English Cocker Spaniel
Temperament:
The English Cocker Spaniel is an intelligent, cheerful and graceful contemporary. His lovable, mischievous nature will immediately inspire you. The little bundle of energy impresses with its open-minded, friendly and loyal nature. The animal is a hunting dog with a pronounced urge to move. Owners should absolutely fulfill this need.
The English Cocker Spaniel looks aesthetically pleasing and is eager to learn. His charming temperament distinguishes him. Because of these qualities, the dogs are reliable, loyal and sought-after family dogs.
Characteristics
Characteristic of dogs of the breed is their compact and harmonious physique. The English Cocker Spaniel has a height at the withers of 38 to 41 cm each. A healthy animal reaches a net weight between 12 and 15 kg. The life expectancy of the dog is on average 14 years.
A smooth, silky and matte shiny coat proves the good health condition. In addition, a balanced physique proves the health of the English Cocker Spaniel. Deep set, relatively long hanging ears characterize the appearance of the dog breed.
The English Cocker Spaniel belongs to the classification FCI 8. This classifies the animal as a retriever, retrieving and water dog. The Cocker's high need for activity requires a lot of time. The care of the animal is very elaborate and takes a lot of time. The education of the dog is accompanied by an average educational effort.
The English Cocker Spaniel is available in different colors. Unicolored animals may have white coloring on the chest according to the breed definition. The lovable four-legged friend needs daily varied employment to maintain health.
Take your Cocker on long walks through nature every day. Encourage your pet with special exercises. These actions increase the mental and physical health of the dog. Daily exercise is a must to maintain the health of your pet
If you do not occupy your animal sufficiently, the Cocker reacts stubbornly. If he does not like something in particular, he makes this clear through stubborn behavior. Fulfill your position as a dog owner conscientiously and consistently. Provide your pet with sufficient opportunities for mental and physical activity on a daily basis. The natural occupation and movement urge must be lived out.
You should exercise your dog one to two hours a day. Your cocker loves long walks in nature, swimming and retrieving exercises. You can take your faithful companion jogging or cycling. The little bundle of energy is grateful for any outdoor activity.
Since animals of the breed are relatively voracious dogs, they tend to gain weight. Counteract this development and prevent obesity of your four-legged friend. A high percentage of body fat endangers the health of the Cocker. A poor diet can cause diabetes and cardiovascular disease in dogs. Too little exercise also promotes the development of such diseases.
In the education, consistent action on your part has absolute priority. English Cocker Spaniels are basically to be classified as above average eager to learn. However, a half-hearted and inconsistent training style promotes the stubbornness of the animals. In your position as a dog owner, you should act consistently and follow rules. Your constant behavior emphasizes your position as a dog owner. Your pet will learn to take you seriously and respond to your instructions.
English Cocker Spaniel often develop diseases of the inner ear. Likewise, animals of this dog breed often suffer from genetic kidney disease.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
A high-quality diet lays the foundation for a healthy dog's life. Basically, many foods are toxic to dogs. You should never feed your cocker lightly.
Human food is not suitable for animal consumption. Your animal reacts to inappropriate food with gastrointestinal complaints or symptoms of poisoning. In extreme cases, special foods trigger life-threatening complications with fatal consequences.
Never feed raw pork. This can be a carrier of the Aujestzky virus, which is deadly for dogs. Special varieties of avocados are rich in the chemical compound persin. This substance destroys the heart muscle of the animal.
Likewise, chocolate and onions are poison for dogs. The ingredients of the onion damage the blood cells of the quadruped. The consumption of chocolate triggers symptoms of poisoning in your dog. Gastrointestinal complaints, muscle tremors and seizures are signs of such poisoning.
If you want to spoil your cocker, feed only high-quality food. In addition, give selected dog snacks. These treats expand the nutritional range of your four-legged friend.
Note certain factors to feed your dog optimally.
Your four-legged friend will stay healthy and cheerful if he receives high-quality food. His health condition depends on his diet. First-class fresh meat and high-quality dry or wet food are sufficient to perfectly nourish your adult pet.
When choosing ready-made food, you should pay attention to quality. The food must not contain chemical additives, colorants, flavorings, preservatives or artificial sugars. Selected bones in premium quality serve as a treat and for dental care.
The age of your pet is critical to its diet. A Cocker puppy should be fed primarily on its mother's milk as its main source of nutrition. If the puppy is older than three months, you can supplement the diet with premium wet food. Make sure that the wet food has a high protein content. The high protein content guarantees easy digestibility.
The English Cocker Spaniel is one of the medium-sized dog breeds. Provide young animals with puppy food rich in vitamins and minerals. The food should contain beta-carotene, vitamin E and antioxidants.
To strengthen the immune system, your Cocker should regularly consume omega-3 fatty acids. These have an anti-inflammatory effect and stop the body's own inflammatory reactions. In addition, the polyunsaturated fats promote coat health. A regular supply of omega-3 fatty acids ensures a vital coat.
Feed your dog once a day. Give the food within an identical time window each time to establish solid structures.
Pregnant and lactating animals need food several times a day. The food serves to compensate for increased energy needs of bitches. At the same time, the food boosts milk production in lactating dogs. Remove the bowl after 30 minutes, regardless of whether your animal has eaten up or not. By doing this, you train your dog to eat quickly.
English Cocker Spaniel Care
Your pet requires extensive grooming. Ideally, you should brush the coat of the four-legged friend daily. At the same time, check your pet for possible tick and parasite infestations. After each walk, remove any foreign bodies from the coat. Brush out sticks and plant debris and remove vermin.
Regularly trim the hair on your dog's ear canal and paws. Thoroughly check the condition of the ears and ear canal. Clean these areas at least once a week. Avoid using cotton swabs to clean the sensitive ear canal. Use only a special rinsing solution for this purpose.
If your dog's coat is excessively dirty, use a medicated dog bath. This gently frees the animal from its dirt. The coat together with the subcutis serves as a natural protective barrier. It protects the Cocker from wetness, dirt and pathogens. Do not destroy this natural protective coat by excessive washing or bathing.
In principle, the rule of thumb applies in this context: "as often as necessary and in as small a dose as possible". You should brush out minor soiling. Alternatively, the coat can be cleaned with a mild dry dog shampoo.
Additionally, concentrate on the proper oral and dental care of your Cocker. To do this, brush your pet's teeth at regular intervals. Veterinarians recommend brushing your dog's teeth every other day. Do not use classic toothpaste or toothbrushes for this purpose. Do not use products for your dog's oral hygiene that humans use. Ask your veterinarian about suitable products.
Offer your dog bones, chews for dental care and special dental care toys for oral hygiene. Through these measures you promote the oral health of the dog. For improved dental hygiene, you can use dental care chewing strips. These products are available from your veterinarian. Ask for them during your next visit.
In this way, you prevent the development of caries, paradentosis and inflammation in the oral cavity. Such diseases fuel inflammatory reactions throughout the dog's body.
Suitable accessories
For activation and occupation, buy toys for employment, intelligence and water. Balls, Frisbees, food mazes and dental care accessories should complete your equipment.
Dog snacks, dental care chews and ear cleaning solution are staples of your kit. Combs, brushes and medicated dog baths are also important accessories.
A tick removal kit should be part of your standard equipment. Such a kit is important because tick removal reduces your dog's risk of infection. Treat your pet only with medical preparations for dog care.
Products intended for humans are harmful to your four-legged friend's health.
Origin & History
Since the calendar year 1892, the dog breed is recognized as a separate species. The English Kennel Club included the species in the classification of dog breeds. Historical records prove that dogs of this breed were used as hunting dogs as early as the 14th century.
Until the Second World War, the dog was mainly used as a retriever. After the end of the war, the English Cocker Spaniel advanced to a popular family and companion dog.
The English Cocker Spaniel is a descendant of the medieval gundog. The British originally used this dog to track woodcock. Since 1892, the English Cocker Spaniel has been distinguished from the other Spaniel breeds.
Currently, there are two lines of the dog breed. Animals of one line are bred as hunting dogs. The other breeding form strives for perfect aesthetics of the dogs. Both breeding lines show differences in their respective body shape or stature.
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