Cockers are a wonderful breed of dog: active, cheerful and love to eat, and they will make anyone smile.
The English Cocker Spaniel, despite its roots as a hunter, is considered an excellent friend for the whole family. His cute face and dignified behavior are proof of this.
Those who want to have a pet often pay attention to this breed.
Video
* We invite you to watch a video about the English Cocker Spaniel . In fact, in front of you is a playlist in which you can select and watch any of 20 videos about a given dog breed by simply clicking on the button in the upper right corner of the window. In addition, the material contains quite a lot of photos. By looking at them you can find out what an English Cocker Spaniel looks like.
In this article:
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How to choose a puppy
English Cocker Spaniel puppy with mom
- Attend dog shows often to meet reputable breeders and their pets.
- If you buy a puppy as a future hunter, make sure that his father and mother have diplomas in field and swamp game. In most cases, offspring inherit parental talents.
- English Cocker Spaniel females are easier to train than males, but both are good at work. Take this fact into account if you are going to instill hunting skills in an animal yourself.
- It is worth checking with a breeder who boasts of the field diplomas of the puppy’s parents about the type of document available. It’s great if the dog has a 1st degree certificate. This gives hope that the hunting abilities of her offspring will be quite clearly expressed. A 3rd degree diploma is not the biggest reason for pride.
- It is better to choose cheerful, curious and playful kids. But it is better to refuse the constantly vocal English cockers. Excessive “talkativeness” is of no use to the future hunter.
- Those who are looking for a friendly pet for their apartment, on the contrary, should take a closer look at more phlegmatic puppies.
History of the Origin of English Cocker Spaniels
This dog breed was officially registered at the end of the 19th century. However, the emergence of the cocker spaniel as a separate type of dog happened much earlier. It is now generally accepted that the spaniel, along with huskies and mastiffs, is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world.
The distant ancestors of spaniels have lived in Europe since time immemorial. The so-called “ashy” dogs have lived with man since the Bronze Age and accompanied him both on the hunt and in everyday life. Moreover, the name of the breed “spaniel” comes from the Spanish phrase “espaigneul”, which literally means “Spanish dog”.
For a long time, the breed did not change, but in the middle of the 19th century, English breeders crossed an ashy dog and a Japanese spaniel, resulting in the formation of a new breed. The dog decreased in size (weight no more than 15 kilograms), acquired a red color, but completely retained all its hunting instincts.
The breed was officially recognized only in 1893, when the number of cocker spaniels reached several hundred. Strict standards were developed, which allowed the breed to be finally formed over two decades. Many standards (in particular, the docked tail) remain to this day.
The activity and ebullient energy of the spaniel was in demand by English hunters. The dog became very popular in aristocratic families. Entire flocks of spaniels were used in bird hunting, successfully lifting quails, woodcocks and ducks.
Interesting fact: The name "cocker" comes from the English word "woodcock", which translates as woodcock. This perfectly characterizes the talents of this dog.
Cocker spaniels were first brought to Russia before the revolution, but two world wars and a change in lifestyle did not allow the breed to gain popularity. It was only in the 70s of the last century that purebred representatives of this species “came” to the USSR, which almost immediately gained popularity among dog breeders.
Price range
If a puppy’s exhibition and breeding career is planned, then the owners should expect a cost of 25-30 tr . If a puppy is purchased as a pet, the price varies from 8 to 20 thousand rubles.
A Cocker Spaniel will become your best friend, a companion in games, walks and travel, and will delight you for many years, provided it is properly maintained and well-educated.
English Cocker Spaniel - description of the breed
The English Cocker Spaniel is a small but very well built dog. The average weight of males is about 14 kilograms, females weigh less - about 11-12 kilograms. The average height at the withers for males is 40 centimeters, for females – 38 centimeters. Also, it is worth saying that bitches are built somewhat more gracefully than cables, but are not inferior to them in agility and endurance.
The Cocker Spaniel's body is compact and muscular. With an absolutely straight back and a well-developed croup. The chest is deep and proportionate. The neck is short and powerful, without a hint of folds.
The spaniel's head is rounded, with a pronounced mouth and a large nose. Despite this, it is proportional and does not cause dissonance with the body. Dogs have massive jaws, with large, tightly set teeth. The dog easily chews through thick bones and enjoys sharpening its teeth on sticks. Thanks to its large and wide nose, the dog has an excellent sense of smell and is often used to search for illegal substances.
The spaniel's eyes are dark brown, sometimes almost black. They are large, with a barely noticeable bulge. The hind and front legs are straight and quite strong. The rear knee joint can straighten at a greater angle, which provides a strong push and rapid acceleration while running. In general, a dog of this breed is very graceful in movement.
The coat is soft and silky, but not frizzy or curly. This is considered a deviation from breed standards. The Spaniel's tail is traditionally docked to the first joint. In some EU countries, docking is prohibited due to humanitarian reasons.
Breed standard
The American Cocker Spaniel dog is medium in size and weight. Females are slightly shorter than males and grow to a maximum of 37 cm, and the latter - up to 40 cm. An adult weighs from 12 to 13.5 kg. Her physique is compact and harmonious.
The body is muscular, the back is straight and level. There is a curve in the lumbar region. These dogs have a very strong neck. Legs are strong and parallel. They are covered with dense hair along their entire length. The abdomen falls slightly, the ribs can be clearly felt on the sides. Cocker puppies have a long tail; it is recommended to dock it at 2 months. Thanks to this operation, it will be easier for the animal to maneuver during the hunt.
The representative of the breed has very expressive facial features. The head is quite large, proportional, the forehead is flat. The American Cocker Spaniel in the photo looks a little tired due to the presence of large wet eye sockets on its face, slightly covered on top by a fold of skin. Looking into his eyes, it immediately becomes clear that this is a very smart dog.
Like all spaniels, the cocker has long, thick ears that fall to neck level. When an animal runs, they flutter in the wind, like the wings of an insect. For reference: the same feature is inherent in the Basset Hound. The dog's nose is large and often dark.
Lips and gums are pink and black. The tongue is bright pink and can hang out of the mouth when the dog is hot. Silky, delicate fur covers his entire body. The standard allows many color options. Let's list the most popular:
- Ginger.
- Reddish.
- Beige yellow.
- Pure white.
- Pure black.
- Sandy with tan.
A solid color is preferable. A defect is considered to be a coat that is hard to the touch. It is important that it curls a little, but not curly. Also, a representative of the breed in question must have a thick undercoat. It allows it, firstly, not to freeze in winter, and secondly, to dry quickly after getting wet in water.
A purebred cocker must have a “skirt” of wavy, delicate fur. Long hair also grows on its ears and paws. These are very dexterous and graceful dogs, in whose movements aristocracy and status are felt. Their movements are graceful and smooth. There is no sharp awkwardness in them.
Popular colors of English Cocker Spaniels
At the beginning of the 20th century, the standard prescribed that the English Cocker Spaniel could only be golden or black, but after the two world wars other colors came to be considered canonical.
At this point in time you can find dogs of the following colors:
- Gold (considered the standard to this day);
- Black;
- Light chocolate;
- Reddish;
- Hepatic;
- Black and tan.
Spotted dogs are also allowed for exhibitions. In particular, they distinguish between gray with white spots, red with white, baked with white and black with white tan. There are even tricolor dogs. In the last decade, black and white spaniels with gray markings have appeared, as well as golden spaniels with white spots and gray markings.
Thanks to the constant experiments of breeders, spaniels with roan colors appeared. Roaning means uneven coat color, when hairs of different colors are located throughout the dog’s body. The result is very unusual colors, as if another, lighter color was superimposed on top of the main color.
There are dogs of the following colors:
- Blue Roan (one of the rarest spaniel colors);
- Liver roan;
- Golden Roan;
- Pastel Roan.
Thus, almost all existing colors of spaniels are allowed for exhibitions. The only exceptions are dogs with pronounced curly hair or, on the contrary, with bare areas of skin.
Separately, it is worth noting the fact that the English spaniel remains a graceful dog in any color, but experts say that the standard color was and remains red.
Correct haircut
It is necessary to cut your spaniel's hair from an early age to make further care for your pet easier. Many breeders hand over puppies already clipped.
Owners of show dogs remove the coat from the back to achieve the correct shape of the coat.
Experts have a negative attitude towards such experiments.
In order for the coat to lie according to standards, it is necessary to comb out the undercoat hairs. Grooming a Cocker Spaniel is quite a labor-intensive process and it is better to entrust this task to qualified specialists.
Character and habits of English Cocker Spaniels
English spaniels are playful, cheerful and very active dogs. They will be friendly with all family members, but will only obey one owner. Moreover, if other family members, whom the dog has known since childhood, try to force it to carry out an order, then the spaniel will perfectly feign misunderstanding. And if attempts at coercion continue, he may show aggression.
The fact is that dogs of this breed believe that they live in the same pack with people and are ready to obey exclusively the owner. They consider everyone else equal to themselves and demand that their opinions be taken into account. By the way, English spaniels believe that children are at the very bottom of this clan chain. Therefore, if the kids pester the dog or cause her pain, she will not stand on ceremony for long. For this reason, it is not recommended to have spaniels in a home where there are small children.
At the same time, cockers get along well with other animals. They will get along with cats, dogs and aquarium fish. But the dog will not get along with small exotic birds and small rodents. Spaniels have an overly developed hunting instinct and, left alone with small game, they will not calm down until they catch their prey.
The spaniel going for a walk deserves special mention. Almost always, these dogs walk with their nose down, as they are attracted to the smells emanating from everything around them. Moreover, dogs of this breed are often involved in excavations, digging with pleasure in sand or wet soil.
Spaniels will happily walk with dogs of other breeds, even large ones. Moreover, it is they who initiate games and often provoke more passive partners.
English cockers are avid travelers. All dogs of this species love to ride in cars and are happy to put their muzzle out of the slightly open window, enjoying the wind and speed.
Character
These are very “alive” dogs with a positive attitude towards life. By temperament they are sanguine, that is, cheerful, artistic and playful. Very charming and photogenic. They love to be photographed or filmed. They love to be in the visual attention of people, especially their owners.
And when noisy and cheerful guests come to them, he strives to please them. It is absolutely normal for such a pet to come up, throw its paw, gently lay its head on a person’s lap, lick his hand, etc. He cannot live happily without human attention and love. Needs affection and care. Very vulnerable and gentle.
Gets along well with kids of all ages, even with a maximalist teenager. Will melt the ice in someone's heart. The energy emanating from the English Cocker Spaniel can be called bright and positive. It seems that he is ready to share it with the whole world.
By nature, this dog is quite timid and indecisive. This is more of a disadvantage than an advantage. In almost any situation, he gets lost and cannot make a decision on his own, so he seeks the owner’s approval. Such a person is his support, best friend and reliable protector. By itself, a cocker is not evil.
The spaniel's drooping ears require special care due to their tendency to accumulate wax.
He is devoid of natural aggression, which cannot be said, for example, about the American Staffordshire Terrier. He prefers to always remain kind. In an uncertain situation, he can be scared, too annoying and timid. The only area of a dog’s activity in which it does not lose self-confidence is hunting.
If for some reason the spaniel does not like a person, he will not actively force himself on him, but will simply leave him alone. He will never bite or even growl. However, there are known cases of dog fights on the territory of the house, which ended in victory for the representative of the breed. But passion and the desire to dominate are completely unusual for him. He can feign anger, but only in self-defense.
It should be noted that some cockers are characterized by hysteria. Usually this quality occurs in the absence of early education. The owner of such a pet must teach him not to doubt his abilities. An overly fearful dog, fearful by nature, is likely to become hysterical in a stressful situation.
The English Cocker Spaniel is perfect for large families. He will find an approach to every child, and will serve adults faithfully. He also gets along well with older people who have a tenderness for affectionate animals. In a word, this is a universal breed.
The dog is extremely jealous and difficult to forgive when ignored. Systematic communication with her loved one, her owner, is very important for her. If she feels deprived of his attention, she becomes stressed. He may stop eating, is sad for a long time, and refuses to play.
English Cocker Spaniels are playful and sociable dogs.
Yes, these are incredibly loving and vulnerable animals that need a special approach. They cannot stand criticism, scolding or any other manifestation of negativity. They are sincerely upset if the owner’s mood is depressed. But they never hold a grudge. Friendly and well mannered.
Interesting facts about English Cocker Spaniels
Spaniels are very interesting dogs that differ significantly from other hunting dogs.
The following facts are guaranteed to convince you of this:
- These dogs are talented beggars. They can beg for pieces of food so touchingly that there is no way to refuse them. However, this must be done, since even small portions of human food can lead to serious health problems;
- English Cockers are hunting dogs, but this does not mean that they are capable of picking up and chasing an animal. The task of a spaniel when hunting is to pick up small feathered game, expose it to the shot, and then bring the prey to the owner. Spaniels are excellent swimmers and bring back shot game even if it has fallen on the water;
- Cockers are capable of making a warning stance! When a dog sees a duck or woodcock, it rises on its hind legs, and then suddenly jumps forward and lifts the bird from its perch;
- Hunting gives the spaniel incredible pleasure. This dog is ready to run along river banks, swamps or through the forest all day long. Cockers are very hardy, and during hunting their strength doubles.
Another interesting fact about this breed of dogs is that they are readily used by the customs service and the police. Thanks to their incredible sense of smell, spaniels are able to smell drugs or explosives even on hard shells.
Due to their intelligence and compact size, dogs are able to penetrate into places that large breed dogs simply cannot reach. In addition, spaniels do not cause fear, like German shepherds or Rottweilers, and therefore people let them get very close to them.
American Spaniel
The embodiment of charm and grace is the American Cocker. The breed has a long history, starting in the yards of England, where the first Cocker Spaniels were bred. The first standard dog named Obo belonged to the breeder James Furrow, who created a kennel and sent two puppies to America: Obo 1 and Chloe 2.
After mating, strange puppies with big eyes were born; they were not appreciated at an exhibition in the UK, but a new branch of Cockers was born in the USA. Since 1935, English and American representatives have not mixed and are considered different breeds.
American spaniels are more intended for family life and differ from their ancestors in several ways:
- Smaller height (about 3 cm);
- Unstable character, constantly changing mood;
- Snub-nosed deep muzzle;
- Curly-like flowing coat.
These dogs can become hunters of hares or game, but would rather not want to get dirty or run for a long time through the forest. They like to spend time with the owner and household members, play active games, and be with children. American Cockers are fine with living in an apartment. The average price for puppies is 60-80 thousand rubles.
Pros and cons of English Cocker Spaniels
Like any other pet, Cocker Spaniels have their advantages and disadvantages. They should definitely be taken into account when planning to get a dog of this breed.
The advantages of English cockers include:
- Energy and friendliness. This dog is so energetic that it can tire even young people. It is highly recommended for people who lead an active lifestyle and love to play sports. In this case, the spaniel will become an excellent companion during training or jogging;
- Ability to get along with other family members. This dog may have only one owner, but this does not mean that it cannot get along even in a large family. On the contrary, cockers will never be the first to show aggression, and will behave with people as equals;
- High intelligence. Dog experts say that spaniels are among the top three dogs in terms of intelligence and intelligence. Already at the age of one, a young cocker is able to master absolutely all commands and respond to them with lightning speed. From the age of 1.5 years, dogs begin to be taken hunting, where they understand not only voice commands, but even gestures;
- Endurance. If you establish the correct diet, your dog will not have excess fat in his body. She will be able to run for hours and not show signs of fatigue.
The negative aspects of keeping spaniels include:
- Permanent shedding. A dog can shed throughout the year, and then long hair will have to be removed throughout the apartment;
- Can't stand loneliness. This dog is definitely not suitable for businessmen and hard-working people. If you leave a cocker alone for a long time, he will begin to chew corners, furniture and outright misbehave. This dog needs constant human contact;
- Tendency to obesity. This breed of dog cannot control its food cravings. She will eat whatever is offered to her and ask for more. For this reason, the owner must control the amount of food that can be given to the dog.
Possible diseases
The English Cocker is not a sickly breed. They are hardy, strong, and live long. Life expectancy is on average 15 years.
The Cocker Spaniel needs to be brushed regularly.
However, like any animal, it still has a tendency to certain diseases. These include: vestibular diseases, infectious, immunological disorders, skin diseases and cancer.
Breeding English Cocker Spaniels
Sooner or later, any cocker owner begins to think about allowing his pet to continue the family line. If a purebred dog is taken into account, then the issue of mating it cannot be considered in haste.
First of all, you should really evaluate the dog and its possible partner. The value of a dog is assessed by three factors: pedigree, appearance and quality of the resulting puppies. Moreover, the last factor is the most important. It often happens that the dog itself is a revived breed standard, and the puppies from it are completely culled.
Interesting fact: If mating is done by professionals, then the first mating of purebred dogs is always considered the control one. Puppies from the first litter are assessed according to breed compliance criteria, and if at least 2-3 of them meet the standards, then such a bitch is considered suitable for further breeding.
Mating of immediate relatives is strictly prohibited. In particular, siblings are never used in breeding work. In addition, it is necessary to monitor the color of the dogs. Single-colored females are bred to single-colored males, and multicolored females are bred to multicolored males. For example, if you breed a red male with a black female, you will end up with puppies of both colors.
Breeding cockers should begin on the second day of the bitch's heat. Naturally, mating of dogs takes place under the supervision of people who will fully control the process and help avoid any unforeseen situations. It should be remembered that spaniel bitches are quite obstinate and often the dog has to be held so that the male can do his job. On average, mating lasts about 10 minutes. After 2 days, a second control mating is carried out.
Vaccination schedule
| Puppy age, months. | Vaccine | From what diseases | Revaccination |
| 1,5 | Nobivac DHPPi Biovac Vanguard plus 5 L4 CV Multikan Duramun Biocan DHPPi | against canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus enteritis and canine parainfluenza | 14 days after the first, then every other year, annually |
| 1,5 | Nobivac L4 Biovac L Vanguard plus 5 L4 CV Multikan L Duramun L Biocan L | Against leptospirosis | 14 days after the first, then every other year, annually |
| 3, if the change of teeth has not begun or after a complete change | Nobivac Rabies Biovac R Multikan 8 Zoetis Defensor | Against rabies | Every other year, annually |
Only healthy dogs are vaccinated. Weakness, underweight, previous illnesses are reasons to postpone vaccination.
Deworming is carried out:
- once, 2-3 weeks before vaccination.
- in case of severe helminthic infestation - again, then vaccination is postponed.
Caring for English Cocker Spaniels
Despite their hunting instincts, English spaniels are considered one of the best pets to keep in an apartment. The dog is compact in size and does not need much space in the house.
Walking with a spaniel deserves special mention. This dog loves to walk long and hard. On average, a cocker needs to be walked for at least 2 hours a day. Otherwise, the dog will begin to throw out energy in the apartment and openly misbehave.
You need to wash your dog as soon as it gets dirty. Spaniels are routinely washed twice a year, in spring and autumn. For washing, you should use a special shampoo, and dry the dog with fluffy towels or a hairdryer. If you don't dry your dog, he will start shaking himself off and rubbing himself against all the carpets and walls, trying to dry himself.
But the animal’s paws need to be wiped with a damp cloth after each walk. This will avoid excess dirt in the apartment. A spaniel should be brushed once a week, otherwise the coat will form tangles that will be very difficult to comb out. Once every six months, the dog needs to be cut, and the cute tuft on its head needs to be plucked. Grooming is the most difficult and problematic part of keeping a spaniel.
The English Cocker Spaniel has long ears. Their cleanliness should be checked once a week. If necessary, ears should be cleaned with cotton swabs. This is not an easy procedure, since the dog is very sensitive to its ears and allows them to be cleaned only by people whom it completely trusts.
In addition, the spaniel needs to periodically trim the hair on its paws, between the toes, cut its nails and pluck excessively long hair on its face.
Maintenance and care
Grooming an English Cocker Spaniel
English Cocker Spaniels feel most comfortable in private country houses, where they will always have the opportunity to chase butterflies and dig in the sand. Keeping in an apartment is also possible, but with regular and long walks. English cockers are not just hunters, but playful and active naughty creatures who need to run and fool around to their heart's content to maintain mental balance.
It is not at all necessary to take part in all the pet’s antics while walking. Just let him off the leash in an uncrowded and safe place and let him run circles around the area. However, if you throw a frisbee or a ball to your ward, he will gladly support your initiative and join the game. The “Englishman” is supposed to be walked twice a day, and each of these walks should last at least an hour. It is a big mistake to take your dog outside just to relieve yourself. In the end, the lack of free time is the owner’s problem, not the cocker spaniel’s.
Hygiene
Caring for an English Cocker Spaniel is not the most difficult, but the animal will need to be given some attention. Mandatory: trimming nails, cleaning eyes and teeth (all according to the same scheme as for other breeds). On the issue of bathing, breeders' opinions were divided. Some people recommend washing cockers as little as possible, because too much splashing in the bathroom can cause dandruff in pets. Opponents of this method advocate regular “bath days” (once every 7-10 days) and the use of veterinary shampoos that preserve the structure of the coat and stimulate its growth.
Black English Cocker Spaniel
Brushing is a daily ritual in the life of an English Cocker Spaniel, so add soft and hard brushes, a slicker brush, a tangle cutter and a long-toothed metal comb to your must-have list. Owners planning to save money on professional grooming should add a trimming glove and comb, as well as hairdressing scissors.
The English Cocker Spaniel's floppy ears require extra attention. For example, when the animal is eating, it is advisable to tie them with an elastic band at the back of the head. This way the ears will get less dirty and distract the dog. Cockers themselves greet such manipulations without enthusiasm, but over time they get used to reacting to them adequately. Bad ear odor, which inexperienced Cocker Spaniel owners often complain about, is the result of insufficient care. In the ear funnel of spaniels there are a lot of hairs that block the flow of air inside, as well as magnetize dirt and sulfur secretions, which are the source of the characteristic “amber”. The problem is solved by plucking the hair in the ear canal and removing the dirt accumulated in it using veterinary lotion and a sponge.
English Cocker Spaniel Grooming
There are several basic techniques for processing the wool of English Cocker Spaniels, which can be combined if necessary:
- stripping (pinching fur using a special knife; an ideal technique for processing the head and body of a pet);
- plaking (plucking hair with fingers);
- clippervek (ultra-short clipper haircut);
- flatvec (regular haircut with a clipper);
- blending (cutting with scissors).
When cutting your English Cocker Spaniel's hair yourself, avoid radically changing the animal's image. In the homeland of the breed, its representatives are groomed very carefully, so an inhabitant of Foggy Albion leaving the groomer’s office looks as if he had never entered it at all. The optimal haircut option is to go over the dog’s head with a trimming knife, strip the body and slightly shorten the hair on the legs. The fur between the toes must also be trimmed.
English cocker spaniels and water
Despite the fact that the English Cocker Spaniel breed was bred mainly for hunting swamp game and rarely worked with waterfowl, its representatives’ thirst for water is simply fantastic. If there is no normal body of water nearby, the cocker will calmly swim in a puddle, shake himself off next to the owner and will sincerely wonder why the latter has such a sour face. Don’t be lazy in the warm season and take your pet to the river beach. Firstly, because bathing is an additional physical activity that indoor cockers often lack. And secondly, because water relieves dogs from fatigue and stress accumulated during the day.
Feeding
Cocker spaniel and food
Most “English” people are not prone to spontaneous gluttony, but are quite capable of falling into food addiction. And all because cockers are notorious gourmets, having their own taste preferences that the owner needs to control. In addition, dogs that walk little and unproductively, but fill their bellies heartily with treats, quickly develop obesity, which significantly reduces their life expectancy. If you do not set out to send your pet “over the rainbow”, do not give in to his pleading glances and do not feed the animal with delicacies.
Now about the daily menu. Meat is given to English cocker spaniels boiled or raw at the rate of 50 g of product per kilogram of animal body weight. Stringy lamb, beef, and poultry (boneless) are best suited. By-products can only be introduced into the diet if they are thoroughly frozen. This way, the risk of infecting the dog with worms and intestinal parasites is minimized.
Prohibited products:
- legumes;
- potato;
- pasta, as well as any confectionery and bakery products;
- sausage products;
- bones;
- broccoli;
- tomato sauce and dishes with it.
You can supplement the English Spaniel's menu with rice or buckwheat porridge, fermented milk products, sea fish and vegetables in the form of sliced vegetables seasoned with vegetable oil. Eggs are given to dogs soft-boiled or in the form of an omelet. Cockers also have a real passion for fruits, but since most of them can provoke digestive upset in the animal, it is worth treating it with such delicacies less often. Or, as an option, use dried fruits and raisins as reward treats. Once a week, offer your pet a clove of garlic, which works as a natural anthelmintic. In addition, during the period from 3 to 7 months, when the skeleton is actively forming, it is recommended to mix grated chalk or 2-3 tablets of calcium lactate into the puppy’s food.
Happy paws
Master, leave me the wand!
Diet of English Cocker Spaniels
As mentioned above, English spaniels are prone to overeating, so the dog owner must carefully monitor its diet. There are two schemes for feeding a dog: using artificial and natural food.
Feeding your dog with dry food is much easier. It is enough to buy food from a trusted manufacturer and give the dog 200-250 grams per day, twice a day, morning and evening. If this type of food is chosen, the dog must have 24-hour access to fresh water, since dry food causes extreme thirst.
The main part of a dog's diet is meat. The smartest choice is beef, veal or boneless poultry. A spaniel needs 50 grams of meat per 1 kilogram of weight per day. That is, if a cocker weighs 10 kilograms, then he needs 500 grams of meat per day.
In addition, the spaniel can be given boneless sea fish, buckwheat or rice porridge, vegetables, cottage cheese and boiled eggs. This diet is quite expensive, but it is healthier than dry food, however, it requires more time and money.
Some foods should not be given to a spaniel under any circumstances, as they will cause indigestion in the dog and worsen its health.
This is first of all:
- All types of legumes;
- Potatoes (raw and boiled);
- All types of pasta and bakery products;
- Sausages and frankfurters;
- Cabbage;
- Tomato juice.
Dogs of this breed are very fond of sweets and it can be extremely difficult to restrain yourself from treating your dog with candy or a piece of chocolate. There is no need to do this, since in the future the dog will continue to beg for sweets, which can cause it to develop diabetes or damage its teeth.
Features of feeding and diet
Feed your cocker porridge - rice, buckwheat, and stringy raw or boiled boneless meat - beef, lamb and poultry. Diversify your diet with sea fish and vegetables.
It is forbidden to feed legumes, pasta, bread, sweets, sausage, bones, broccoli and dishes containing tomato paste.
Eggs can be given soft-boiled or scrambled eggs, fruit - rarely. Mix garlic once a week.
If it is impossible or unwilling to feed natural food, switch to dry food - it is better to take a premium one. Before purchasing, consult your veterinarian: he will help you calculate the exact daily portion.
Watch your pet's ears while eating - they fall into the bowl and get dirty. To do this, there are bowls with a narrowed top - or use elastic bands as ear mounts. It looks funny, but it gives the dog the opportunity to eat properly.
Puppy Feeding Guide
For babies from three to seven months after birth, it is recommended to add grated chalk or calcium tablets to their food.
A one-month-old puppy eats five times, two tablespoons of food in each serving. At six months, feeding is reduced to three times.
Adult Feeding Guide
Feeding standards are calculated not by age, but by body weight: no more than 50 grams of meat per kg of weight. Monitor the temperature of the food and its consistency - it should not burn your hands. Remove food that your pet has not eaten within 15 minutes.
Have meals at the same time every day. Your pet's dining area should be clean and ventilated.
Diseases and health problems
The English Spaniel is prone to several health problems. One of the problems is a weak psyche. If you put too much pressure on a dog or overload it with training, then hysterical reactions, excessive fear or unmotivated aggression are possible.
To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to control the amount of training, and in the process of raising a dog, you need to alternate between carrots and sticks. You should not deprive your dog of walks, as they have a beneficial effect on the psyche, allowing the animal to relieve accumulated fatigue.
Due to the long and floppy ears, the dog's inner ear is closed. Without proper care, wax plugs quickly form in the ears, and as a result, otitis media. As practice shows, every third cocker suffers from otitis media at least once in his life.
Slightly less frequently, spaniels suffer from eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts. The dog's eyes are large and bulging, and this disease is easy to notice even for a layman. It is easier to treat glaucoma and cataracts in the initial stages; advanced diseases can only be treated with surgical intervention.
Males have urolithiasis. In order to avoid this unpleasant disease, you should give your pet only high-quality water, and not pour it from the tap.
The average lifespan of an English Cocker Spaniel is about 15 years, but only 30% of all dogs of this breed survive to such a respectable age. In most cases, the cause of death in animals is cancer, spinal problems, and heart and vascular diseases.
Education and training
It is impossible to force an English Cocker Spaniel to study under pressure, but it is very easy to interest him in a new, unusual activity. Cockers are simply driven by physical activity, so they learn best from lessons that involve reasonable physical activity and are presented in a playful way. This breed’s intelligence is also fine, so it won’t take much time to master basic command techniques, but classes should not be long and monotonously repetitive - this way the dog will quickly lose interest in them.
Master, take the leash
Raising an English cocker begins with its socialization. At 2-3 months, the baby needs to be taught to observe subordination and etiquette, as well as overcome fear of strangers. Possessing gourmet inclinations and a keen sense of smell, small English cocker spaniels love to watch their owner eat, while simultaneously managing to play the role of a hungry sufferer. Do not fall for such shows and under no circumstances treat the pretender with food from your own table. Each such concession reduces your authority in the eyes of the dog, which quickly begins to understand how to apply pressure to get what it wants. It is also better to avoid extremes. An authoritarian parenting style for a puppy is just as harmful as excessive lisp. Teach your pet basic commands unobtrusively, but persistently and systematically.
Despite their cute appearance, English cocker spaniels are no strangers to leadership habits. Usually a wave of independence hits puppies at the age of 3-4 months. During this period, the dog tries to take the position of head of the house, displacing the owner. If you don’t want to find yourself under the thumb of a shaggy dominant, you’ll have to prove your worth to him hourly. The methods can be very different. In particular, during walks it is better to “extinguish” your pet’s emotional outbursts. Use prohibitions more often in everyday life, and also do not allow a puppy walking on a leash to drag you along in tow.
They start trying on a collar for an English Cocker at 3 months of age. It is better to put on the “accessory” for the first time during the game so that the animal does not notice it. You can do this procedure before feeding: food will distract the dog from unpleasant sensations. At first, you should choose a longer leash, gradually shortening it as you get used to it. If the puppy is 8 months old, you can move on to the General Training Course (GTC), which is considered a mandatory program for cocker spaniels. Even if you are not going to take your pet hunting, he must obey your requirements.
Popular nicknames
According to the rules of kennel clubs, nicknames are given to puppies by the breeder when registering a litter, based on a number of specific rules: they must begin with a letter corresponding to the serial number of the litter and correspond to a certain theme.
Also, the name of the kennel and the father’s nickname are added to the puppy’s name..
This name fits into official documents, the dog performs under it at shows, but it is not suitable for home use because it is too long and difficult to pronounce.
Therefore, owners give their pets new, more harmonious and short names.
Males of this breed can be called:
- Alan;
- Bobby;
- Jack;
- Zeus;
- Ilan;
- Lloyd;
- Lucky;
- Lord;
- Nemo;
- Oji;
- Pride;
- Riley;
- Ringo;
- Thibault;
- Phil;
- Harty;
- Hythe;
- Sherlock;
- Yuks;
- Yaffee.
Names suitable for girls:
- Alma;
- Alta;
- Bella;
- Gabby;
- Delta;
- Josephine;
- Zara;
- Kerry;
- Laffey;
- Lady;
- Monica;
- Mary;
- Nessie;
- Prima;
- Rochelle;
- Sabrina;
- Terry;
- Hilda;
- Shayna;
- Yurma.
You should not give your dog a nickname that has a clearly negative connotation, or use religious terms or Russian-language human names..
American Water Spaniel
The breed is not very widespread in the world, but is popular in its homeland - the USA. Small curly dogs of brown color, reaching 38-46 cm at the withers. There is a version that the animals originated from the Irish Water Spaniel (confirmed by the similarity of appearance) or from the Curly-Coated Retriever. One way or another, this symbol of the state of Wisconsin does an excellent job of hunting hare and waterfowl.
The dog is very hardy: it is not afraid of cold, ice water, wind, heat. But at the same time, the breed is characterized by serious genetic diseases (dermatitis, weakened bones, problems with the eyes, nervous and skeletal systems).
This is an intelligent, perceptive pet with good instincts that is easy to train. Animals quickly become attached to their owner and protect his family and home. Spaniels are good swimmers, fast and agile. The average price for puppies is 55-65 thousand rubles.
Welsh (Welsh) Springer Spaniel
More often called in the English manner "Welsh Springer", bred in Wales . The pictures tell us that the breed existed back in the 17th century.
The handsome, handsome Welshman is a bird hunter, a pointer (he finds game buried in snow or leaves, takes a characteristic stance, and blows up a bird on command for the owner to shoot).
By nature, Springers are kind, obedient, and amenable to training. They are not aggressive, but need proper training. The hunter's habits can make the pet uncontrollable: the dog will run away, bark, dig the ground and snap. The average cost of the breed is 65-80 thousand rubles.
Dutch Spaniel (Koikerhondje)
An interesting small breed that has retained its hunting skills and instincts. Dogs appeared in Holland and were named after natural functions. Koikrhondier literally means “duck hunter”. This is an excellent gun dog with a unique working style. Typically, “aquatic” animals specialize in offering killed game. Dutch spaniels wag their tails and “dance” to attract ducks to the shore, where the owner has already set traps. This type of hunting is called tolling.
Koikes are calm, reserved, non-aggressive, and do not like to bark . The dog becomes strongly attached to its owners, but is indifferent to children and cannot tolerate mockery or loud screams. The breed is suitable for active owners who have free time for long walks and training.
The working skills of these animals do not need to be revealed, their instincts work too well. Breeders have to cope with constant escapes (chasing cats and rodents), a dug up yard, and frequent bathing (Koikes are lovers of unpleasant odors and wallowing in trash).
The average cost for the breed is 30-60 thousand rubles.
Russian hunting spaniel
An unrecognized breed of cops, it is characterized by good functionality, but the lack of an exact standard. Animals began to appear after the Great Patriotic War, when a stream of different Cockers poured into the country. Selection was carried out randomly, without any particular purpose.
Recently, efforts have been made to bring the appearance of the Russian Spaniel to a unified description. At the moment, the animals reach 36-44 cm , have an elegant body, short paws, a narrow muzzle and wavy coat of one-color, two-color or three-color color.
Animals are very active and require a firm hand and constant training. This is an excellent companion, friend, pet, and hunting assistant. Dogs are smart, perceptive, quickly grasp commands, have a keen sense of smell, vision and good physical abilities.
Disadvantages of the breed: tendency to gluttony and bad habits (wallowing in the mud, howling).
Cost – 20-25 thousand rubles.
Irish Water Spaniel
A dog with luxurious curly waterproof coat (brown color), designed for hunting on the shore and in the water. Irish Water Spaniels are large and heavy (up to 59 cm at the withers with a weight of up to 35 kg). They are not recommended to be kept in an apartment. Animals need fresh air, active jogging, and swimming in open water. It is important for them to realize their hunting abilities.
The main disadvantage of the breed is cowardice, which can develop into aggression, which is why children usually do not have Water Spaniels.
With proper upbringing, the pet becomes affectionate, obedient, and devoted. The dogs are rare, so the average cost is 50-60 thousand rubles.
Cavalier King Charles
The name itself suggests that the breed is truly royal. These small dogs were favorites at the English court. The dogs' closest relatives and direct ancestors are the King Charles Spaniels (named after the first breeder, Charles the Second), which were bred in Great Britain for hunting work. Their muzzle was elongated, and their size was not suitable for palace chambers. Therefore, breeders mixed the blood of Japanese Chins and Tibetan Spaniels to create small puppies with a round, flat face.
When King William of Orange ascended the throne, the fashion for pugs came, and then the popularity of short-faced spaniels grew, because the British could not exchange their devoted hunters for plump lazy people.
An absolutely calm pet, not aggressive even towards small animals. Suitable for apartment living, gets along well with cats and children. Cavaliers are characterized by real royal poise and poise. They love to be in the spotlight and cope with any competitions and exhibitions. Dogs without a pedigree cost 45-50 thousand, and high-quality puppies cost 60-80 thousand rubles.
Tibetan Spaniel
Spaniel from the Eastern lands is very different in body shape, muzzle and temperament. These spaniels even belong to the group of ornamental and companion dogs, rather than hunting waterfowl. The dogs are affectionately called Tibbies. They appeared in the mountains of Tibet among monks.
The main task of the dogs was to protect the temples. They sat high on the walls of their cells and barked loudly if they noticed an enemy or a guest. The rest of the property protection was handled by their faithful friends and assistants - Tibetan Mastiffs. It is believed that both breeds appeared around the same time (1st-2nd century BC).
Tibbies are short (up to 23-24 cm at the withers), stocky, with an elongated body and short legs . They are not very active and do not particularly like sports games or long walks. Animals can be called peace-loving, calm, balanced, and loving.
The breed also has a negative trait - pride. At home, Tibetans feel like real emperors; they do not like it when strangers invade their space, they are poorly trained, and are stubborn.
The average cost of Tibby puppies is 25-30 thousand rubles.
