English Cocker Spaniel

We elaborate about English Cocker Spaniel dog breed with English Cocker Spaniel temperament, training, appearance, weight, life spam and much more information about this breed.

English Cocker Spaniel Other names:

Cocker Spaniel

28 to 32 pounds.

Average life time

10-15 years

English Cocker Spaniel Appearance

The English Cocker Spaniel is a compact dog with small dimensions. However, they are larger and have shorter coats compared to their close cousins ​​the American Cocker Spaniel.

English Cocker Spaniel Temperament

They are smart, cheerful, affectionate, kind, funny, and love companionship. They are ideal pets for the family, being excellent with children and get along well with other animals. They have to be part of family life and are not suitable to be left alone in outdoor places. Nor should they be left alone in the house for long periods of time. Boredom and loneliness in an English Cocker Spaniel can lead to behavior problems such as excessive barking.

English Cocker Spaniel Training

The English Cocker Spaniel are complacent, intelligent and easy to train. They respond best with persistence and consistency when they are puppies. They are excellent with obedience and agility work. Don’t let those sad dark eyes fool you, English Cocker Spaniel are a happy tail wagging breed, but will try to manipulate you with their sad expression. As with all dog breeds, early socialization with people and animals is recommended.

Cleanliness

They need a lot of care . Medium length coat needs brushing and combing 3 times a week to keep it tangle free. It must be cut by a professional 2 to 3 times a year. Due to their long ears, the fur around them frequently gets dirty, mainly while eating, so these should be checked and cleaned regularly.

Exercise

Although they are small, it should not be forgotten that they are hunting dogs, so it is necessary to take regular moderate walks daily with time to run without a leash. They love to swim but care must be taken to ensure their safety, they love to chase and retrieve.

Health Problems

Very prone to ear infections: The ears should be cleaned every two weeks to avoid any kind of infection. The upper third of the ear must be shaved; To allow air to flow into the ear canal, especially during the summer, the ears must be carefully checked, hanging close to the ground, they can become a host for the ticks or seeds that often cause deafness.

Hip Malformation or Dysplasia: Results in a poor fit between the head of the femur bone and the acetabulum of the hip. This condition can be alleviated by surgery, although with consequences for dogs and owners since dogs with dysplasia usually produce puppies with the same condition. Buyers should ask if both the parent of the puppy they are interested in has been recently tested and is free of hip dysplasia. Don’t take yes for an answer without seeing a certificate and ask for a copy to take to your vet.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): It is a hereditary disease of the eye that has been identified in this breed. It is a term for the group of diseases that involve all the gradual deterioration of the retina leading to blindness. All English Cocker Spaniels, regardless of age or breeding status, should be examined annually by a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Chronic hepatitis is the diagnosis of several diseases associated with liver disease. Causes can include viruses, bacterial infection, and some medications. A predisposition to the development of chronic hepatitis exists in some breeds such as the English Cocker Spaniel. The first signs of liver disease may include loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, depression, lethargy, and or increased eating and urination. As the disease progresses, the more specific signs for liver failure appear and increase such as jaundice, clotting problems, extreme weight loss, and neurological disorders.

English Cocker Spaniel History

The English Cocker Spaniel is undoubtedly one of the oldest types of water dogs. Its origins date back to the 14th century in Spain, with the word “Spaniel”, which means “dog of Spain””. They were used for hunting and retrieving prey. From Spain, the dogs were transported, traded, given as gifts, or simply traveled with their masters to England.

Before the 1600s all types of Spaniels were classified together, the largest being used for spring hunting and the smallest for small game hunting such as redfish, hence the later development from which the names were derived. the Springer and Cocker. In 1892, the Kennel Club of Great Britain differentiated the two breeds separately. In the 1930s, the Cocker Spaniel was the most popular breed of dog in Britain and it remained there for almost 20 years.

The English Cocker arrived in the United States and Canada in the 1870s. During the 1920s and 1930s changes in the breed became more noticeable. Over time the breed has become “Americanized”, the head was reduced, the height of the dog shrunk by 1 to 2 inches and finally its weight was lighter, the coat became longer, silky and smooth. The “Americanized” Cocker Spaniel has been used as a family pet rather than a hunter’s helper. In 1940, the Kennel Club divided the Spaniel into the American Cocker and the English Cocker.