Cocker spaniel dogs are small breeds, weighing less than 20 kilos, generally between 10 and 14 kilos. A large number of dogs of this breed have presented a heart disease that is characteristic of large breed dogs: dilated heart disease. Data like these will be explained in this post, as well as the characteristics of this beautiful breed of dog.
Origin
The name 'Spaniel' derives from the Old French 'Spaigneul', which means Spanish dog as the true breed came from Spain where it was used as a hunter and retriever. This dog became highly demanded in Great Britain where the breed standard was set as well as in the rest of Europe, then it was exported to the USA where it also achieved great popularity but the American breeders decided to modify the breed to achieve a somewhat different appearance, thus the cocker spaniel was born 1900.
Currently, several differences can be observed within the breed. english cocker spaniel, there are some that were modified for work and others that were modified for aesthetic aspects, that is, to improve their beauty. In any case, these dogs come from England, from the nobility, specifically originated for it as pets, so they are considered royalty.
During the hunt, they often only collected the prey and delivered it to their masters, so from that moment these dogs were seen accompanying their masters in the sport of hunting but only to keep up with the ladies of this social class of that time. This is why it became more of a companion dog than an animal dedicated to other activities, unlike other breeds.
Characteristics and behavior
The cocker spaniel is a small, athletic and very energetic dog, noted for its long and hanging ears, it always has brown eyes except those with totally or partially liver-colored fur in which the eyes can be hazel. They have smooth, silky fur that can be solid in color. The color of the coat that predominates in this breed is dark brown towards gold with white, when they have it bicolor too, but there are also black, cream and light brown, so there is a wide range to choose from.
The hair is usually long on the ears, legs and on the lower part of the belly resembling skirts and they are usually in wavy layers that make it a quite funny dog. The ears are usually the most striking because it resembles hair because of how long they are, the hair must be very well cared for, so it is not recommended that an owner without experience or knowledge do it, it is necessary that an expert hairdresser do his cuts to maintain the characteristics and beauty that define it.
Having a cocker spaniel is a sign that when you grow up you will have a small dog at home, in fact its weight does not exceed 15 kilos (females have a weight that ranges from 10 to 12 kilos if they are healthy, while males weigh between 14 and 15). As for their snout, it could be noted that it is pronounced and long, they have large eyes and a rounded nose. Their heads are not very large compared to other breeds, they actually have very fine features. Regarding his behavior:
- It is a dog especially attached to its relatives because it loves spending time with them
- He is sweet-natured and also gets along well with children.
- It is an intelligent dog and if it is trained correctly it can develop its full potential.
- Socialization is not usually a problem in these dogs but they should be presented with all kinds of things, people or other animals with which they are going to interact and feel identified so that little by little they get used to it.
- It is very faithful and attentive, in fact most behavior problems that appear in this breed are directly related to loneliness and lack of stimulation.
- This breed is also characterized by its sweetness with its owners, in addition to the joy that they know how to express very well when they recognize them or play with them (something that they also love). They have enough energy for these games and for exercising or going for walks when the family has children at home, in fact they are ideal for draining all that energy together and giving them the love they require.
These dogs are a bit similar to the breed cavalier king charles spaniel only that these have slightly smaller ears, they are much smaller in size, their trunk is elongated and they have huge eyes that make them animals with a tender or expressive appearance. As well as the most popular features of the cocker spaniel dogs are their golden color and large, furry ears, the features of the Cavalier King are their tan and white colors and their large eyes. Both breeds are very charming according to the taste of thousands of people.
Despite their small body, they have a firm and strong character and want to impose themselves once and for all, something that should be worked on teaching him from a puppy who is in charge in the relationship and who must be obeyed, and thus he will grow up in an educated way. Due to the latter, young children are not their forte, so you have to be aware if there are babies in houses since they lose patience too quickly with them. The ideal age for children to deal with these pets is from eight to ten years old and up.
Personality
It is a very affectionate, faithful, companion, friendly dog and also quite jealous of its owners, whom they usually welcome as their subsidiary and offer their heart and affection for their entire lives, so their affection should not be disappointed. If they pull their ears they get upset and annoyed, especially babies bring out their bad character and if they are not educated from puppies they can bite so it is recommended to pay attention when there are children at home (visitors or who live in the home ) and are close to the animal.
It is likely that if children and cocker spaniels get used to it from a young age, they will get along very well, although it is necessary that they be taught that everyone in the family respects each other, but their character is difficult with this aspect and this must be addressed from the first time. take it home. Before adopting or receiving a dog of this breed, its origin must be taken into account, as well as if there are episodes of aggressiveness from one or both parents, which can be hereditary and cause some inconvenience if nothing is known about its parents.
On the other hand, there is the possibility of training him from a puppy, so the help of a dog trainer or trainer who knows this breed well may be needed, this is because they are a bit delicate and complicated to teach due to their strong character, however, they are not You should mistreat them or give them physical abuse while you are teaching them simply because no living being deserves it, it is a faithful friend that must be respected at all times and in turn receive the affection of their owners.
It is a dog that likes to attract attention, that is why it barks a lot at what is strange, that is why they should be taught to keep control, apart from that they are not usually friendly with strangers and if they feel insecure with someone they do not accept it. They are also extremely distrustful because of their aggressiveness, which is why you have to educate them to be with different people and animals.
Educated as it should be, it is a noble dog that wants to be loved by its owners, affectionate with those who offer it love and the care it needs, both with its diet and its coat.
They are dogs with too much energy, so you have to have time to play with him, propose challenges, play, hide things, etc. because if not, that energy they have and that they have left over can lead to unwanted behaviors such as: destroying chair legs or even being aggressive, simply because they do not know how to manage the excess energy they have. In fact, they are well-behaved dogs that are very good to be with the family and to be with children because precisely children have a lot of energy together they drain it.
health and development
These dogs by nature enjoy good health as long as they are kept neat, clean and on a special diet so that they do not become obese, this is because when they gain weight due to their size they can immediately have a bulky body and suffer from different ailments such as digestive problems, parasites or worms that can affect your system. So you have to be careful to deworm it from time to time, the veterinarian can recommend the number of times it should be done, how and other indications about this.
The cocker spaniel needs a wide variety of care:
- You have to brush your fur at least three times a week to avoid excess dead hair, bacteria and fungi.
- The bath can be done monthly or every two months depending on the dirt generated
- The constant review of the ears is something that must always be kept in mind since mites tend to appear precisely because of their drooping, closed and elongated shape. In this regard, they should be cleaned regularly with gauze.
- It is also necessary for these dogs to be given two to three daily walks including physical exercise to keep their condition in shape and help them release any negative charge they may have, a good idea is to participate in dog sports.
As with almost all breeds, the cocker spaniel is exposed to several hereditary diseases, among them deafness is the most seen example. Among the most common diseases are:
- progressive retinal atrophy
- The falls
- Glaucoma
- Hip dysplasia
- familial nephropathy
- Cardiomyopathies
It is recommended to take him to the vet at least every six or twelve months, to do a general check-up and deworm him if necessary. Although they are healthy dogs that do not have a key congenital disease, they do suffer from certain things that characterize them, for example, otitis and periodontal disease. In the latter case, it is recommended to do the cleaning for the sarrete or tartar, so the teeth must be cleaned more than once a year.
It is a dog that needs to get energy from the body because it is very proactive, in addition to needing long walks where it can eliminate it from its body, it also needs a dose of exercises to accompany the walk, so it is essential that it be taken out daily, they are trendy to obesity, which is why his diet is due away from a diet with carbohydrates so that he always stays in shape and does not suffer from the ailments of this disease.
Sometimes it happens that people get puppies on the street or give them to them and are not aware of what kind of breed they are, some have names that are very difficult to remember as well as those that belong to the breed. yorkshire terrier which are a bit common in homes around the world. But of course, it is much easier to recognize the breed of a dog when you look at the photo of him under the name of his breed and thus be able to identify them, also this is not a very difficult task.