Intelligent and naturally odd , English cocker spaniels are thick hunting weenie breed to flush and think game . These upbeat puppy also make peachy family unit pets — kids and senior likewise will find a loyal fellow in the English cocker .
English English cocker spaniel spaniels have been some of the most dear , most placeable faces in culture medium and advertising for decades . And it ’s easy to see why : Their expressive , doe - like eyes and floppy ears make them very arduous to resist .
But English cockers are more than just a pretty face — this breed has roots in the search fields of North England . The English English cocker spaniel spaniel is a loyal , gymnastic , intelligent dogthat will love joining you on a pheasant hunting or only hanging out in the family way .
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Appearance
English cocker spaniel are a shade smaller than theirspringer spaniel cousin-german ; males grow to be 16–17 inches marvellous and 28–34 pounds , while females stay around 15–16 inches and 26–32 Syrian pound .
English cockers have a long , squarish nose , dark - colored eyes , and pendent ears . Their silky coating are long and soft , traditionally with feathering at the ends , according tothe stock measure . figure out dogs will often have their hair trimmed much shorter than show dogs or family pets so their fur does n’t become tangled or collect dirt . English cocker spaniels are most normally found in coloring material combinations of disastrous , red , liver , tan , orange , lemon , and/or white .
An English cocker spaniel ’s posterior will grow to a distance of 8–9 column inch when go away to its own machine . However , as ahunting dogwho spends meter in thick underbrush , it ’s been common recitation for centuries to tail their tails down to about 4 inches . Proponents say this is to avoid harm while work , but today , tying up is all optional and often skipped , especially for folk dogs . ( The exercise is also controversial , per theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association ) .
Despite the similarity in name and appearing , the English cocker spaniel spaniel is a different stock than theAmerican cocker spaniel . The American cocker is long than he is tall , while the English English cocker spaniel is marvelous than he is long . Another means to distinguish if a dog is an English cocker spaniel vs. American cocker spaniel spaniel is by looking at his fount : The English cocker ’s muzzle is longer than his American cousin ’s , and his eyes are rounder .
Temperament
There ’s a reason this breed bears the nickname " merry cocker . " English cocker spaniels are pollyannaish , playful hound with a delightful personality . They ’re alsoextremely loyal to their the great unwashed . They makegood pet for families with childrenthanks to their friendly temperament and compendious size . However , smaller children should still be superintend andtaught how to properly interact with petsduring playtime .
They are raw adventurer and excellent retriever wholove to play fetchwith tennis balls or stick . But with all that muscularity and intelligence , English cocker spaniels can get bored easily .
" When you ’ve get an jock dog like that , you ’ve got to make trusted you ’re getting them out to cauterize off that DOE , " says Dennis Riordan , DVM , of theRiordan Pet Hospitalin Des Moines , Iowa . " If you ’re not doing that , you ’ll get a foiled hound . "
English cocker spaniel spaniel uprise inviolable bond certificate with their human companions and are n’t prominent fans of alone time . Anything more than a couple of hour by himself and your English cocker might get separation anxiousness , which couldresult in stress barkingand mastication .
Living Needs
English cocker spaniel are extremely adaptable favorite . They ’re right at home in a roomy backyard , but they ’re alsocool with flat living . They have the Department of Energy and intelligence to bet well with children and vernal adult , but also can be trained to serve ascalm , reliable companionsfor seniors . They become fast champion with other dogs , and evencats if they ’re introducedat an former age .
Their medium - tenacious forked coat enables English cocker spaniels todo well in colder climatesas well as warm areas . So basically , they can live happily anywhere ( but still keep an eye out forheat exhaustionon additional - hot Clarence Shepard Day Jr. andhypothermia when it ’s frigid ) .
supply all this up , and it mean that an English cocker spaniel can fly high wherever you populate , as long as you are able-bodied totend to his exerciseand companionship need . Daily bodily process will be a welcome add-on to any English cocker spaniel ’s life . A secret plan of fetch , aweigh to the dog green , or some supervised backyard time will keep this stock happy . They are also natural stolon with a gamy story of stamina and , once they are over a yr old , English cockers would be well-chosen to go for a trot with you .
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Care
English cocker spaniels incline to be low - maintenance weenie … except when it come to brush . English cockershave a double coat , which means under that long , slick hair is a thicker , slow priming that needs a mint of TLC . Give your English cocker spaniel agood but blue brushingat least two to three times a week to keep their hair destitute of mat and maze — and to keep the majority ofthe hair they shedoff your floor .
Beyond that , your English cocker will be quick for a trim every six to eight weeks , depending on how long you like their fuzz , anda bathtub every monthor two . They ’ll need regularnail trimmingandtooth brushing , and this strain isprone to ear infections , so be sure toclean their earsat least once a week .
You ’ll call for to check that your English cocker iswell - trained from an other age . Spaniels are sensitive andiron , so you need to be ordered but aristocratical when training andreward them with plenty of treatsandpositive reinforcement . start up training your English English cocker spaniel spaniel puppy ahead of time — with the proper motivation and reinforcement , these smart dog will learn tight .
Health
Here ’s one of the most important things you need to have it away about English cocker spaniels : They can get chunky . They ’re not afraid of the dinner bowl , and theywillsneak ( or straight - up steal ) any food they can get close to . And if they are n’t exercised decent , those extra calories will bestow up . So as the creditworthy one in this human relationship , it ’s up to you tomonitor their dietand to keep them moving and active throughout their life . As your pup ages and action levels drop , it ’ll be important to adapt his food aspiration . Talk to your vet to guarantee your dog is dilute calories without sacrificing nutrient .
away from fleshiness , Riordan says the most common wellness issues for English cocker spaniels includeprogressive retinal atrophy , renal failure , andhip dysplasia . But that does n’t mean your pup will develop these condition . With an eye towards a safe dieting , regular exercise , andregular medical examination , you may help keep your weenie happy and intelligent .
History
There have been spaniel record since at least the 1300s , according to theEnglish Cocker Spaniel Club of America ( ECSCA ) . For most of that fourth dimension , springers and cocker spaniel came from the same bedding material stock , the name being more of a size and Book of Job distinction . ( springer were the larger bedding material mates , chosen to " spring " fowl from the brush . small English cocker spaniel specialized in hunting a shuttle called the woodcock . ) But by the turn of the 20th century , selective breeding had created distinct strain , with springers and cockers becoming cousins on the kinsfolk tree diagram , rather than direct littermates .
With the creation of theAmerican Spaniel Clubin 1881 , both springers and cockers start to be bred for display and competitions , rather than just as strictly sporting animals . Springers and cockers were shown as the same strain of dog , until the Kennel Club create separate strain standards in 1903 .
Since then , English cocker spaniel have become show and competition favorites , and they are the stock with the most wins in the history at theCrufts dog show , winning Best in Show seven times .
