Care
Caring for a dog of this breed is not difficult, and consists of following the basic rules. When purchasing a dog of this breed, the English Cocker Spaniel, people think that the puppy’s coat does not require special care. In vain.
By the time the dog grows up, his fur will be very difficult to manage. In addition, a dog that has not been accustomed to this kind of process from a very young age will resist when it becomes an adult, causing a lot of trouble for its owner.
A Cocker Spaniel, at any age, needs to be brushed at least three times a week. Various coarse brushes and combs are used for this.
Bathing
Your Cocker Spaniel should be washed regularly, every month. They bathe dogs using various products for dogs with long hair.
Special conditioners heal hair and have an antistatic effect.
After bathing, cover the dog with a large towel and soak up excess moisture. After which, proceed directly to drying, using a hair dryer and brushes.
Grooming
Grooming an English Cocker Spaniel is best left to an experienced groomer. Each dog has its own original proportions, and a poor-quality haircut will change the appearance of the pet beyond recognition.
The specialist knows where it is better to focus attention, and where, on the contrary, to hide shortcomings. Ideally, after grooming, the cocker spaniel will look beautiful and natural, as if no complex procedures were performed on it.
Nail care
The animal's claws must be trimmed regularly as they grow. For this procedure, special nail clippers are purchased.
Dental care
Tartar periodically appears on your dog's teeth. Because of it, an unpleasant odor appears from the mouth, and over time, tooth decay may begin. You can get rid of this problem with the help of special means, or by contacting a veterinary clinic.
Origin of English Cockers
The ancestors of dogs of this British breed are considered to be the so-called “ashy” dogs, which lived back in the Bronze Age. These miniature animals got their name from the frequent discovery of their remains in ash, although the exact reasons for this phenomenon remain unknown. Even at that time, dogs were known as human helpers and participated in hunting.
The ancestors of spaniels lived in Spain. It was from there that they were brought to England. According to another version, the origin of dogs is connected with North Africa, from where the animals came straight to English lands. In any case, there were enough breeders among the English, and by the end of the 19th century the first club of the new breed had already appeared. From England, dogs came to the American continent, where new breeds of spaniels were developed from the “English”.
The word "cocker" translated from English means "woodcock". It was for hunting these birds that English spaniels were bought. Now dogs are used to catch ducks, many other game, and small animals. The exact standard (description) of the breed was developed only in the last century; now dogs are bred according to the same criteria.
Contents in the apartment
In the first days of the puppy's arrival in the house, you should not leave him alone. Don't forget that the Cocker Spaniel is a domestic dog, despite its hunting instinct.
At home, you should not tie your dog. An English Cocker Spaniel, of any age, needs to exercise a lot in order for its skeleton and muscles to develop properly.
Prepare in advance a place where the puppy will sleep. Representatives of this breed are very gentle, sociable and love direct contact with the owner, so they always try to lie down next to them on the sofa, but you should not spoil your pet too much.
The place should be located away from drafts and prying eyes. It is best if it is a bright and warm part of the room.
Try to make sure that the pets can see their owners from their place. The material for the “crib” can be a children’s mattress; it can be covered with any natural fabric.
How to choose a puppy
You should only contact a professional breeder for purchase. He will be able to provide all documents about the origin of the puppy, his parents, their achievements, as well as health and vaccinations. Usually there are up to 5 puppies in a litter, their price is 20-30 thousand rubles. You can buy an English spaniel secondhand, without documents, for 5 thousand rubles.
To choose the right pet, you need to pay attention to the following points:
- The puppy is weaned from its mother strictly after 30 days of age. If you take your dog earlier, there is a risk of immune system failure in the future.
- Some puppies can be aggressive and attack their brothers and sisters. You need to carefully look at the behavior of animals, and not take those that have obvious deviations. Later, anger and aggression will only intensify.
- There is no need to choose puppies that are too passive and behave sluggishly. There is a danger that they are sick or simply apathetic, so they are not suitable for hunting.
- English cocker girls are more obedient, and hunters prefer to buy them. Bitches are easier to train, they obey perfectly and remember commands.
- It is better not to buy an adult dog. Transfer to a new place of residence, to new people, has a bad effect on the animal’s psyche. It may never be possible to make an obedient hunter out of a dog if it has not been taken for hunting before.
Some breeders already give dog names to their entire litter. Others give the buyer the opportunity to name the dog. Popular nicknames for boys for this breed are White, Spikey, Arnie, Rocky, Oliver, Dobie, Luke, Volt, Cliff. For a girl, you can choose a name from the following list: Bonya, Dosya, Zlata, Lily, Jeta, Dolly, Alice, Gucci, Poly.
You need to bring your puppy in a carrier. The house should be prepared in advance - equip the dog with a sleeping place (basket, bedding). You also need to think in advance where he will go to the toilet, where the feeding bowl will be located. It is advisable to put on a collar right away, although many breeders practice this from the age of one week.
What to feed
English Cocker Spaniels have an excellent appetite, they are in constant motion and require sufficient, high-calorie food.
Meat products are used: beef, horse meat, chicken, liver. The main rule is not to feed your dog raw meat products.
The Cocker Spaniel can be fed fish and vegetables. The fish is given cleaned of large bones, and the vegetables are pre-grated.
Also, for proper development, your four-legged friend must be fed with various cereals. Don’t forget about the vitamin and mineral complexes developed for dogs, especially during the growth period.
Bathing
What will you have to do most often? Bathe, dry and brush the dog. Bathing for a cocker spaniel is a regular procedure. Performing it occasionally, for fear of “damaging the protective layer” is another common mistake of the owners of these spectacular dogs. When your pet's dirty coat is exposed to the sun or low temperatures, the condition and growth of the coat will deteriorate.
Frequency of bathing: 7-10 days. Don't make the water too hot! Use shampoos and conditioners specifically formulated for long-haired dogs. These products improve the structure of the coat and remove excess static electricity. Brushing your dog becomes easier.
Diseases
When an animal is properly cared for, it rarely gets sick, but even if all the rules of keeping are followed, health problems may arise.
Common diseases:
- otitis;
- distichiasis;
- discopathy;
- cherry eye;
- entropion;
- hypothyroidism;
- keratoconjunctivitis;
- urolithiasis disease;
- atopy;
- cataract;
- glaucoma;
- lipoma;
- melanoma;
- hepatitis.
In addition, dogs can suffer from demodicosis, deafness, dwarfism, and skin cancer.
Photo gallery
Let's look at photos of the English Cocker Spaniel, which gets along well with children and is friendly towards strangers. Despite the fact that he is a born hunter, he is good with other household inhabitants.
Walking and physical activity
You need to walk at least twice a day - morning and evening. It is better to walk with an adult pet during the daytime. Unlike most other breeds, cockers need exercise. Therefore, the owner should prepare for long runs and games.
Be sure to play with him outdoors. Therefore, a ball and a stick will come in handy. This breed is a hunting breed, so you should definitely practice commands while walking. This type of spaniel simply needs good exercise to maintain physical and mental health. If they are not there, then the dog will spend its energy at home. And dog owners are unlikely to like this.
The Cocker Spaniel is an active puppy, so the owner should ensure that the pet does not get injured. He does not need special conditions of detention, the main thing is to take care of the beauty of the coat and health. This breed is easy to train, so training is an essential part of raising this dog.
