American Spaniel: breed description (photo)

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

Until recently, the most beloved companion dog was the American Cocker Spaniel. The reviews of the owners especially noted his friendliness, activity and curiosity - with such a pet you will not get bored and will not be left without regular physical activity. In the last couple of years, the excitement about the breed has somewhat subsided, but to this day such dogs can often be found on the street, and breeders do not complain about the lack of demand for puppies being born.

Formation of the breed

The American Spaniel, no doubt, has common roots of the breed with the English Spaniel, although experts have not been able to accurately trace the details of its origin. There is vague evidence that the ancestors of modern representatives of the breed were brought to the freshly discovered mainland by the first settlers. For quite a long time they crossed with local dogs, and in the 18th century they deliberately began to improve the breed - firstqueue again by English cockers. However, the purpose of the selection was mainly the intention to obtain a hunting dog of small size. The goal was achieved: today the American Spaniel (photos confirm this) is one of the smallest of the existing hunters. But the starting point for the emergence of such dogs appeared a hundred years later. It wasn't until the 19th century that the American Cocker Spaniel was officially recognized. The kennel of James Furrow was engaged in breeding only this breed. And the best specimens grown in it became the ancestors of the US spaniels. The breed was fully formed by 1915, although the British did not want to recognize it for a long time. Britain agreed to its existence already in the second half of the 20th century. In Russia, the American Spaniel first appeared in the seventies, then it was considered a very rare and even exotic animal, which is why it was very expensive.

Note that the British resistance was initially doomed to defeat. The breed differs from the British counterpart not only in a much smaller size, but also in the shape of the head (in particular, the famous snub nose), and physique, and freedom of color. As for the ancestors, they are common to all dogs.

Breed standards

What does an American Cocker Spaniel look like? Its description can be quite short, but at the same time capacious, and it will not be difficult to recognize a dog from it even to someone who has never seen such a dog. For starters, it is small - an adult male does not grow above 39 centimeters. And if it does happen, thenhis mother went out with a member of a different breed. The maximum weight is thirteen kilograms. Exceeding this indicator with regular growth is a serious reason to take care of the he alth of the pet. The constitution of the American Cocker is strong and proportional, the head is beautifully shaped, with large eyes, drooping low-set ears and a characteristic snub nose. The coat is long, shiny and thick. Its color can be anything - and one-color, and two-color (usually black and white and very appreciated black and tan), and piebald, and tricolor. Thanks to such a wide range, anyone can find a pet with a color that matches their aesthetic preferences.

Character traits

Many people perceive the American Cocker Spaniel (you can see its photo in our article) as a companion dog. He is really great in this role, the main thing is not to be "led" by the plush appearance and treat him like a toy. Do not forget that in front of you is a hunter, albeit not used now in this capacity. Character something remained serious! Yes, and unclaimed abilities can ruin it. Therefore, it is worth introducing some rules in communicating with a dog:

1. On walks, not just wander around with your pet, but arrange active games and work out at least the simplest commands. In a word, make him work: he will feel needed and obey better.
2. Develop certain prohibitions and demand their observance: for example, do not drag from the table and do not begunder it or not to climb into the bed with the owners. If you ever give in, the charming American Spaniel will literally sit on your neck, considering himself the leader of the pack.
3. Pay attention to the psychological state of the dog. If she is agitated, then you should calm her down and give her a break from communication. But at the same time, one should not be allowed to growl at oneself, and even more so - to show physical aggression. Your pet should not feel dominant.

In all other respects, if you do not succumb to provocations and do not follow the touching appearance, the American Cocker Spaniel breed is absolutely hassle-free. Its representatives easily get along with any pets, are friendly to children, even the smallest ones, take into account the peculiarities of the rhythm of life and the temperament of the owners.

Daily wool care

The main chore that the American Cocker Spaniel requires is caring for his gorgeous coat. The animal is especially beautiful due to its coat, but like long hair in women, it requires regular attention. You need to comb the coat every day, and American Spaniel puppies should be accustomed to this procedure from the moment they appear in your home. The process of an experienced "hairdresser" takes five minutes at most. If you have not had an American Cocker before, and even if you have an untrained puppy, it may take much more time. However, you should not forget about combing or postponing it. Firstly, it is much harder to deal with mats. Second, if your petlearns that the procedure is inevitable, he will be patient with it. When your dog grows up, it will be possible to comb it much less often - once a week, the puppy fluff will come off, and the coat without extremes in the form of rain will look normal on its own.

Required baths

But you can't do just combing the dog. The American Spaniel also needs regular bathing. Most often, washing is done once every two weeks. Every month, a pet is bathed only if the weather is dry for a long time, and he does not walk for a long time. Before washing, the dog must be combed out to remove the resulting tangles. The water gets a little warm. If it is too hot for the puppy the first time, then it will take a lot of work to lure him into the bath. Shampoo is bought either special, canine, or human, designed for damaged or dry hair. After washing, a balm is applied, more tangled places are washed off, the wool is squeezed out with a towel (no need to wipe carefully) and dried with a hairdryer while combing.

Haircut

So that your American Spaniel (photo can be seen in the article) does not gradually turn into a shaggy, albeit cute cur, about once a season it will need to be cut. At first, all owners turn to the pet salon for this purpose. Many over time, after looking closely and remembering the sequence of work, provide hairdressing services to their pet on their own. However, with the first trimming, you should not delay too much:If for the first time your American Spaniel hears the sound of a typewriter at nine months old, most likely he will be frightened and will behave aggressively at haircuts. If you bought a puppy already trimmed, and for a long time the hairdresser turns out to be unclaimed, sometimes turn on some device next to him that sounds like a typewriter - a mixer, an electric razor, etc. The dog will get used to the fact that nothing terrible follows the noise, it will stop pay attention to him and will be calm about the procedure.

Paw care

The paw pads of all dogs are a vulnerable place, especially in the city, where everything is lying on the roads and lawns, the dogs we are considering are no exception. The American Cocker Spaniel also has thick hair on its paws. As a result of this, it is not only sometimes difficult to notice the resulting wound (in the end, the dog himself will hint at this with his behavior), something can get tangled in the wool and injure the paw later. Therefore, after each walk, the paws are not only washed, but also carefully examined. And on the wash day, the hair between the fingers is trimmed.

Some owners cut their Cockers' nails. However, it is believed that if there is a need for this, then the dog does not move much. In the city, with a sufficient duration of walks, the claws grind off on the asph alt without extraneous fate.

Ear care

All lop-eared breeds require special attention to their "burdocks". First of all, they are not sufficiently ventilated, and therefore there is excess moisture in the sink andtemperature. Such conditions are ideal for the accumulation of dirt and, accordingly, the development of various diseases. So you need to clean your Cocker's ears even more often than your own. They endure this procedure very philosophically, after the first time they feel significant relief.

The second danger is ticks. From mid-May until the end of September, the ears are carefully examined for these parasites, pulled out if found, and burned.

If the American Cocker Spaniel (photos of these beauties are given in the article) behaves restlessly, whimpers, constantly shakes his head, rubs his ears with his paws, and when examined, uncharacteristic dark-colored discharges with an unpleasant heavy odor are found in them, the dog urgently should be taken to the vet. At a minimum, your pet has otitis media and should be treated under medical supervision.

Tooth care

With a proper and balanced diet, the American Cocker usually does not have dental problems. To prevent dental problems, you need to accustom the dog to milk and cottage cheese - they supply teeth and bones with calcium. Try to get your puppy into the habit of eating fresh tomatoes. It turns out this is not always - dogs, like people, have their own taste preferences. However, if you are lucky, you will never find tartar in your pet. You should also give him to gnaw raw bones. Just not tubular! Beef moss is fine. Many "Americans" are willing to nibble on apples, and this intention should be encouraged by all means.

Of course, you can not give your pet any sweets and pastries. In addition to the fact that dogs' metabolism is disturbed from them, the stomach deteriorates, and the animals rapidly get fat, their teeth have no resistance to sugar. Within a year, with regular feeding, the dog's teeth turn yellow and begin to break down.

Older animals and show specimens get their teeth cleaned. It is advisable to use tooth powder for this purpose. It is now unrealistic to find it in ordinary stores; most often it is also absent in pet products. You can use human toothpaste, just choose it without smell and pronounced taste.

Food

How to feed your cocker is up to you. The main thing is that the food has everything you need. However, regardless of whether you cook yourself or give your dog ready-made food, remember that all Cockers - both English and American - do not know how to stop eating. They eat until they see something in the bowl. Therefore, food must be given to them strictly in doses, otherwise in six months you will have a thick sausage on legs crawling on a leash. If you reward your pet with something between feedings, consider this in the total amount of food. And keep a close eye on the dog on a walk: this hunter and glutton can pick up everything that smells delicious from the ground. In addition to extra calories, this is also the risk of poisoning the dog.

Purchasing a puppy

The best place to buy an American Cocker Spaniel is a kennel or a club. When acquiring from hands, there is always a risk of buying a puppy with non-purebred ancestors. And this is fraught not onlydeviations from the breed standard, but also the presence of a more aggressive character. In addition, it is not a fact that the "market" pet will be he althy and vaccinated by age, and also not awarded with hereditary diseases. If the purity of the breed is important to you, check the puppy's pedigree. Please note that this document has certain security marks and is not printed on cardboard by a color printer. It is obligatory to have a veterinary passport indicating all the vaccinations made.

When choosing a puppy, look at his behavior. He should be moderately active, but not aggressive, play with his sisters and brothers, move smartly and be interested in the world around him. If, when a person approaches, the puppy hides in a corner, growls or whines, and even more so starts a puddle, then choose another one for yourself: this one has problems with the nervous system. Do not take the smallest in the litter. He may be the cutest, but he is also likely the weakest.

The beginning of education

In order for the little cocker to adapt more easily to a new place, experience less stress and not get a nervous injury, certain conditions must be met already at the time of relocation.

1. It is better to take a puppy from his mother early in the morning - this way he will more easily endure the separation.
2. Before the trip, you can not feed him, agree on this with the breeder in advance.
3. On the road, do not allow strangers to touch the dog - she is already scared and confused.
4. The habitat should be prepared the day before: a sleeping place with bedding is allocated, bowls of water and food are placed, a cat pot is prepared (at first, whilea puppy cannot learn to endure, he needs to be taught to relieve himself in one place, and the tray is ideal in this regard).
5. Upon arrival, Baby Cocker will probably try to hide somewhere. You should not forcibly remove him from the shelter - let him sit out. It is necessary to stop the enthusiasm of the family about the new family member and remove them from the room until the puppy gets used to it and comes out on its own.

Please note that the upbringing of the little "American" should start from the first day. You should call him only with a nickname, without any “honey” and “kutya”. The collar is put on as soon as the puppy began to explore the apartment. Gently, but persistently, you need to teach him to eat in one place and not to carry food around the rooms.

Who shouldn't have an "American"

If you like the American Cocker Spaniel outwardly, reviews about the breed suit you, there is enough money to buy a purebred dog, think about the purpose for which you are getting a puppy. There are two cases in which you should refuse a looked after breed:

1. If you intend to give a dog to a preschool child. Your offspring is not yet ready to accept the animal as a partner. And his cute appearance will make him a toy in the eyes of the baby. Of course, the cocker will not bring harm to the child. But your son (daughter) will spoil him to such an extent that it will become difficult to coexist in an apartment with him. For a teenager, such a dog is an ideal friend.
2. If your elderly relative feels lonely and you want to brighten up his life. In such a situation, choose a better animal. Firstly, the American Spaniel is very active, and walking a middle-agedit will be difficult for a person with him. Secondly, caring for him is quite laborious, takes a lot of time (that's okay - the old people have enough of it) and strength. Thirdly, the maintenance of such a dog is quite expensive: the services of a dog hairdresser are not cheap, and it will not work to feed a dog with porridge alone.

For everyone else, especially not lazy people, the American Spaniel is quite suitable as a family dog. Feedback from those with whom he has been living for more than one year is positive.