The English Cocker Spaniel is a small hunting dog. She used to help hunters. Now it is a popular pet, good-natured, intelligent and loyal. Unlike many other hunting dogs, Cocker Spaniels live well in a city apartment and do not require high physical activity. Many dog experts consider them the best family dogs. They are neat, peaceful, cheerful. But before getting an English Cocker Spaniel, it is recommended to study the description of the breed, the pros and cons, and reviews from the owners.
- Head
- Features of training
- English Cocker Spaniel Grooming
Description of the English Cocker Spaniel breed
Popularity 143rd among 263 dog breeds
Lifespan:
13-15 years old
Breed group:
Hunting
Height:
males: 39-41 cm, females: 38-39 cm
Country of origin:
Great Britain
Average price:
15-20 thousand rubles
Weight:
13-14.5 kg
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Price
It is better to purchase a puppy from experienced breeders, where its price will be about 10 thousand rubles.
Of course, you can buy a four-legged animal from an unverified seller for three thousand rubles, but the likelihood of getting a purebred or even a sick baby will be extremely high.
If you need not just a faithful friend and family member, but a dog that can later be presented at exhibitions and used as an inseminator for breeding offspring, then the cost of such a dog will be from 15-30 thousand rubles and more.
Key facts
Get used to the noise, cover your apartment with soundproofing foam or buy earplugs and be patient - your new pet loves to bark. With proper upbringing, you will not feel any inconvenience - the wallpaper and furniture will be intact, and even the theft of food from the table will not affect you. In return, be sensitive - the breed is sensitive and nervous, do not go too far in the educational process.
Sweet spaniels are the number one friend for security forces. The brilliant instincts of the British help to accurately track down drugs and other illegal substances. In other words, the performance characteristics of the English Cocker Spaniel breed are impeccable.
The cocker loves hunting and physical activity, and can be trained quickly. Regardless of the conditions in which the pet lives - in a spacious house or a small apartment - you need to walk the dog at least twice a day with daily exercise for the dog. Otherwise, from an athlete, hunter and simply handsome, the cocker will turn into a capricious, lazy and fat animal.
The description of the English Cocker Spaniel breed suggests that boys are more stubborn and dominant, while modesty and shyness are characteristic features of the fairer sex.
The English Cocker can be confused with the Field Spaniel, although the second species is impressively larger in size, long-legged and with dark hair. The larger counterpart has a uniform color with sparse markings, and there is no undercoat.
Also, the English cocker differs from the American one - it is larger in volume and lighter in character. The American Spaniel can be too serious and is called more of a decorative breed than a hunting breed.
The life expectancy of the English Cocker Spaniel is encouraging: with proper care, the dogs live up to 15-16 years. Health
Application
Initially, the breed was intended exclusively for hunting wild birds. However, today the British cocker is a companion and family friend. He gained popularity thanks to his soft, flexible character.
The dual use of pets led to their division into 2 classes - working and exhibition. Any breed has this classification, but in cockers it is very pronounced.
Working dogs are used for hunting. Decorative - for participation in exhibitions and as pets. The latter are larger and less fast.
Regardless of class, any English Cocker dog has a strong hunting instinct. They even do a stance on the plane, mistaking it for a flying bird.
History of the origin of the English Cocker Spaniel
In ancient times, cockers were especially famous for hunting birds, which is where the name came from. "Cocker" is short for "woodcock", which means woodcock.
Scientists suggest that spaniels accompanied people back in the Bronze Age. Another version: the ancestors of spaniels lived on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, since the French “espaigneul” is translated as “Spanish dog”.
The breed was recognized in 1893, but dogs appeared in Russia much later - the public and breeders were not delighted with cockers. Therefore, they began to be bred no earlier than 1970.
Appearance of an English Cocker Spaniel
General impression
Touching beauty is just one of the advantages of the English Cocker Spaniel.
He is strong, smart, agile - these are the qualities of an exemplary hunter. The breed is harmoniously built, and you can admire the dog running forever because of the incredible grace in its movements. The breed is a mixture of the Field Spaniel and subsequent bred species. This is noticeable in the photo of an English Cocker Spaniel.
Head
The Englishman is distinguished by a square muzzle, not stretched in width, a powerful jaw with a classic bite.
The breed's brilliant sense of smell is achieved through a nose with wide nostrils. Large oval eyes are not protruding and have brown shades. The ears hang down and are covered with hair, reaching to the nose.
Neck
The neck should not be long, but not short, pumped up and without folds.
Torso
True breeds have a small body, wiry and muscular. The back does not bend, it is straight. The chest is without bulges, deep.
Forelegs
The spaniel's paws are sinewy and straight, moderately elongated. For the greatest freedom of movement, the cocker's knees are bent, due to this the dog's running is not constrained. The swing is achieved by elastic repulsions from the ground with round paws. The fingers are close to each other.
Hind limbs
According to the standard, the hind legs should be identical in length to the body. The back is balanced with the front.
Tail
Cockers' tails are docked, but not in all countries. Dogs with undocked tails also participate in shows. Allowable length is up to the hock joints. The tail should not look runny.
Movement
The spaniel moves with sweeping steps, the step is fast and light. Large webbed paws help the dog swim. The spaniel runs energetically and sweepingly.
Wool
The texture of the coat is somewhere between wavy and straight.
It feels silky and very pleasant to the touch. Present on all limbs, body and abdomen. In the lower part of the body, the fur looks like a skirt, and on the paws it looks like a fringe. Long hair forms a fringe. According to the standard, the coat should not be fluffy, curly or harsh.
Color
English Cockers come in solid, mixed, tri-color and speckled varieties.
Of the solid colors, red, brown-chocolate, spotted, black, and golden are allowed. Of the mixed colors, the following colors of English Cocker Spaniels are found: red, liver, fawn, black - all of these shades contain white specks. But pets of these colors do not participate in exhibitions. The standard recognized only four colors: black, marbled blue, marbled red, red. As the dog grows, the coat darkens. Lips must be depigmented.
Size
When standing, a cocker boy reaches 41 cm at the withers, a girl – 39 cm, the maximum and minimum height of an English Cocker Spaniel is regulated by standards.
The weight of an English Cocker Spaniel does not exceed 14.5 kg. The size of the English Cocker Spaniel is compact, but it still needs space, as the dog is energetic and active.
Basic colors
- White . With this color, the coat should be pure white, without the slightest spots or specks.
- Black . The coat is black and there may be small white markings, for example on the chest or on the tips of the toes.
- Golden . Pale fawn shade with a pronounced yellowish sheen.
- Ginger . Bright and rich color, can be either fawn or reddish.
- Chocolate . Brown coat color with a characteristic reddish tint; this color is also often called liver or liver.
- Brown . Coat color can be any shade from milk chocolate to very dark, almost black.
- Beige . Resembling fawn, but cooler in color, with a grayish or coffee tint.
- Black and Tan . The main color of the coat is black, tan marks can be any shade of fawn or red.
- Brown and tan . On a brown background there is a tan of golden or red shades.
- Two-color . Depending on the amount of white, it can be piebald or spotted. With this color, there are colored markings of various sizes on a white background.
- Tricolor . This color, which is similar to a two-tone color, has tan in various shades of red or fawn.
- Roan . Dark and light hairs grow interspersed, resulting in the formation of a semblance of a patterned pattern. There are also often dark marks of varying sizes and shapes.
- Speckled . It differs from the roan in that the hairs do not form a chaotic pattern, but well-defined small speckled spots scattered over a white background.
Character of the English Cocker Spaniel
English cockers know their worth and are curious. Only one family member will be obeyed, who will be chosen as the owner - the rest of the family will not be pushed around. The dog respects not only its owner, but also its beloved. The dog tolerates children until they begin to cause him inconvenience. Spaniels are so smart that they can talentedly act like a fool, so it’s not always possible to force a pet to do something.
At home they get along with four-legged animals. He has a weakness for other pets, for example, birds - and not in a good way. It is better not to leave the hunter alone with the birds, otherwise instinct will work.
Cockers are phenomenal bloodhounds, they find lost objects even when there is no need to look for them. On the street, the dog will excavate the well-groomed flower beds of neighbors and sandboxes.
English dogs are the biggest party animals in the world, they are happy to have any communication and travel. Don't yawn while walking, otherwise your puppy will have no problem getting away from you on a bus or other public transport. Give your pet a ride in the car - he will appreciate it, and his face will catch the wind in the open window. The dog also loves music and will not miss the opportunity to sing along with his howls.
If you have a pet, then give it an outlet for its energy, otherwise life in the apartment will turn into hell. Outside in the heat, your four-legged friend will get tired quickly, and in winter, due to his thick double coat, he can walk for a long time.
The four-legged friends of this breed have an incredible thirst for water. If you don’t take your pet to a normal body of water, he will be content with a puddle. In warm seasons, pamper your cocker with a trip to the beach - many dogs relieve stress through swimming.
In general, the character of the English Cocker Spaniel is described as open, friendly, full of boundless energy and excitement.
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..
Education and training
You won't be able to force a cocker to do exercises unless you get him interested. Think about training in a playful way. It should not be long and without the same commands, otherwise the dog will quickly get bored. With proper training, you will not spend a lot of time raising a cocker puppy.
At three months, teach your puppy etiquette around strangers. If you don’t know how to stop your child from asking for food, then the method is simple - ignore the pitiful hungry look. Otherwise, respect for you will end. Is it possible to be tough and tyrant? No, either, maintain a middle ground between excessive lisp and screaming.
At four months they will try to dominate you and take a leadership position in the house. Don't let your puppy drag you on a leash. How to train him to wear a collar - wear it discreetly while playing or eating.
At eight months, it is time for your spaniel to become well-mannered and trained. Classes are needed regardless of whether you are a hunter or not. The call command is required to be trained. Choose one of the commands "Ugh!" and “You can’t!” Teach your dog not to be afraid of gunshots if you plan to go hunting with him.
In the same case, start by training wading birds from childhood and teach them to search for objects at four months. Hide the game and offer to find it. In the summer, try hunting ducklings. During warm seasons, even in spring, do not practice in the heat. And in the fall and winter, exercise in any adequate weather. Let the student do his chores and take a walk first.
For inexperienced dog breeders, raising and training an English Cocker Spaniel can create difficulties - in this case, you can contact an instructor. This will solve all the problems that have arisen.
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Cocker Spaniel Health and Diseases
Possible diseases
Dogs of this breed cannot avoid vaccinations as a means of preventing certain diseases.
The British are susceptible to eye diseases - cataracts, ectropion, urolithiasis, epilepsy, hepatitis, and deafness. If your tailed friend is inactive and lethargic, whines, suffers from shortness of breath, limps, and his face is sad, it’s time to find a competent veterinarian. If you suspect a fever, gently touch your pet's nose. A wet tip will indicate that the dog is healthy.
Obesity is a common disease in cockers, so do not overfeed your dog or subject it to physical activity - the dog will enjoy the exercise itself. Walking will eliminate the likelihood of hysterics that may occur in spaniels due to improper upbringing.
Reproductive health
The first heat of English cockers occurs late - between a year and a year and a half. But all the same, a bitch cannot be bred for the first estrus - this must be done upon reaching two years of age.
Mating is carried out under the supervision of the dogs' owners, since the bitch will need body support during the mating of the dogs. Mating is repeated after a few days.
The first birth in spaniel girls can be complicated, requiring a caesarean section - so it is advisable to invite a veterinarian to your home.
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.
Care and maintenance
Cockers love space, and this is not surprising. Look at the photo of your pet - what an energetic little creature he is. If possible, arrange frequent outings or walks for at least two hours a day - otherwise the pet’s unrealized energy will not manifest itself in the best way at home.
A long-haired breed should not be allowed to breed. Make it a habit to brush every other day, and daily when shedding. Buy a brush, a slicker brush, a tangle cutter and scissors. After your haircut, the spaniel should not look as if it has changed its image. Experienced owners advise cutting the hair between the toes, shortening the feathers on the paws, plucking the hair on the body and head - and nothing more.
To care for the coat of spaniels, they use a type of technique with fashionable names:
- 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).
Carry out washing once a week.
Frequent baths will cause dandruff and skin irritation. Trim your nails once every two weeks, otherwise they may become ingrown or damaged and fester. For the oral cavity, purchase brushes and pastes, bones from the pet store to remove plaque from the teeth.
Bad smell from the ears can occur due to poor air circulation - long, abundant hairs complicate ventilation and attract dirt. It is recommended to pluck the fur in the ears and clean the ears with cotton swabs and pads. Place a 3% peroxide solution in your ear and remove the wax after half a minute.
The maintenance and care of the English Cocker Spaniel must be of high quality and regular. Then the dog will not only look beautiful, but also remain healthy.
Tips for choosing a puppy
Funny English Cocker Spaniel puppies make you fall in love at first sight. For this purpose, dogs have an arsenal of cuteness - a smart face, a movable tail and friendliness. As the cocker grows older, it remains affectionate only with its loved ones.
A healthy puppy should have silky hair and a dense, well-fed body. Eyes and ears are clean, without discharge. The puppy can be taken from its mother in the first month of birth. Excessive volume and constant barking are not a very good sign, so decide for yourself whether to take a dog with a defect, even despite the reasonable price.
A hunter puppy's parents must have diplomas in game catching - a first-degree document is valued.
Choose trusted breeders, and watch videos and pictures of puppies before your trip. Learn about screening dogs for eye and other diseases.
Is he good with children and does he get along with other pets?
Being active, good-natured and friendly dogs that are not prone to aggression, Cocker Spaniels even get along well with small children and enjoy spending time playing with them.
NOTE!
It is important to remember that these dogs are jealous of their things, especially toys, so you should explain to the child that you cannot take them away from the dog.
These dogs are born hunters and it is impossible to wean them from this . They see birds, rodents and cats only as prey and will always chase them.
If raised correctly, cockers can get along with cats, but only if they grew up together.
How much does an English Cocker Spaniel puppy cost?
There is no fixed price - the cost using the RKF (Russian Cynological Federation) metric varies from 20,000 to 25,000 rubles.
Save money and buy a non-show breed with minor defects from the nursery for an amount from 12,000 to 18,000 rubles. Mestizos can be found cheaper - for a maximum of 8,000 rubles.
The price of an English Cocker Spaniel depends on the availability and number of vaccinations, the reputation of the kennels, pedigree, documents and the seller himself.
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Mating rules
To what age do cockers grow is individual for each dog. Males and females of the Cocker Spaniel breed mature at 8–9 months. This is also when the Cocker Spaniel's first heat occurs. But it is better to postpone mating until 1.5 years, when the animals are fully formed. It is advisable to untie girls after the 3rd heat.
How long the heat lasts depends on the particular bitch. On average it is up to 20 days. For successful fertilization, it is advisable to mate the bitch on the 11th – 13th day. After 24 hours, mating is repeated to increase the chances of pregnancy.
Mating does not always go smoothly. During it, bitches can show aggression towards the dog. It is advisable for the owner to hold the dog under the belly and by the head. The hair around the loop is trimmed to prevent the penis from getting tangled in it.
