The English Cocker Spaniel is a very intelligent, playful and sociable dog. He feels very attached to his human family and needs to always be with his family to feel good, otherwise he could suffer from separation anxiety. This does not mean that they can never be left alone, but if you do not have much time to spend with them, it is better that you adopt another type of pet. Formerly they were used as hunting dogs for different prey depending on their size. Its main function was to lift the woodcock.
In this breed file on our site, we are going to explain all the information you need to know about the English Cocker Spaniel, characteristics, care and he alth, among other.
Origin of the English Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels were once separate breeds from the Field and Springer Spaniels, after the formation of the Kennel Club. At first it was known as "cocking spaniel" deriving from "flushing woodcock". The name derives from the old French, " spaigneul ", which literally means "Spanish dog", since the original breed came from Spain, the country where it was used as a hunter and collector. The cocker spaniels arrived in England from the hands of Spanish owners and the enormous popularity they acquired can be seen in numerous references in English literature, such as in works by Sheakespeare or Chaucer.
This breed has been very marked by hunting Although in the past they were used for different types of prey depending on their size, no distinction was made by races. Thus, in the same litter of land spaniels, large dogs (more used to hunt mammals) and small dogs (more used to hunt birds) could be born. Consequently, the dogs we know today as the Cocker Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, and Sussex Spaniel were all in one group.
It was only at the end of the 19th century that these breeds were separated and the cocker spaniel was first officially recognized. Its main function as a hunting dog was, and still is, to raise the woodcock or gallinuela.
The English Cocker Spaniel became very popular in Great Britain, its homeland, and in the rest of Europe. It was then exported to the United States of America where it also became very popular, but American breeders decided to modify thebreed to achieve a slightly different appearance.
Logically, the British dog lovers opposed the changes made by the Americans and decided to ban crosses between the original breed and the American variety. Thus, the two varieties were separated into two different breeds, the American Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel.
The American Cocker became extremely popular in his country, displacing the English. However, the American version of the breed is little known in the rest of the world, while the English Cocker Spaniel is very popular and appreciated Today, we can discover small differences between the breed destined for "work" and that for "beauty", as occurs with the German shepherd dog.
Physical Characteristics of the English Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel is a compact, sporty and athletic dog. Its head is well modeled without being very fine or coarse, in addition, the naso-frontal depression (stop) is well marked. On the other hand, the nose is wide and the snout is square.
Other of the most outstanding characteristics of the cocker spaniel are:
- Eyes are brown: except in dogs with full or part liver-coloured fur, in which the eyes may be hazel.
- The ears are long: set low and hanging.
- The English Cocker Spaniel's body is strong and compact: The topline is firm and horizontal to the loin. From the back to the insertion of the tail, it descends gently. The chest is well developed and deep, but neither too wide nor too narrow.
- The tail is set low, slightly curved and of moderate length: it was formerly amputated to reduce injuries during hunting days. Today, however, most of these dogs are family companions, so there is no reason for the practice. In many places the tail is still amputated for purely aesthetic purposes, but fortunately this custom is less and less accepted.
The coat is smooth, silky, not very profuse and never curly. Four color varieties are accepted by the breed standard:
- Solid Colors: Black, Red, Gold, Liver, Black & Tan, Liver & Tan. Cocker Spaniels may have a small white marking on the chest.
- Particolores: black and white, orange and white, liver and white, lemon and white. All with or without mottling.
- Tricolores: black, white and tan; liver, white and tan.
- Roans: Blue Roan, Orange Roan, Lemon Roan, Liver Roan, Blue Roan and Tan, Liver Roan and Tan.
English Cocker Spaniel character
It is important to highlight that the character of each dog is unique and although certain global characteristics that have been observed in the breed can be mentioned, each individual has its own temperament. The character of the English cocker spaniel is usually sweet and cuddly with their relatives. On the contrary, he tends to be somewhat distant with unknown people. It is a dog attached to its humans, because it loves spending time with them. Also, he is very faithful and caring
It is also a breed Happy, active and with a strong personality, especially playful and nervous, which will fit perfectly in an active family, who can offer him the affection he demands. His quiet attitude is often surprising compared to his energetic lifestyle, but the truth is that the character of this dog makes anyone who meets him fall in love.
The most common Behavior problems of the English Cocker Spaniel are Destructiveness, chasing small animals or aggressiveness. Generally, these problems appear when the dog is not properly socialized, when it is not stimulated mentally or physically, or when there is a social conflict between it and its relatives.
English Cocker Spaniel Care
The English Cocker Spaniel needs different care. For this reason, it is important to be aware of the following indications of the care of the cocker spaniel in order to give him the best life.
- Feeding: This is one of the most important cares for the English Cocker Spaniel, since its hair is 95% composed of of proteins. For this reason, the cocker spaniel's diet should be based on proteins, fats, minerals, fatty acids and vitamins In addition, being a breed with digestive problems, when they are puppies we have to take into account that they eat rather little. When they are already one year old, their diet must change when they are considered adults. Cocker spaniels over 1 year old eat specific feed for their breed, in addition to canned wet food, for example.
- Exercise: it will be necessary to take between 2 and 3 daily walks, but including daily physical exercise to keep your muscles fit and help you release stress. It may be a good idea to participate in dog sports, but the truth is that with an hour of games and fun we will have enough to make our English cocker spaniel happy. Finally, we recommend practicing smell games and exercises with this breed, which allow it to feel stimulated.
- Grooming: we must brush the dog's coat three times a weekand manually remove dead hair every two or three months, although we can also go to a dog groomer. The bath can be done monthly or every two months , depending on the accumulated dirt. A detail to take into account will be the inspection of the ears, which precisely because of their shape can easily accumulate dirt, favoring the appearance of mites. We must clean them with the appropriate frequency using a sterile gauze.
Now that you know what the care of the English Cocker Spaniel is, let's find out what is the education and level of training with this breed.
English Cocker Spaniel Education
The English Cocker Spaniel is an intelligent dog and if we work using positive trainingwe will be able to develop the full potential of the dog, whether in basic or advanced training. We will start by highlighting the importance of the correct socialization of this dog which will start from his arrival home in his puppy stage.
We must introduce you to all kinds of people, animals, objects and environments. In this way, when they reach their adult stage, the cocker spaniel will not have behavioral problems such as fear or aggressiveness. Socialization is not usually complicated in this breed, since the English Cocker Spaniel is a sociable dog by nature
Despite his sociable temperament, the English Cocker can become a destructive dog if we spend too much time away from home or do not stimulate him as required, so it is important to take into account before the adoption that this breed will need company and frequent activity.
It will be essential to teach our cocker the basic commands for dogs, essential for his safety and that of his environment, but later we can work on canine skills or various tricks. The important thing is to keep our cocker spaniel dog entertained with new exercises that will also help him in his day to day.
English Cocker Spaniel He alth
As with virtually all breeds, especially those with pedigrees, the English Cocker Spaniel is susceptible to several hereditary diseases. Deafness, for example, is a major problem in cockers. Among the most frequent diseases of the English Cocker Spaniel we find:
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Waterfalls
- Glaucoma
- Hip dysplasia
- Familial kidney disease
- Cardiomyopathies
It is important to make regular visits to the vet, every 6 or 12 months, to detect any of these he alth problems early. It will also be very necessary to correctly follow the dog's vaccination schedule, as well as regular deworming, both internal and external. Remember that the life expectancy of the English Cocker Spaniel is around 12 and 15 years
Where to adopt an English Cocker Spaniel?
English cocker spaniel dogs are among the most entertaining and fun, and we will learn many things from them. If after reading this article you are considering adopting a cocker spaniel, the best idea is to visit or try to contact clubs that have the breed orcanine society On the other hand, you can also approach a protector or shelter that is close to where you live, since perhaps there is an English cocker spaniel specimen that has been abandoned by the family with which it lived and is now looking for a second chance.
