English Cocker Spaniel - Creature Companion

 English cocker spaniels, intelligent and naturally curious, are small hunting dogs that have been bred to retrieve and flush game. This medium-sized breed is a great choice for family pets. They are friendly and easy to care for. Find out more about the temperament, size, colors and sizes of English cocker spaniel here.

Lady and the Tramp. The White House pets. That mischievous Coppertone sunscreen dog. For decades, English cocker spaniels were some of the most loved and most well-known faces in advertising and media. It's easy to understand why. Their expressive eyes and doe-like ears make them hard to resist.

English cockers can be more than a pretty face. The breeding of this breed is rooted in North England's hunting fields. The English cocker spaniel, a loyal, intelligent, and athletic dog, is an affectionate, friendly, and playful breed.

Appearance

English cocker spaniels can be a little smaller than springer spaniels. Males reach 16-17 inches in height and weigh 28-34 pounds while females are around 15-16 inches and weigh 26-32 pounds.

English cockers are squarish with dark-colored eyes and a long, square nose. They also have pendant ears. The silky, soft coats of English cockers are long and thick with feathering at the ends. Show dogs and family pets will have their hair cut shorter than working dogs. English cocker spaniels most often come in color combinations that include black, red, liver, and tan.

If left alone, an English cocker's tail can grow to 8-9 inches. It's common for centuries that a hunting dog spends time in thick underbrush to have their tails docked to around 4 inches. This is to prevent injury and to keep them safe while working. Especially for family dogs, docking is often not necessary and sometimes skipped.

Health

Although English Cockers are healthy in general, some health issues can occur as well. Although not all English Cockers will be affected by these diseases, it is important to be aware of the potential dangers for this breed.

Find a reliable breeder to show you the health clearances of your puppy's parents. A dog's health clearances show that it has been cleared and tested for a specific condition.

English Cockers should receive health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. They will be able to provide certificates of normal eyesight from Auburn University for thrombopathia and the Canine Eye Registry Foundation. Check the OFA website (offa.org) to confirm that health clearances have been obtained.

·        Eye problems: Cockers can develop a number of eye conditions, including Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), which is a degenerative condition of the retinal visual cell that leads to blindness. Cataracts are cloudy films that form over the eyes. Glaucoma, where pressure builds up in the eyeball, and other eye abnormalities. You should take your Cocker to the vet if you see any redness or rubbing of his eyes.

·        Hip Dysplasia: There are many factors that can cause this hip deformity, such as genetics, diet, and environment. Although affected Cockers can live normal, healthy lives with minimal restrictions, you should be careful to not let them overdo it. Your Cocker may need hip replacement surgery in severe cases to be able to move around more easily.

·        Renal Failure: Kidney failure at young ages (between 9 and 24 months old) is a common condition. It can also occur occasionally and is thought that it can be inherited.

·        Congenital Sensorineural Decayness: This condition is only found in particolored English Cockers. Affected puppies are born with the condition. It causes degeneration of their hearing and eventually leads to deafness at 4 weeks. A few English Cocker breeders have begun to test their dogs for deafness prior to breeding them.

·        Dilated cardiomyopathy: A condition in which the heart muscle becomes too distended. This appears to be a problem with mainly solid-colored English Cockers. You may notice weight loss, weakness and abdominal distention. Echocardiography and x-rays are used to diagnose the condition.

Care

English Cocker Spaniel can adapt to any environment and can live in apartments as long as they get daily exercise. This breed is very active and will enjoy long walks, games with fetch, or other sports like agility or flyball.

Different exercise requirements are different for puppies. Puppy kindergarten is an excellent way to help your puppy get some exercise, training, and socialization. It can be held once or twice per week for puppies aged 9 to 4 months. Toss a ball for them.

Weekly obedience classes, daily half-mile walks, and playtime in the yard will be available for children aged 4-6 months. Play fetch with a ball from 6 months to one year old. Limit walks to one-half mile.

Your English Cocker puppy can start to jog along with you after a year. Keep the distance to less than a mile, and give him breaks as necessary. You can increase the distance you run and the time that you run as he matures. This will help protect his bones and joints.

Your English Cocker will learn quickly if you are patient. The spaniel temperament is sensitive and he won't take to harshness. Use positive reinforcement methods such as food rewards and praise. play is also a good option. You'll be amazed at his ability to learn quickly if you keep training fun and consistent.

English Cockers, like all dogs, have a playful side. They are also chowhounds. Especially during their curious puppy phase, keep food and garbage out reach. A crate can be a great way for your English Cocker to keep them from getting into trouble if you aren't there to supervise.

 

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