There is also a version that their ancestors were ash dogs that existed during the Bronze Age.

However, the most plausible of them is that the dogs were artificially bred in England. The ultimate goal of breeders was to breed ideal hunting dogs that meet all the necessary requirements. ThisThe breed was officially registered in 1902. Subsequently, its breeding was carried out according to strict standards prescribed in the relevant documents.

Nowadays, there are two official branches of this breed: English and American. There is also a third one - Russian, but it still remains unrecognized at the international level, therefore it is distributed only on the territory of Russia.

English Cocker Spaniel: breed description

For the first time it was recognized by the British Kennel Club in 1892 as an independent dog with a distinct appearance. By that time, there were already a large number of subspecies of Cocker Spaniels, the colors, body shape and other characteristics of which were slightly different from each other. Most of them gradually disappeared along with the types of hunting where they were used.

English Cockers are believed to be descended from Field Spaniels and Sussexes. Numerous exhibition shows gradually formed clear requirements regarding external data, and tail docking, which has been carried out since the middle of the 17th century, has become one of the mandatory for this breed. The English Spaniel, whose height is not more than 40 cm, has a long, tight and wavy coat, but not curled into rings. There are many colors, however, no white spots are allowed, except for one on the chest.

The English Cocker is a dog with a large head, strong build and massive paws, which are webbed, helping her to swim well. The weight of the animalvary within 7-10 kg. They have soft fur and long floppy ears. The eyes are rounded and light or dark hazel.

American Cocker Spaniel: description of the breed and history of occurrence

Back in 1859, several dogs were shown at one of the exhibitions in Britain. Their stature was slightly shorter than the English Cockers and they had thicker coats. They were bred by James Furrow, who later organized his own nursery. It was from there that two puppies came to the United States. There, their offspring were crossed with other spaniel-like dogs that came to the continent with the Spaniards back in the 17th century. The formation of the breed was completed in 1915, and the Cocker Club in America appeared twenty years later. English dogs have not been used for breeding for a long time.

American Cocker Spaniels are small dogs whose height does not exceed 38 cm. There are a lot of color options. Almost all shades are allowed, including spotting, where the presence of white is mandatory. Solid color is allowed to have one light spot on the chest.

Russian branch: history and description of the breed

Her selection began after the end of World War II. Rigid selection parameters contributed to the creation of a working dog that adopted all the best qualities from its English progenitors. The standards of this breed were officially registered in the middle of the last century, but its formation still continued until1966

The Russian Cocker has a strong build, with long legs compared to American and English Spaniels. The height of the dog is not more than 44 cm at the withers. She has long and coarse hair. It has good watchdog qualities, is active and persistent. Sometimes aggressive, but this is offset by a calm character and easy training. If you need a lap dog, then it is better to choose an American or English Cocker, and if a hunting assistant, then a Russian Spaniel, as this is a 100% working dog.

Character

It is believed that among all known breeds of hunting dogs, the Cocker Spaniel is the most affectionate and kind. These dogs treat their owners with great tenderness and love, and this is immediately noticeable. In addition, they can be started in families with even the smallest children, since such a pet will never offend a child.

Spaniels are also very smart and sensitive animals. They are easy to train, because they quickly understand what the owner wants from them, and easily remember all the commands. These dogs are very kind, but do not intend to tolerate bad treatment. Therefore, dogs can even be aggressive if offended by brute force.

Sometimes due to improper upbringing, spaniels become passive, spoiled and naughty. Their excessive affection can bring discomfort to the owners and even their neighbors. For example, when the owner is away from home for a long time, the dog will whine and may even lose his appetite. Spaniels should not be used as guards because theyafraid of strangers and will not attack them.

Food

This breed does not have any special preferences, so there are usually no big problems about how to feed a Cocker Spaniel. Yes, some individuals may have allergic reactions to certain products, but with careful attention to the pet, they can be quickly eliminated. If the owner has decided that his dog will eat dry food, then it is advisable to get advice from a specialist about a suitable brand and portion, and buy the food itself only in specialized outlets. It should be remembered that high-quality food should not emit a strong smell and be colorful, because this indicates the presence of chemical additives in it, which can cause allergies in the animal.

When choosing a dry diet for feeding a pet, it is necessary at least sometimes to give him natural food, which is desirable to cook yourself. For these purposes, you can use bones, fish, meat, various cereals, as well as vegetables and some fruits. In addition, foods such as kefir, cottage cheese and cheese will be useful for the dog. As for milk, it is considered food and cannot be used as a substitute for water.

Common Breed Diseases

Cocker Spaniels live quite a long time - 12-15 years. One of the most common diseases in this breed is food allergies. The fact is that their stomach reacts badly to fatty foods. In addition, they periodically need to be given vitamins. To protect your pet from anymanifestations of allergies, you need to monitor the correctness of his diet, which can be compiled for a dog by a veterinarian with experience. In addition to a balanced diet, he will most likely offer special dietary supplements. They should be given to the dog no more than once or twice a year.

In addition to allergies, the Cocker Spaniel breed is most prone to diseases such as melanoma, glaucoma, epilepsy, cataracts and otitis media. Dogs are advised to clean their ears and flush their eyes quite often, as these are the organs most at risk. Such procedures should not be neglected, as proper care can reduce the development of diseases by about 70%.

Experts advise to periodically take spaniels for examination to the veterinarian, and also, when buying a puppy, find out if he has been vaccinated, and which ones. Cockers also need training and constant long walks. If the dog is not treated, it may begin to become hysterical, which is mainly the case for representatives of the English breed.

Bathing and grooming

Keeping a Cocker Spaniel is a very labor intensive process that will require a lot of time and effort. Caring for their coat involves daily combing, first with a simple brush, then with a slicker brush. In addition, it is recommended that trimming is carried out every few days - plucking out dead hair, as well as cutting the pet at least once every two or three months. It should not be forgotten that in no case can you cut off the hair on the back.

Before you start water procedures,you need to brush your dog well. Since representatives of this breed are prone to colds, during the cold season, the dog should be bathed exclusively in warm water. It is impossible that the liquid, and even more so detergents, get into the ears of the pet. Frequent bathing spoils the coat, as during them the protective secretions are washed off and the spaniel can go bald. This procedure should be carried out only as the dog becomes dirty or a characteristic odor appears.

Prevention of eye diseases

As you know, these animals have an unusual structure of the muzzle. Because of this, their eyes are very sensitive and prone to various diseases. That is why they require careful care. The Cocker Spaniel needs to wash his eyes every day with freshly brewed tea or clean them with special wipes, and also examine them in order to notice any discharge, redness or suppuration in time. If this happens, you will have to take your pet to the vet.

Most often this happens due to simple dust in the eyes. However, the above symptoms can be the beginning of much more serious diseases. As they progress, they often lead to poor vision or even blindness of the animal.

Ear cleaning

This procedure is very important and cannot be done without. Once every few days, it is necessary to remove dirt, as well as remove excess hair that grows near the ear opening by plucking or cutting it out. Given the fact that Cocker Spaniels have large ears, andthe inside of the organ is very sensitive, it can be quite difficult to do this.

If this procedure has never been done before, then you can ask the groomer or breeder to demonstrate how to do it correctly. Before choosing an ear cleaner, you should consult a specialist.

Basic training rules

Since the spaniel is a very smart and quick-witted dog, it can be trained even at home, you just need to know a few simple rules:

• A puppy should have only one nickname, which will serve as a signal to attract his attention.
• Training should begin by giving a few days to a small pet to get acquainted with the apartment and its household.
• For classes with puppies, and then with adult Cocker Spaniels, you will have to spend a lot of time in order for the dog to feel the care and attention from his owner.
• One of the family members should train the pet.
• After a correctly executed command, it is necessary to encourage the puppy by giving him his favorite treat. So he will understand that he is doing everything right, and the owner is pleased with him.

First lessons

Usually begin training with the training of the puppy to his place. It is necessary to equip it in such a way that the animal is as comfortable as possible. At the same time, it is forbidden to pronounce various derivatives of the command that sounds like “Place!”, Because the puppy may get confused and not follow it.

When it is already mastered, it shouldgo to the second lesson. This will be the study of such an equally important command as “No!”, which is fundamental for all hunting dogs without exception. For the first time, you can try it near the puppy's bowl, when he will very persistently ask for an additional portion of food. To do this, you need to take it by the withers and, with clarity and pressure, repeat the command “No!” several times.

The rest of the workouts will be much easier, because the Cocker Spaniel puppy is already set up for them. However, you should not do it only at home - it is precisely those classes that are held on the street that will give the greatest effect.

How to choose a puppy

Small Cocker Spaniels start selling after they are 45 days old. However, breeders can give them in an older form, so the age of the dog must be negotiated on an individual basis.

Before you make your final choice, you need to pay attention to the following points:

• Conditions for keeping a puppy. Dogs must live clean. If the seller does not take good care of them, then many problems related to the he alth of animals can subsequently appear.
• Character. The Cocker Spaniel is already starting to show it, being a one and a half month old puppy. A strong character is noticeable even at the tenderest age.
• Activity. The more energetic ones may become better hunters in the future. Even if the animal is not taken for this at all, the puppy should still be as mobile as possible.
• Pedigree. It is recommended to pay attention to whether the puppy's parents have titles, as this breedalmost always takes part in various exhibitions and competitions.
• Appetite. It indicates the puppy's he alth and good genetics.