Caring for an English Cocker. Caring for the English Cocker Spaniel breed. What foods should not be used to feed pets?
The Cocker Spaniel breed has several varieties, the most popular of which is the English Cocker Spaniel. Breed standard, features of care and training of a hunting dog.
This dog breed can be called universal: cocker spaniels are good hunters and search engines, and excellent companions. There are several varieties of the breed: the most popular is English, less common are Russian and American cocker spaniels.
An inexperienced person may confuse these breeds, although their differences are quite noticeable. The English Cocker has a silky coat that is trimmed in a practical manner, while the American cocker the long, thick hair on the paws and belly forms a luxurious skirt that requires constant care. The “Englishman” is about 5 cm taller than the “American.” Lovers of luxury and exhibitions will most likely choose the American Cocker Spaniel, while hunters and fans of sport testing will choose the English Cocker.
History of the English Cocker Spaniel
The ancestors of spaniels, like many other breeds, are ancient hunting dogs of the Bronze Age. As a result of selection, dogs with long silky hair, excellent at hunting woodcocks or forest birds, “cockers,” were identified as a special branch.
In England, cynologists began studying and improving the breed in the 19th century. In 1885, the English Cocker Spaniel Club was created, and in 1902 the breed was officially recognized and standards were established for it. The standards gradually changed, the international edition of the standard was published in 1974, and breeders and dog handlers around the world are still guided by it.
In Russia, the first cocker spaniel dogs from England appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, but they began to gain popularity only after the 1970s. Participating in all cynological exhibitions, these hunting dogs won the hearts of people far from hunting. They began to be adopted as companion dogs, and at customs and the police (today the police) they began to be used to search for weapons, drugs and missing people.
Appearance. Breed standard
The English Cocker Spaniel belongs to group 8, subgroup 2 of gun dogs. The weight of adult dogs reaches 12.5 and 14.5 kg, and the height is 39 and 41 cm for females and males, respectively. Body length is about 40 cm. Life expectancy is 12-15 years. Small dogs are perfect for keeping in an apartment, provided they are properly raised and given regular walks.
The most remarkable feature of spaniels is their long ears, which were given to the dogs as a result of the painstaking work of breeders. The ears are set low and have long, often curly hair. On the body the hair is of medium length, silky, not curly, but only wavy.
Cockers have round eyes, not protruding. Eye color is dark hazel or dark brown.
The dog's physique is good: the chest is not wide, the muscles are well developed, the body format is square, that is, the height from the ground to the withers is almost equal to the length from the withers to the beginning of the tail. The muzzle also has square proportion. A beautiful neck of medium length is set on the shoulders, merging with the body. The back is straight. The limbs are powerful, not long, they provide the dog with strong support without reducing its performance. The furred feet end in soft pads; small membranes help cockers to swim well. The tail is often docked.
The description of the Cocker Spaniel breed continues the list of acceptable colors. There are several of them:
- Single color (black, red, chocolate and others);
- Piebald and spotted (black/white, red/white and others);
- Tricolor (eg black, white and tan);
- Speckled or “roan” (liver roan, red roan).
There should be no white spots on the body of dogs of the same color; only a small spot on the chest is allowed.
Character
Representatives of the Cocker Spaniel breed are cheerful and playful. With such a character, cocker spaniels can adapt well to big family, and become a companion to a lonely person. Cockers live amicably with other animals, including cats. For children they become not only a toy, but also best friend, a comrade in all outdoor games. It’s not scary to leave children with them, because spaniels are friendly animals, for the same reason they are not suitable for the role of a guard dog. But it is not advisable for cockers to remain alone - without their owners, the dog begins to feel sad and may begin to whine and howl.
Like all other dogs, if not properly trained or with a poor pedigree, Cocker Spaniels can exhibit unusual qualities such as shyness, timidity, or aggressiveness when defending their toys or food. But these are exceptions to the rule.
Working qualities
The characteristic of the breed also lies in the working qualities of cocker spaniels. After all, they are not only taken to canine exhibitions: firstly, spaniels are used for hunting, and secondly, they are given sports tests in the fields.
In hunting forest game, the Cocker Spaniel - great helper. He specializes in woodcock, quail, and pheasants, but he is also taken for hare hunting.
He easily dives and swims in the water, and happily rushes through swamps and meadows. With a loud bark, he gives a sign to his owner when he detects game. A sensitive nose is able to recognize the bloody trail of wounded animals after several hours, so it is specially trained dogs They are also used to chase wild boars, roe deer and moose.
Field trials are aimed at demonstrating and evaluating such qualities as scent, search, obedience, perseverance, and prey delivery.
All positive traits Cocker Spaniels are beneficially used by the police and customs, where dogs search for missing things, look for drugs, weapons and other prohibited items. At the same time, it is difficult to throw them off the scent with additional odors, for example, the smell of gasoline.
Spaniel training
Cockers have a hunting instinct in their blood, but in order to raise a worthy assistant in the hunt, these qualities need to be awakened and directed in the right direction. Training English Cocker Spaniels should begin with early childhood, regardless of whether the plan is to raise a future hunter, a domestic companion or an international champion of numerous exhibitions. Education begins with the usual commands “Sit / Stand / To me / Next to me.” In parallel with developing obedience at home, you can teach your dog to look for a product (cheese, sausage) without showing it, but only by smell. Team "Search!" is also developed by searching for something hidden in the apartment, which the dog was given to smell first.
Co puppy age The dog needs to be trained to use a leash. An active dog on a walk can run far from its owner, and this can be dangerous for it.
Hunting training under the guidance of an experienced dog handler takes place in one season. During this time, the young dog gets used to gun shots, learns to lift game into the air, look for wounded animals or carcasses, gently carry them in his mouth and give them to the owner.
When feeding English Cocker Spaniel dogs, it is recommended to secure their long ears with an elastic band or a special clothespin at the back of the head, otherwise the ears will fall into a cup of water or food and get dirty. Cockers are always ready to eat and in unlimited quantities; they are prone to overeating, so it is imperative to regulate the amount of food eaten. One and a half to two glasses of food for one meal will be quite enough; after eating, the bowls need to be removed, but water should be available to the dog at all times. Small cocker spaniel puppies eat up to 4-5 times a day, six-month-old dogs - 3 times, adult dogs - 1-2 times.
Many people think about what to feed their cocker spaniel: ready-made food(dry or canned) or homemade food. You need to focus on the dog’s well-being and its preferences: some animals eat only dry food, “drying”, while others do not approach it at all. The finished food must be balanced and contain proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and microelements. When feeding homemade food, the diet should include many types of foods: meat, fish, vegetables (carrots, pumpkin), crackers, raisins, cottage cheese, cereals, garlic. It is advisable to give vitamin complexes with food.
The English Cocker Spaniel walks with pleasure and for as long as the owner has the time and patience. At the same time, burrs, chips, and twigs get stuck in long wool, which must be removed after a walk. In spring and autumn, dirt becomes a problem for the owner, and in winter – frost and sticky snow. To eliminate the need for daily bathing of the dog and to protect it from the cold, owners buy or sew clothes for the cocker spaniel (usually overalls).
Ears need to be cleaned in a timely manner, make sure there are no wax plugs in them, and avoid getting water in them when bathing. To prevent the appearance of tartar, spaniels' teeth are cleaned with special pastes or sometimes allowed to gnaw on raw bones. Overgrown claws are trimmed promptly. After a walk, you need to wash off the salt and dirt from your paws.
Cockers' coats require frequent brushing, especially after walks, at least every other day. The long coat is combed with a sparse comb, and the short coat of the body is combed with a brush with frequent short teeth. Bathing - as needed, using special shampoos, but not less often than every two months. Also every two to three months, to give general appearance dogs are neat and well-groomed, they are cut. The Cocker Spaniel's haircut has its own characteristics and is usually carried out according to the requirements used for exhibitions: shortened hair on the sides, back, croup, inside the ears, between the pads of the paws, on the head and on the cheeks; lack of bangs and beard. The long hair on the ears is trimmed in a teardrop shape.
Health and illness
Caring for a cocker spaniel also involves monitoring its health and following the recommendations of veterinarians. Caring for the dog's future health begins from the first days of its life. Let us immediately note that if you have any problems, you should contact a specialist, and not prescribe treatment for your dog yourself, especially if you are encountering symptoms for the first time.
Vaccinations for puppies should be done strictly following the recommendations of veterinarians; Before vaccinations, it is necessary to drive away worms. English Cocker Spaniel puppies should not go outside until they are quarantined after their first mandatory vaccinations.
Cocker spaniels have some health problems that are common to the breed. So, long ears not only often get dirty when walking and eating, they also create a big problem with ventilation of the ear canal. Because of this, inflammation, otitis occurs, and accumulation of sulfur plugs, and may be required long-term treatment. Appears bad smell from the ears, the dog rubs its head with its paws or shakes it. To prevent this problem, you need to wipe your ears weekly and remove wax discharge with cotton swabs.
WITH bulging eyes Cockers periodically experience such troubles as conjunctivitis or blepharitis. In normal times, you only need to wipe your eyes with a gauze swab after sleep, removing mucus. But drafts, dust or bright sun often cause inflammation - the edges of the eyelids turn red, tearing or suppuration begins. In this case, the eyes folk recipe, wipe with strong tea, and drop eye drops into the conjunctival sacs.
If tartar prevention does not help, then when tartar begins to form, it is recommended to wipe the teeth of cocker spaniels with a cloth with chalk or 3% hydrogen peroxide. If you don't fight tartar, it will cause inflammation, putrid smell, suppuration of the roots and even tooth loss, especially in old dogs. When tartar is advanced in veterinary hospitals, it is removed with special equipment.
Other health problems, such as fever, diarrhea, refusal to eat, can be caused by many reasons. Only one can understand them veterinarian. Always keep the telephone number of the veterinary clinic or veterinarian on duty in an accessible place. Don't put off visiting your doctor!
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Do you dream of a dog – a positive generator? Don't like to walk with calm dog, and give you a bright, active pastime with “hunting” and “attacking” pigeons and crows? Do you simply need an English lord in dog form in your home? The English Cocker Spaniel is definitely your dog!
Many people think that the word “spaniel” in the name of the breed indicates Spanish origin. This time their logic fails. The English Cocker Spaniel is a breed from Foggy Albion; it began to be artificially bred there in 1879.
Interesting! The name of the breed consists of two words: “cocker” - from the English “woodcock" - woodcock. It was this feathered game that the first representatives of the breed hunted. The meaning of the word "spaniel" is shrouded in speculation. One opinion: it comes from the Phoenician "Spani» - rabbit, long-eared dog. This hypothesis is put forward by adherents of the version that the ancestors of English cocker spaniels were brought by the Phoenicians in ancient times.
The breed belongs to the 8th group according to the ICF classification, to the “Spaniels” section. Following the recognition of the breed in 1902, standards for conformation and behavior were established.
English Cocker Spaniels were bred in England. The main purpose of the bred dogs was to hunt game birds: they flushed, found and brought birds. The first representatives of the breed were distinguished by their larger size, until they were crossed with Japanese spaniels brought as a gift to the Queen of England. As a result of this mixing, dogs were obtained that differed from other spaniels not only in their smaller stature, but also in color. Chestnut-red spots on a white background, or Blenheim - distinguishing feature all spaniels.
Who were the distant ancestors of the English Cocker Spaniel? It is believed that the ancestors of the breed are squat and long-haired bird dogs, which were used in hunting back in Ancient Greece. From there they entered Iberia - the territory Iberian Peninsula. Even in ancient times, the inhabitants of Iberia, like the ancient Greeks, kept bird hounds, fold-eared and with long hair. The dogs then spread throughout Western Europe, including England. The British paid great attention to improve the hunting characteristics of dogs. As a result of their breeding, cockers acquired the ability to work in thorn bushes, dense thickets, tall grass and began to work with their voices, i.e. warn about found game.
Characteristics, description, character
Males of the English Cocker Spaniel reach a height of 39-41 cm, and females - 38-38 cm. Their weight can fluctuate between 12.5 and 14.5 kg. Dogs live 14-16 years.
The English Cocker Spaniel, whose character fully matches his appearance, is playful, cheerful, responsive and friendly. They do well in large families and get along well with single people. Even if several people live with him, the dog will have a strong attachment to only one family member.
Sociability and friendliness towards strangers is something that is characteristic of cockers. Not being guard dogs, they are friendly even to strangers. But some dogs may be timid, shy, and have a strong attachment to their owner, when the pet is very dependent.
Even as a pet, he remains an excellent hunter, he has an excellent sense of smell and eyesight, and during walks the English Cocker Spaniel shows his partiality for crows, pigeons and other birds that come his way.
He wants to be liked by others, his constantly wagging tail indicates that he is happy from being in his favorite environment. The Cocker Spaniel is smart, easy to train, and has no equal in games where you need to search and fetch. His passion is field hunting.
If you have chosen a cocker spaniel as your future pet, whose character can be described as sensitive, you will have to restrain yourself from showing negative emotions, since the dog is sensitive to screaming, apply to it physical punishment under no circumstances is it possible. Love and strict kindness is exactly how you should treat this breed.
Features of the appearance of English Cocker Spaniels:
The dog's body resembles a square, so its height at the withers is approximately equal to the length of the body. The dog has a rectangular muzzle, a wide nose, and eyes of different shades of brown. A healthy dog has a cheerful, good-natured, intelligent look. The long ears are located on the sides of the head at eye level and are completely covered with long, silky hair.
The Cocker Spaniel has a strong, robust body with well-developed muscles. His movements are fast, dexterous, and swift.
The dog's coat is long and soft, it does not curl or curl. Representatives of the breed are characterized by different colors: black, spotted, chocolate, sand, fawn. If the dog has a solid color, then there should not be any markings of a different color, otherwise this is a fault.
Those who have ever interacted with a Cocker Spaniel will understand that this is the sweetest dog, which is a pleasure to have as a pet.
Diseases
The English Cocker Spaniel, whose diseases can be acquired and hereditary, gets sick infrequently, as they are active, healthy dogs. Cockers have ailments:
- psychological: hysteria, tendency to panic, aggression;
- skin diseases: for example, asthenia, when the skin is deprived of normal elasticity, strength, sensitivity, their skin is also susceptible to infection by yeast fungi, but most often it is secondary. A dog infected with fleas tears its skin into injured areas and later Candida or Malacesia fungi colonize;
- diseases of the organs of vision: cataract, glaucoma, cherry eye, entropion, distichiasis:
- illnesses musculoskeletal system : dysplasia hip joint;
- If the ears, one of the most vulnerable parts of a dog’s body, are not properly cared for, they can develop otitis.
- food allergy.
To prevent the occurrence of psychological and physical problems, visit your veterinarian regularly and ensure proper care and nutrition.
Care
The English Cocker Spaniel requires careful care, especially when we're talking about about wool. Hosts will need:
- combs with frequent and rare teeth;
- massage brushes and short-bristled brushes;
- slicker comb;
- scissors for trimming fur on paws and whiskers;
- electric hair clipper.
Frequent brushing will protect the hair from tangling and will also get rid of hair in the apartment. Cockers do not shed much, but even a small amount of hair on furniture and the floor can cause inconvenience.
Other care procedures English cocker-spaniel:
- Cockers' ears are vulnerable, so they need to be cleaned of wax and checked for infections.
- Brushing your teeth with a special toothbrush to prevent plaque formation.
- Eye hygiene: wipe them with damp cotton pads.
- Regular walks, as the cocker spaniel needs exercise like air. Moreover, just walking is not enough; the dog should be given additional exercises and games.
A balanced diet is the key to a dog’s health, activity and love of life. Cocker spaniels can sometimes be fussy when feeding, not wanting to eat. healthy food, and can go hungry for up to 2 days. The main thing in such situations is not to follow your pet’s lead and stand your ground. Preferred Products for these dogs: raw beef, vegetables, milk, cereal, cheese, herring (once a week).
Education, training
If you choose an English cocker spaniel, training the pet should be subject to the rule: exclusion of any violence in the process of communication and education. What to do if there is disobedience? Experts advise using remote influence methods, for example, throwing some object towards the dog (but not at him!), spraying water from afar, making loud noise.
Patience and perseverance when raising Cocker Spaniels should be in moderation, since they are not such stubborn dogs as, for example, english bulldogs. Cockers remember commands on the fly, and there is no need for monotonous, multiple repetitions. The dog should not be allowed to ignore a command, otherwise situations with non-compliance with commands will be difficult to correct. When raising children, use the “carrot” method, not the “stick” method.
Food motivation is perfect for cocker spaniels; they love to eat and will gladly follow commands to get the next treat: a piece of cheese, a carrot.
Rules of behavior in the apartment should be taught from the moment the puppy appears in the house. Even a cocker - smart dog, you should not hope that her assimilation of the rules and the formation of habits will happen by themselves. Encouragement, the formation of habits during games, and civilized ways of expressing dissatisfaction can turn a puppy into a disciplined, obedient pet.
English Cocker Spaniel, training: which courses are suitable for your pet?
- When the puppy turns 3 months old, you can begin educational training. The course can be conducted independently or by contacting specialists. If you teach commands in an apartment, then they need to be reinforced outside.
- Six months is the optimal age for switching to obedience training.
- From 8 months you can start a course of OKD.
Training your pet, of course, will depend on the purpose for which you got it: just for keeping in an apartment or for hunting.
Puppies
There are no cuter creatures than English Cocker Spaniel puppies. No one is left indifferent by the “skirt” - ears, movable tail, trusting look.
Usually puppies go to a new home at the age of 1.5 months. In the first days it is better not to leave the little cocker alone, otherwise he will be stressed. You need to lift the puppy with both hands; they are so mobile that they can break out of your hands and fall.
Puppies are inquisitive and tireless, they are champions in climbing onto a high sofa, armchairs, table, their courage knows no bounds: every now and then they strive to jump from there.
As for the rules in the house, you cannot make allowances for the fact that in front of you is a small, unintelligent creature. For puppies, the same prohibitions should apply as for an adult dog: for example, do not sleep in the owner’s bed, jump with their paws on a person, especially children, you should not be allowed to play even with old house slippers, otherwise you will wonder why the cocker disheveled your new shoes .
English Cocker Spaniel puppies are a special little world; what goes around comes around. Attention, care and love can make them loyal companions and protectors.
Prices
The English Cocker Spaniel, the price of which depends on the presence/absence of a metric, is a dog that is bred in kennels, clubs, and private breeders.
This breed is very popular, it does not require specific knowledge and is suitable for inexperienced owners. The character of cockers also played a role: everyone wants to have easily trained, perky, playful, inquisitive pets at home.
The price range for English Cocker Spaniel puppies is wide: dogs without documents can be bought for 2-3.5 thousand rubles, and with a metric - from 4 thousand rubles. In nurseries, as a rule, prices are more expensive, since puppies are bred there by professionals who guarantee compliance with breed standards. If you decide to buy a puppy from a nursery, be prepared to pay 6.5-10 thousand rubles for representatives of the pet class. Breed and show class dogs cost 11-15 thousand rubles and more.
Content
The Cocker Spaniel is a very good-natured, cheerful, cheerful and energetic breed. Such a pet will not let its owner get bored. Long and mobile ears, a clear voice and a curious nose will follow you relentlessly.
This breed of dog is ideal both for hunting and for a simple lover of active recreation. Appearance The cocker is very handsome: his wavy and shiny locks contrast with his athleticism. A harmonious physique, an intelligent and insightful look, hard work and determination - this is what a cocker spaniel is.
About the history of the appearance of the Cocker Spaniel breed
The history of cocker spaniels dates back to ancient times. Their ancestor is the fold-eared bird dog, which was introduced by Julius Caesar BC.
Despite the fact that the facts are very unreliable, we can say with complete confidence that it was the British who bred and developed such a breed as the cocker spaniel. According to information obtained from stud books, English breeders developed a whole line of different types spaniels by crossing a variety of European breeds, including Great Danes and Molossians.
Small in size, strongly built and very fast, spaniels are called cockers. They are used mainly for bird hunting. In the book “British Cynology” (1801) you can find the first mentions of these dogs, and already in 1985 the first club of spaniel lovers was founded. He makes a significant contribution to the proper development of the breed, which over time will become one of the most popular.
Modern spaniels are united by one legendary ancestor - a black meadow spaniel named Obo, born in 1879. The dog was an excellent producer, and became the father of a branch of squat and somewhat elongated spaniels, distinguished by endurance and courage. The main task of Obo's descendants was to search for game in the dense thickets.
For many decades, the black color of spaniels was especially popular, but by the beginning of the 20th century, spotted and golden spaniels appeared.
Since the 40s of the last century, a new standard for breeding spaniels has been introduced - based on coat color. This is due to the fact that when crossing monochrome dogs with spotted ones, puppies with white markings on the chest, white paws and a blaze on the face dominated. Despite the beauty of such puppies, breeders for some unknown reason avoided this color. Nowadays, such dogs do not participate in exhibitions and competitions.
More than 100 years have passed since the cocker spaniel ceased to be a purely hunting dog. Now she is friends with a wide variety of people: from homebodies to avid travelers.
All cockers are characterized by lightning-fast reactions, excellent instincts, excellent memory and concentration.
Intelligence and character traits of the spaniel
The English Cocker Spaniel is considered the most... intellectual breed dogs. This dog is easy to train and learn. Since the breed was originally bred for hunting purposes, the dog's intelligence manifests itself more strongly in activities related to pursuit and achievement.
Whenever possible, you need to give the dog a chance to fulfill its purpose. IN ordinary life The Cocker Spaniel's intelligence remains the same, but it must be maintained by constant games simulating hunting.
By nature, the Cocker is a gentle and kind dog. Such a pet is ideal for a large family, but among the family it will definitely choose its “favorite” owner, to whom it will become attached forever. If you do not teach your dog discipline and independence from childhood, then it will show its friendship too intrusively.
Cockers are sociable and proactive. They happily support any hint of a game and often act as ringleaders themselves. Female cocker spaniels often tend to be dominant over their owners. Not good good trait character - loud barking with or without reason. But with proper upbringing, the unpleasant sides of nature can easily be corrected, since spaniels are easy to train and have a deep mind.
Cocker in society
Cocker Spaniels make excellent companions, ready to go with their owner anywhere. They will constantly demand attention and wag their tail cheerfully.
Separately, we can say about the attitude of cockers towards children. They behave with angelic patience with kids and will not show aggression under any circumstances. Here, an adult should explain to the child that the dog is not a toy and can be accidentally harmed. The adult will become a great companion in any outdoor games, helping the child develop physically. Another unpleasant character trait of a cocker is jealousy. Sometimes it may be that a cocker spaniel will never give up his toys. To avoid quarrels and troubles, it is important for adults to tell their child about this in time.
Cockers treat strangers normally, although sometimes they can bark for the sake of order.
Spaniel training
Dogs of this breed are distinguished by obedience and discipline. The owner needs to be creative in training due to their temperament and excitement. 
A small puppy receives quite a serious mental load during its upbringing, so there is no need to start training before reaching the age of three months. In the first months, the puppy’s psyche and character are formed, so during this time it must be treated with care and very sensitivity. From three months, you can gradually and carefully accustom your puppy to the simplest commands - “come” and “place”. It’s important to dot all the i’s right away. Initially, your puppy will try to dominate under the guise of play, but it is important to let him know that you are the boss. Giving your puppy the opportunity to go out with other dogs will make him more balanced. If you successfully complete the first stage of training, working with an adult dog will bring you only joy. Respect, intelligence and a desire to please will make a cocker an excellent student.
The irrepressible thirst for life and energy of the cocker requires a constant outlet. 
If there is no regular physical activity, the dog's character will deteriorate. If you decide to get a cocker spaniel, then you need to be prepared for regular long walks or jogs together. If this is not possible, come up with another entertainment for the dog, preferably one that imitates hunting, since the dog is still a hunting dog. The main thing is ingenuity and imagination. The spaniel breed is a leader in obedience disciplines, tracking and agility. If you decide to let your dog off the leash, make sure that you are in complete control of the situation, as natural instincts can be much stronger than instilled habits and trigger at the most inopportune moment. A dog may chase a bird or a cat, and then you will not be able to stop it.
Cockers also love water and are excellent swimmers. There will be nothing wrong if your pet takes a swim in cold water in the fall. Their immunity is very strong, and the instinct of self-preservation will tell you when to get out of the water.
In Russia, the cocker spaniel is very popular service dog. Innate instinct and intuition will allow you to serve faithfully in the police, customs or military units.
Caring for a Cocker Spaniel
When owning a cocker spaniel, many people believe that its coat does not require special care. This opinion is wrong. As soon as the puppy grows up, there will be so much hair that it can sometimes be very difficult to handle. In addition, if you do not accustom your puppy to cleaning procedures from an early age, then the adult dog will have an extremely negative attitude towards them. Such a dog, both small and large, needs to be brushed three to five times a week. You can use a wide variety of brushes and combs. A massage glove will also come in handy. 
Just like brushing, bathing should be regular. You can bathe your dog once a month and use specialized shampoos and conditioners for long hair. Such products nourish the coat and remove static electricity. After washing, the dog should be covered with a terry towel to allow the fur to dry. Then you can start drying, for which you will need a hair dryer with cold air, a hair brush and a comb.
The haircut should be done by a professional groomer. Every dog is different and bad haircut will not add beauty to your pet.
An experienced master will immediately understand which features can be emphasized and which ones can be smoothed out. After a high-quality haircut, the spaniel should look natural and neat, as if it had not been cut at all.
In addition to bathing, combing and hairdressing procedures, it is necessary to take care of your dog’s nails and teeth, namely, brush them regularly. For cleaning, you will need a nail clipper, which is used to cut the nails without reaching the joints. Tartar removers are used to clean teeth.
Pet in your apartment
You took a cocker spaniel puppy into your apartment. At first, he should not be left alone; moreover, it must be remembered that despite his hunting instinct and orientation, the spaniel domestic dog. It is highly not recommended to keep her on a leash at home. The dog must move fully and freely so that the skeleton and muscles develop correctly. 
The puppy must initially know its sleeping place. The Cocker is very gentle and sociable, loves tactile contact, so they often try to climb into the owner’s bed. It is better not to abuse this and use it only occasionally, for example, when an overly emotional pet needs to be calmed down. The dog's sleeping place should not be in a draft or in a passage. The best option there will be a bright and dry area of the apartment. It is also very important that your pet has a wide viewing angle from its sleeping place and can watch you. You can use a children's mattress, or even better, an orthopedic one, covered with natural fabric.
Dog food
Cocker spaniel dogs have an excellent appetite; they burn a lot of calories due to their restlessness, so they need to be replenished. At the same time, an adult dog is fed only once a day. Meat can be beef, horse meat or chicken. You can pamper yourself with offal - lungs, hearts, liver, stomachs, but only boiled ones. Among seafood, the cocker most likes catfish or cod, cleaned of bones and fins, and among vegetables, cabbage, turnips, carrots or pumpkin are preferred. All vegetables must be grated. Every day you need to include porridge (rice, oatmeal, buckwheat) in your diet. Suitable as a supplement milk soup or homemade noodles.
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You chose the English Cocker Spaniel for good reason. This is a magnificent breed. A playful and friendly English Cocker Spaniel will give you a lot of wonderful moments in life. Its care and maintenance cannot be called simple, but only for exhibition specimens. In general, dogs of this breed are quite unpretentious.
Of course, your pet’s thick coat will require some attention and time. Caring for long ears should be competent and regular, as well as trimming the claws, as well as brushing the teeth of the little hunter. Every spaniel owner should know his care responsibilities, because we are responsible for the one we have tamed.
The progenitor, the dog Obo, came to our countries from Spain. Thick and black hair, extraordinary endurance and curiosity, developed hunting instincts - these are the wonderful qualities that the spaniel has inherited to this day. The breed was obtained by crossing 2 centuries ago, however, it received international recognition only in 1970.
Characteristic and features English cocker:
- The size is medium (at the withers up to 41 cm, weight up to 15 kg), the muscles and joint apparatus are well developed.
- The body is folded correctly, the back is flexible, the legs are strong and muscular.
- The head is set beautifully, the skull is smooth with an elongated muzzle. The neck is strong and of moderate length.
- The dog has a large nose, flat eyes with brown or hazel irises.
- The spaniel's ears are long and drooping, set below the level of the back of the head. The shape resembles blades.
- The tail is set below the level of the back and is well mobile.
- The dog's movements are correct, confident and slightly sweeping.
Special attention should be paid to the wool, thanks to which the breed is loved by many breeders around the world. Nature has endowed the English Cocker with soft and delicate wool, reminiscent of silk in tactile sensations. According to the standard, the coat is straight (sometimes a little curly) and has a good shine. Closer to the belly it forms a thick skirt, requiring careful care and grooming. The paws have dense feathering resembling a fringe.
Modern spaniels have received 2 purposes: a show dog (including for breeding) and a hunting dog, the requirements for which may differ slightly.
If you decide to buy a hunter spaniel, then, first of all, pay attention to the coat. Representatives of this group of spaniels have a rather short coat and are often white in color, since such a dog is better visible in the grass and water. Tail length hunting cockers is up to 13 cm.
English Cocker Spaniel: how to care for its coat
Cockers owe their beauty and grace to their well-developed coat. High-quality wool requires no less high-quality care, the origins of which are regular combing and competent grooming of the English Cocker Spaniel. B, his coat is less rich, but also requires high-quality care.
So, the spaniel's coat is thick with a moderately developed undercoat, so shedding is the main problem of the breed. The cocker's hair sheds regularly, so trim it several times a week to remove dead hair. We recommend following a rosary, then his coat will be less susceptible to loss.
Comb 1-2 times a week to prevent the appearance of tangles and curls. Use a wide comb to separate tufts of fur, as well as a slicker brush to remove dead undercoat and gradually comb out the puppy's fur.
Once a week, use a human massage brush, preferably a wooden one. It will improve metabolic processes in the skin, normalizes blood flow to the coat, prevents hair loss large quantity hair, will reduce the appearance of dandruff.
But this does not affect the rules of grooming. Regular grooming is recommended for dogs of this breed. Grooming and trimming of the English Cocker Spaniel is performed once every 1-2 months, depending on the degree of overgrowth of the coat.
It is necessary to accustom a cocker to grooming during puppyhood. Carry out the entire range of procedures (even if caring for your English Cocker Spaniel initially takes you no more than 30 minutes), teach it to hygienic haircuts and bathing.
Should also be taught little spaniel stand quietly for 2-3 hours (this is how long complex grooming takes on average).
And now about how to cut an English Cocker Spaniel. The cocker breed's haircut is done in a natural style, taking into account individual proportions and hygienic nuances. Haircut your head and body with a special clipper with good power. You will need nozzles of 10 (head) and 15 (torso) mm. Long hair on the ears, belly and limbs is trimmed with scissors to the required length (shorter for the summer), and milled if desired. The tail is cut in the shape of a wedge, and a kind of hygienic “diamond” is cut under it. It is recommended to profile the hair on the ischial tuberosities.
It is recommended to entrust the first grooming of a dog to a professional who will perform a basic haircut, taking into account individual characteristics your puppy. Support in the future professional haircut it will be much easier, because its general contours will be preserved.
What tools and supplies do you need to purchase to care for your English Cocker Spaniel?
- Comb with short and frequent metal teeth(puhoderka).
- Comb with sparse and long teeth.
- Massage brush.
- Brush with soft natural bristles for grooming your puppy's coat.
- Professional scissors for haircuts (simple and thinning).
- Hair clipper with 4 attachments.
- Cosmetic products for hair care: shampoo (simple and medicinal for seborrhea), mask or conditioner, spray to facilitate combing.
Useful video
Watch interesting and very useful videos on caring for the English Cocker Spaniel:
Tail docking
In this section, it is important to highlight the eternal dilemma of owners: whether or not to dock the tail of an English Spaniel. Of course, responsibility for the decision and the procedure itself rests with the owner; we can only give some advice.
If you are raising a hunting spaniel, then docking can be considered a desirable procedure, since the dog often cuts its tail on sedge and thorny grasses.
If the spaniel was purchased as a show dog, then you need to take into account the fashion trends for tails and the opinion of dog handlers and judges in various countries. IN this moment Tail docking is abolished.
Be sure to leave your favorite cocker his playful tail, which was given by nature for a reason.
Sometimes docking the tail of an English Cocker Spaniel is dictated by necessity (rotting wounds, severe burns, fractures and other tail injuries).
If you decide on the docking procedure, then it must be carried out before the age of 5 days of life, until the puppies see and hear the owner and do not experience strong painful sensations. Tail trimming before the age of 2.5 months should be carried out with local anesthesia and mandatory suturing.
Comprehensive spaniel care: ears, teeth, claws
If you often walk with your English Cocker Spaniel on asphalt, paving stones and rough ground, then the claws grind down on their own and do not cause any worries to the owner. But still, it is necessary to have a high-quality nail clipper in the house (selected taking into account the size of the dog and the strength of the claw). Sometimes your pet's claw may split or break. Or you will have to shorten it on the fifth finger, which does not reach the ground.
Remove the length carefully so as not to damage the blood vessel in any way. Be sure to sand sharp edges with a nail file. Do not allow the nails to grow or curl, otherwise this may cause injury to the paws.
Dental care involves removing soft yellow plaque and hard tartar. Even if you feed your English Cocker Spaniel dry food and regularly buy treats (sinews, ears, dry-cured sausages, etc.), over time the stone will still grow and can lead to tooth decay and an unpleasant odor from the mouth.
Teeth are cleaned using 2 types of brushes: a standard one with soft bristles (can be purchased as a finger attachment) and a massage brush with rubber bristles. Apply a special brush to a regular brush. toothpaste for dogs and use a downward motion to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth. It's okay if your pet licks the paste - that's what it's designed for. Use a massage brush to gently and slowly move along the gums - this will ensure good blood flow and nutrition to the teeth. Hygiene oral cavity should be carried out 2-3 times a week or as needed.
Unfortunately, regular brush It is not effective enough for dental care, so over the course of several months or years, a hard, dark tartar begins to form in the dog, which cannot be removed with home mechanical cleaning.
In this case it will be useful modern procedure stone cleansing using ultrasound is painless, quick (up to 20 minutes) and effective.
Caring for loved ones long ears The English Cocker Spaniel must be treated competently and in a timely manner, since inflammation of the middle ear is the second scourge of this breed. Due to the tight fit and thick coat, the ears are poorly ventilated and retain moisture well after bathing. All these factors create an ideal environment for the development of bacteria and fungi.
Before bath procedures or swimming in ponds close ear canal cotton swabs soaked in vegetable oil. If water does get into your ear, carefully dry it with a napkin wrapped around your little finger.
Inspect your ears regularly and identify wax plugs in a timely manner. It is also advisable to pluck out the hairs growing inside the ear with tweezers.
During tick season, it is not recommended to walk in the field (dry grass), or under trees. After walks, carefully check your cocker's ears. Removing ticks yourself is dangerous - go to the nearest veterinarian, where a doctor will use special devices to rid your pet of bloodsuckers.
Be attentive to your spaniel's behavior. If your pet rubs its ears, scratches them with its paw, shakes its head, or a squelching sound is heard inside the ear, an unpleasant odor or dark plugs appear, immediately show it to the veterinarian.
English Cocker Spaniel: puppy care
The main rule is to accustom your baby to basic procedures as quickly and painlessly as possible. Before any manipulation, let the puppy sniff the tool or device and play with it, so that in the future the procedure does not cause unpleasant emotions and expectations.
Be sure to pay serious attention. The first combing of the coat, cutting, trimming and brushing should be carried out in game form and no more than 5 minutes, otherwise the English Cocker Spaniel puppy, the care and maintenance of which we are discussing, will simply get tired. Please note that a spaniel puppy is playful and restless until about six months old, so getting him to quietly withstand full trimming will not be easy.
Comb using a massage brush with natural soft bristles. Gently run the comb from the head towards the tail. Brush delicate ears and paws carefully.
If the first tangles or matted fur have already been detected, then carefully sort it out with your fingers and then comb it with a metal comb. Try not to pull the fur during the procedure. Behind good behavior Be sure to praise and give a treat.
Carry out all manipulations on the mat so that the puppy’s paws do not move apart or slide. Under no circumstances should you leave your baby alone on a table or high sofa - he may run after you in fear, fall and get injured.
It is very important what first impressions the little English Cocker Spaniel gets from all these procedures. The haircut (photo above) is carried out using safety scissors (rounded ends). Do not torture your puppy with prolonged grooming for several hours - the puppy does not need this. Quite neat hygienic haircut: trim the area around the paws and ears, trim the length, remove hair from the genital area.
Before trimming his nails, make sure that the puppy calmly allows you to hold his paw and does not experience discomfort. Trim any loose fur first to prevent seeds, grass, twigs and other debris from sticking to it. Also, the hair growing in the paw pad is removed to its level. The spaces between the fingers should not be trimmed.
Due to its developed metabolism, a puppy may experience discharge from the eyes. Clean them carefully with a damp cloth (without alcohol) every day. Each eye has its own napkin.
Clean your ears with a cotton swab soaked in chlorhexidine. Before bathing, place a cotton pad soaked in oil in the ear canal.
Brushing your puppy's teeth is usually not necessary. But it is advisable to accustom him to the procedure from puppyhood. Examine your baby’s gums (should be pink and matte) and teeth, especially during their replacement period. You can wipe your puppy’s teeth with special dental wipes, which will remove soft plaque and kill germs from the surface of the enamel.
In general, the English Cocker Spaniel breed does not require large physical and financial costs to organize competent care. Healthy spaniel with luxurious wool It will be beneficial to represent your family and please the owner with a decent appearance.
The breed was bred by artificial crossing, the main task of which was to become an ideal hunting dog. In our time, the English Cocker Spaniel has retained not only the ability to hunt, but has also become an excellent sporting breed with tireless energy, which constantly sets the dog in motion.
If you are an avid hunter and want to buy an English Cocker Spaniel, you definitely won’t go wrong in your choice; he has a keen sense of smell and senses the owner’s mood very well. Copes well with hunting, both in water and in the forest. Always ready to offer killed or wounded game. It is believed that they were previously used even in falconry.
English Cocker Spaniel description and FCI standard
- Docked tail(docking is allowed only in some countries): docked not too short, leaving 2-3 vertebrae and continuing the topline.
- Undocked tail slightly curved, medium size, reaching to the hocks. Thick at the base with a gradual thinning towards the end. Densely covered with hair.
English Cocker Spaniel photo in wild flowers
- Shoulders: set obliquely, flat, withers pronounced. The shoulder blades and shoulders are approximately the same.
- Forearms: straight, level from elbow to wrist.
- Elbows: pressed to the body, looking straight back.
- Shoulders: Slanted, close to the body, elbows directly under the withers.
- Paws: rounded, toes collected in a ball, elastic, dense pads. The claws are strong.
- Thighs: Muscular, but not loaded.
- Lower legs: Muscular, approximately equal to the thighs. Knee joints strong, with well-defined angles.
- Knees: Well bent.
- Hocks: short, forming good articulation with the hock joints, allowing for strong push-off.
- Feet: oval, toes tightly packed, elastic pads, strong nails.
English cocker spaniel color
Solid color:
- Black
- Red
- Gold
- Chocolate
- Black and Tan
- Liver and tan
Cockers have a solid color White color unacceptable. Only a small spot on the chest is allowed.
Spotted (the main background is light) and piebald (the main background is dark) colors:
- Black and white
- Red and white
- Liver white
- Fawn white
Spotted and piebald can be spotted or without.
Tricolor:
- Black and white with tan
- Liver white with tan.
Roan colors:
- Black roan
- Chocolate roan
- Red roan with black pigmentation
- Red roan with brown pigmentation
- Golden roan with black pigmentation
- Golden roan with brown pigmentation
- Red Roan
- Fawn Roan
- Liver roan
- Blue roan and tan
- liver roan with tan
All colors or combinations not listed above are non-standard.
Disadvantages: Any deviations from the standard are considered as deficiencies, the magnitude of which depends on the depth of the health impairment, and also affects the ability to perform their traditional work.
Disqualifying faults:
- Marked anger or timidity.
P.S. : Males must have two obvious, normally developed testes, fully descended into the scrotum.
English cocker spaniel character
The English Cocker Spaniel is cheerful, sociable, and gentle. But, despite his innate friendliness and sociability, to strangers is extremely distrustful and wary.
They get along well with children and love to play with them. They get along well with other pets. Loyal and cheerful disposition makes a wonderful cocker spaniel pet, perfect for keeping both in a large family and for a single person.
Most often, in a family he becomes close to one specific person, for whom he will be the main owner. The English Cocker Spaniel has a keen sense of smell and excellent eyesight, which makes it an excellent hunter. But, like many breeds, the spaniel has some disadvantages: its overly cheerful character, and its ever-wagging tail, often show some fussy movement, which becomes especially noticeable during training. Although, with patience, the owner will overcome this character trait a little over time.
Photo of a black English Cocker Spaniel in the snow
This playful, cheerful, responsive and gentle dog by nature, she is sociable and ready to be with her owners all day long, play and have fun. There is an opinion that some individuals are overly dependent on their owner, in which case it is very important to teach the pet independence. Sometimes there are quite timid and shy cockers, and it is up to the owner whether he can overcome the cowardice in the pet and raise it to be brave.
There is an opinion that females are more stubborn in character than males and always try to dominate.
English Cocker Spaniels learn different commands quite quickly, as they always try to please their owner. Many of them can be quite stubborn, so it will take more time to train them. Some people show a jealous attitude towards their things, bowls, toys.
Like any hunting dog, it is very important for the Cocker Spaniel to receive adequate exercise. They are able to accept any physical exercise, and sometimes it seems that they do not get tired of hunting at all, but on the contrary, they work quite hard. This feature is especially noticeable on the street, during walks. She adores active games and exercises. But before you get an English Cocker Spaniel, you should remember that you will have to devote time every day to walk, play, and do various exercises to train your pet.
The English Cocker Spaniel is perfect for keeping in a country house or in the village, because the street and fields are its element. But it gets along well in a city apartment.
English Cocker Spaniel care
English Cocker Spaniel in the photo of a mother with puppies
Although the English Cocker Spaniel is not a long-haired breed, you will have to work a little to make it look beautiful and neat. You should remember that grooming is a daily job. After all, without care, the fur will grow and become thick, sometimes wavy, and then everything from weeds to dust will collect on it. This will be followed by the appearance of tangles, the fight against which becomes impossible. Therefore, be patient and accustom your pet to the procedure of daily brushing when it arrives in your home. It should be trained as early as possible, otherwise the adult dog will resist all sorts of procedures.
To care for a spaniel's coat (grooming), you will need the following tools:
- two metal combs, one with fine teeth, the other with rare blunt teeth
- two brushes, massage and with short bristles
- slicker
- scissors – thinning
- blunt scissors with straight and curved ends
- electric hair clipper with various attachments
- glove or mitten for grooming
- stripping knife and piece of pumice
Examine your eyes for signs of redness or excessive heavy discharge If pus appears, contact your veterinarian.
Regularly examine your teeth, check for the absence of tartar.
Diseases of the English Cocker Spaniel
Chocolate color English Cocker Spaniel photo between colors
- Urolithiasis disease
- Allergy
- Melanoma
- Lipoma
- Perianal adenocarcinoma ( benign tumor glands located around the anus)
- Hip dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- Hypothyroidism (thyroid disease)
- Discopathy ( degenerative changes in intervertebral discs)
- Chronic hepatitis
- Demodicosis
- Deafness
- Cataract
- Keratoconjunctivitis
- Progressive retinal degeneration
- Glaucoma
- Cherry eye
- Turn of the century
- Eversion of the century
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Distichiasis (extra eyelashes)
- Dwarfism
- Hydrocephalus of the brain (characterized by an increase in the volume of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain.
