Many want to have a dog that is obedient, smart, kind, and fun. Then the cocker spaniel is exactly that breed that is ideally suited to all of the above characteristics. These dogs are very fond of their owners, they are affectionate, flexible, quick and easy to train. We will talk more about how much Cocker Spaniels live , how to feed them, how to care for them and the basic rules of their upbringing in this article.
Breed history
There are legends about the origin of cocker spaniels. According to one of them, this breed of dog comes from Spain, as their names are consonant. There is also a version that their ancestors were ash dogs that existed back in the Bronze Age.
However, the most believable of them - dogs were bred in England artificially. The ultimate goal of the breeders was to develop ideal hunting dogs that meet all the necessary requirements. This breed was officially registered in 1902. Subsequently, its breeding was carried out in accordance with the strict rules prescribed in the relevant documents.
Nowadays, there are two official branches of this breed: English and American. There is a third - Russian, but it still remains unrecognized at the international level, therefore it is distributed only in Russia.
English Cocker Spaniel: breed description
For the first time, it was recognized by the British Dog Club as an independent and possessing pronounced appearance in 1892. By that time, there were already a large number of subspecies of cocker spaniels, colors, body shape and other characteristics of which were slightly different from each other. Most of them gradually disappeared along with the hunting species where they were used.
English cockers are believed to have evolved from field spaniels and sussexes. Numerous exhibition displays gradually formed clear requirements for external data, and tail docking, carried out since the middle of the XVII century, became one of the mandatory for this breed. The English Spaniel, whose height is not more than 40 cm, has a long, snug and wavy coat, but not curled into rings. There are many colors, but white spots are not allowed, except for one on the chest.
English Cocker is a dog with a big head, strong physique and massive legs, on which there are membranes that help her to swim well. The weight of the animal can vary between 7-10 kg. They have soft hair and long hanging ears. The eyes have a rounded shape and a light or dark hazel color.
American Cocker Spaniel: breed description and history
Back in 1859, several dogs were shown at one of the shows in Britain. Their height was slightly lower compared to the English cockers, and they had a thicker coat. They were bred by James Ferrow, who later organized his personal nursery. It was from there that two puppies got into the United States. There, their offspring was crossed with other spaniel-like dogs that came to the continent together with the Spaniards in the XVII century. The formation of the breed ended 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 color is mandatory. With a solid color, it is allowed to have one bright spot on the chest.
Russian branch: history and description of the breed
Her selection began after the end of World War II. Strict selection parameters contributed to the creation of a working dog, which adopted all the best qualities from its English ancestors. The standards of this breed were officially registered in the middle of the last century, but its formation still continued until 1966.
The Russian cocker has a strong physique, 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 a long and stiff coat. It has good watchdog qualities, active and persistent. Sometimes aggressive, but this is offset by a calm character and easy training. If you need a pet dog, then it is better to choose an American or English cocker, and if an assistant is on the hunt, then a Russian spaniel, since this is a 100% working dog.
Character
Among all known breeds of hunting dogs, the cocker spaniel is considered to be the most affectionate and kind. These dogs relate with great tenderness and love to their owners, and this is immediately noticeable. In addition, they can be started in families even with 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 they easily remember all the teams. These dogs are very kind, but do not intend to tolerate a bad attitude towards themselves. Therefore, dogs can even be aggressive if offended by applying brute force to them.
Sometimes, as a result of improper upbringing, spaniels become passive, spoiled, and naughty. Their excessive attachment can cause discomfort to the owners and even their neighbors. For example, when the owner leaves the house for a long time, the dog will whine and may even lose his appetite. Spaniels should not be used as guards, because they are afraid of strangers and will not attack them.
Nutrition
This breed does not have any particular preferences, therefore, usually there are no big problems about how to feed a cocker spaniel. Yes, some individuals may show allergic reactions to certain products, but with careful attention to the pet, you can quickly get rid of them. If the owner decided that his dog will eat dry food, then it is advisable to consult a specialist about a suitable brand and portion, and buy the food itself only at specialized retail outlets. It should be remembered that high-quality food should not emit a strong smell and be colorful, because this indicates the presence in it of chemical additives that 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 it 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, products such as kefir, cottage cheese and cheese will be useful for the dog. As for milk, it is considered food, and water cannot be replaced with it.
Common pedigree diseases
Cocker Spaniels live quite a long time - 12-15 years. One of the most common diseases of this breed is food allergy. The fact is that their stomach does not respond well to fatty foods. In addition, they need to be given vitamins periodically. In order to protect your pet from any manifestations of allergies, you need to monitor the correctness of its diet, which can be a veterinarian with experience for the dog. In addition to a balanced diet, he is likely to offer special dietary supplements. They must 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 often recommended to clean their ears and rinse their eyes, as these organs are at greatest risk. Such procedures should not be neglected, since proper care can reduce the development of diseases by about 70%.
Experts advise periodically to bring spaniels to the veterinarian for examination, as well as when buying a puppy to find out whether he was vaccinated, and which ones. Cockers also need training and constant long walks. If the dog is not involved, it may begin to hysteria, which is mainly affected by representatives of the English breed.
Bathing and grooming
Keeping a cocker spaniel is a very time-consuming process that will require a lot of time and effort. Care for their hair provides daily combing, first with a simple brush, then with a curler. In addition, it is recommended to trim every few days - plucking off dead hair, as well as cutting the pet at least once every two or three months. It should not be forgotten that it is impossible to trim the hair on the back.
Before starting water procedures, it is necessary to comb out the dog well. Since representatives of this breed are prone to colds, in the cold season, the dog needs to 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 it the protective secretions are washed off and the spaniel can become bald. This procedure should be carried out only as the dog becomes dirty or a characteristic odor appears.
Eye Disease Prevention
As you know, these animals have an unusual structure of the muzzle. Because of this, their eyes are very sensitive and susceptible to various diseases. That is why they require careful care. Every day, the Cocker Spaniel needs to rinse his eyes with freshly brewed tea or clean them with special napkins, as well as examine them in order to notice the discharge, redness or suppuration that appear on time. If this happens, you will have to show your pet to the veterinarian.
Most often this happens due to a simple contact of dust in the eyes. However, the above symptoms can be the beginning of much more serious diseases. Progressing, they often lead to poor vision or even blindness of the animal.
Ear cleaning
This procedure is very important, and you can’t do without it. Once every few days it is necessary to remove impurities, as well as remove excess hair, which grows at the ear opening, by plucking or cutting it. Given the fact that the ears of the cocker spaniel are large, and the inside of the organ is very sensitive, it can be quite difficult to do.
If this procedure has never been carried out before, then you can ask the groomer or breeder to demonstrate how to do it correctly. Before choosing a tool for cleaning your ears, you should consult a specialist.
Basic rules of training
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:
- The puppy should have only one nickname, which will serve as a signal to attract his attention.
- Training should be started by giving a small pet a few days to get acquainted with the apartment and its household.
- For lessons with puppies, and then adult cocker spaniels, you will have to devote a lot of time for the dog to feel care and attention from its owner.
- One of the family members must train the pet.
- After a correctly executed team, it is necessary to encourage the puppy, giving him a favorite treat. So he will understand that he is doing everything right, and the owner is pleased with him.
First lessons
Usually they start training by accustoming the puppy to their 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 team, which sounds like “Place!”, Because the puppy may get confused and not fulfill it.
When it is already mastered, you should go to the second lesson. This will be the study of such an equally important team as “You can't!”, Which is fundamental to 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 at the withers and with clarity and pressure, repeat the command "You can not!" Several times.
The rest of the training will be much simpler, because the cocker spaniel puppy is already configured for them. However, you should not do this only at home - those classes that are held on the street will give the greatest effect.
How to choose a puppy
Small cocker spaniels begin to be sold after they are 45 days old. However, breeders can give them in a more mature form, so you need to agree on the age of the dog individually.
Before making the final choice, you need to pay attention to the following points:
- Puppy conditions. Dogs must live clean. If the seller does not take good care of them, then many problems related to animal health may appear.
- Character. The Cocker Spaniel is already beginning to show him, being a month and a half puppy. A strong character is noticeable even at the most tender age.
- Activity. The more energetic ones may become better hunters in the future. Even if the animal is not taken at all for this, the puppy should still be as mobile as possible.
- Pedigree. It is recommended to pay attention to whether the puppy's parents have titles, since this breed almost always takes part in various exhibitions and competitions.
- Appetite. It testifies to the puppy's health and good genetics.