Cocker spaniel breed characteristics and content. English Cocker Spaniel: description of the breed. The difference between the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel

Upturned nose, long ears with curls and a shaggy forelock hide behind them a serious hunting breed. The American Cocker Spaniel has excellent scent and has been used for hunting game birds for several decades.

Origin story

The American Cocker Spaniel was bred in the USA. In which specific state, and what breeds were used for crossing, reliable information has not been preserved. It is known that the breed was officially recognized in 1880, and in just a few decades it spread throughout the world. The dog was used as a hunting dog; the spaniel copes especially well with birds: duck, wood grouse, guinea fowl. The dog retrieves killed game from any pond or bush.

Description of the American Cocker Spaniel

In contrast, the American Spaniel has a stocky exterior. The fur on the paws, ears and top of the head is longer and thicker. The dog is a hyperactive breed, and many breeders compare it to a wind-up toy powered by Energizer batteries. The American Cocker Spaniel loves active entertainment and eagerly takes part in ball games or catch-up games. But, despite the excessive activity, the breed is balanced and responds well to any changes. Thick coat and soft undercoat protect the dog from frost in winter and from humidity in summer. But the American Cocker Spaniel is not suitable for outdoor living, as the breed is prone to diseases of the respiratory system. Drafts and cold winds can cause pneumonia and colds.

Breed standard (appearance)

The description of the breed must correspond to the exterior:

Body. Compact, muscular.
Paws. Straight, but not short, with dry muscular system. The paws are dense, the pads are developed, the claws are long. The color of the claws matches the color of the coat, but is often black. The paws are entirely covered with long fluffy hair.
Back. Straight, wide, without sagging.
Head. Round with a wide forehead and a pronounced transition to the muzzle. On top of the head there is a curly forelock of thick wool.
Muzzle. Not long, the bridge of the nose is slightly raised upward. The transition from the muzzle to the forehead forms an angle of 90 degrees.
Nose. Lobe round shape, from light liver to black, depending on the color of the dog.
Eyes. Almond-shaped, shallowly set, but not convex.
Bite. Standard, scissor-shaped.
Ears. Round in shape, hanging, covered with long and thick hair on top. They widen towards the base. According to the standard, the tip of the ear should reach the nose, but with the skin, not the fur. The ears are low set.
Tail. Thick, saber-shaped, covered long hair. Previously, according to the standard, the tail of the American Cocker Spaniel was docked. This made it easier to move around hunting breed while working through bushes and tall grass. Nowadays, spaniels are more often used as a companion, and the tail may not be docked.
Color. Any standard. Dominant colors: black, chocolate or brown, fawn. The light cream American Cocker Spaniel with brown markings looks unusual.
Wool. On the back it is hard, on the paws, chest, belly, ears it is long, soft and straight.
Size. An adult male at the withers can reach 39.4 cm, a female up to 36.8 cm.
Weight. An adult spaniel weighs up to 12 kg.

Character of the American Cocker Spaniel

The American Cocker Spaniel differs little from other active breeds. The following character traits are highlighted:

The Cocker adores his owner and is attached to any member of the family. Loves children and will enjoy spending time with them;
A mobile dog that finds it difficult to sit in one place. Without a release of energy, the dog will come up with an activity for itself. The apartment will turn into a kind of sports ground;
cannot stand loneliness. During a long wait, the owners may damage their property: chew slippers, carpet, furniture;
loves to chase birds while walking. The hunting instinct is better developed than others, and the dog will chase birds, while the owner cannot influence the animal;
does not like drafts and often catches colds, so he prefers to sleep in a chair or in a bed with the owner;
The breed is active and needs daily walks. The dog must be unleashed, the minimum walking time is 2 hours;
The dog loves water, so in the summer, walks are chosen closer to open water. Swimming is the best exercise for a spaniel;
Treat other pets well. He will sleep with a cat or dog, feeling like one pack.
The American Cocker Spaniel rarely barks, only vocalizing when chasing game;
the breed is not a guard breed and does not know how to protect the house or owner;
treats strangers with caution, but quickly makes contact and good attitude begins to trust the person. Bites in rare cases, expresses dissatisfaction with a growl;
breed refers to sports type, so she needs exercise: running, jumping, swimming;
The American Cocker Spaniel is a very sensitive breed. The dog reacts to any changes in the owner’s behavior.

Caring for an American Cocker

The American Cocker Spaniel is a whimsical breed. The dog has long and thick hair, so the animal needs constant care. To make the dog feel comfortable, the following rules are followed:

The dog needs to be washed with special shampoos and conditioners approximately once a week.
You only need to comb it after washing with conditioner. Under no circumstances should you scratch dry fur every day!
After combing the paws, ears and chest, dry them with a hairdryer. Excessive moisture provokes the development of bacterial skin lesions.
In the summer and before exhibitions, the wool is lightly powdered with baby talcum powder. It will collect excess moisture and prevent the wool from tangling into unsightly strands.
The dog's nails are trimmed once every two weeks. In the summer, the procedure is carried out less frequently, as the claws wear off on asphalt and concrete.
The fur between the pads is clipped as it collects debris and creates a favorable environment for bacteria to grow.
The ears are wiped once a week with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol solution boric acid.
The eyes are treated once every two days, mucus, dust and dirt are removed. It is easier to clean your eyes with a damp cotton pad and chamomile infusion.
It is necessary to cut the dog with early age. The fur on the paws, ears and chest is evened out. The hair on the back is shorter and coarser; it requires regular brushing.
The dog is given a separate place in the house. The bed is placed away from drafts. For the American Cocker, separate narrowed bowls are purchased that will protect the dog's ears while eating.

Read:

Breed health

Puppies are separated from the mother's breast at 1–1.5 months. Up to a year old, a puppy is susceptible to various viral and bacterial diseases. The first vaccinations are given before the cocker's baby teeth change. Initially, the dog is vaccinated against plague and enteritis. You can use mono grafting. But complex preparations will reduce the risk of infection, since vaccines against plague, hepatitis, enteritis, leptospirosis, and adenovirus can be combined in one ampoule. Rabies is vaccinated separately, closer to the animal’s year. The puppy requires vaccination and revaccination at intervals of no more than 3 weeks. More the exact date re-vaccination will tell veterinarian after the first vaccination.

The American Cocker Spaniel is susceptible to the following diseases:

Otitis. Ear inflammation can be avoided if treated in a timely manner and using antiseptics.
Cataracts, conjunctivitis and other eye diseases. Treat with special drops and antibiotics.
Pneumonia, bronchitis. The dog should not be overcooled or lie in drafts.
Allergic reaction. Mainly related to food.

Life expectancy depends on genetic predisposition, nutrition and animal care. On average, the life expectancy of the breed is up to 13 years.

Puppy training

You need to start training your puppy immediately after he gets used to his name. The dog learns basic commands: sit, place, fu, lie down, come to me, next to me, walk. Training takes place in a playful way, otherwise active dog loses interest in learning and asks to run.

During training, the dog is rewarded with special treats. Spaniels are not suitable for human biscuits or sausages, as the breed is predisposed to food allergies.

To train your dog, you will need a leash, collar or harness. Mini representatives of the breed are led on a harness so as not to rub off the fur on the neck. For spaniels, a basic training course is sufficient. The guard course is not suitable for the breed. To learn hunting skills, the owner takes the animal into the forest along with experienced dogs.

Feeding

The American Cocker Spaniel often suffers from indigestion and is prone to obesity. Food allergies also makes its own adjustments to the diet, so it’s easier to use specialized dry food for feeding: Royal Canin Cocker Adult, Go Sensitivity + Shine Turkey Dog Recipe, Brit Care. Suitable for any brand small breeds with sensitive digestion and a tendency to allergies.

Mixed feeding is also allowed. Natural products added to the diet:

fermented milk: cottage cheese, kefir, low-fat sour cream;
lean meat: beef, turkey, rabbit;
cereals: rice, buckwheat, rolled oats;
quail eggs, no more than 1 per day;
seafood without bones and shells.

If the dog’s diet consists only of natural food, then it is supplemented with vitamin complexes. The following vitamins are suitable for a spaniel: Hokamix 30, Beaphar Duo Active.

Video

Photo

The photo shows a black and white American Cocker Spaniel. Black and curly ears make the dog attractive.

A red cocker with a mischievous curly forelock looks cute.

The chocolate color of the puppies makes them look more like little bear cubs.

The English Cocker Spaniel comes in a variety of colors, but first let's talk about the coat. As a natural hunter, he must have a high-quality and thick coat that protects from bad weather and winds.

Centuries ago, wool served exclusively protective function, but in recent years more and more attention has been paid to spaniel colors.

Genetic modifications of flowers and competent selection have led to the emergence of a wide palette, ranging from classic black to blue, piebald, and roan. Thanks to this, the owner can truly choose a pet “for every taste and color,” and with proper breeding, he can also get puppies of a certain color.

Coat Standards for the English Cocker Spaniel

When choosing a quality puppy for breeding or exhibition, be sure to pay attention to the structure of the coat. It differs from wool standards.

The standard requires the English Cocker to have a straight, shiny and silky coat. It should also be soft and moderately thick. The presence of curls, curls and curly waves is not welcome.

A cheerful and energetic, passionate hunter, an intelligent and cheerful companion who loves to be the center of attention and will not let you or your friends get bored - this is him, the English Cocker Spaniel.

The English Cocker Spaniel is a small dog with well-developed muscles. Rib cage wide, legs straight, middle length, strong.

Height at withers: males 39-41 cm, females 37-39 cm
Weight: 12.5-14.5 kg

Color: chocolate, black, gold, red, possible presence of tan marks. On the chest it is allowed to have white spot. There are two-color (black and white, lemon and white, chocolate and white, red and white with or without markings) or tri-color (black and white or chocolate and white with tan) spaniels. The common color is roan (roan-blue, chocolate-roan, roan-red, possible presence of tan marks).

The dog's body is covered with soft, smooth, silky hair. On hind legs The hair forms “pants” and is short on the face and paws. The length of the ears is continued by the long, straight coat.
The nose is black, chocolate color is allowed if the coat color is chocolate or white-chocolate.
The ears are long, drooping, low-set - “ business card» spaniel.
The tail is docked or naturally shaped and carried below the level of the back when the dog moves.
The eyes are expressive, large, with a smart and at the same time playful expression.
Eye color varies depending on coat color: brown, dark brown, hazel.

For clarity, we will show the differences in the exterior of English and.

History and description of the breed

The homeland of the English Cocker Spaniel is England, although its ancestors were brought from Spain - hence the name “spaniel”. But there are also opponents of this theory, who claim that cockers appeared in England, and Spain has nothing to do with it. The second part of the breed’s name is “cocker”, translated from English as “woodcock”.

Possessing a keen sense of smell, quickly moving through thickets and skillfully spooking game, spaniels have won the attention and love of hunters. They were used in falconry hunting game with a net- the dog crawled close to the bird and lay down, the falcon did not allow the bird to fly, and the hunter covered the cocker and the game with a net. Spaniels are excellent swimmers and they pull wounded birds out of the water, and therefore suitable for gun hunting.

Purposeful selection began in the 19th century, by which time two types of spaniels had emerged: springers and cockers. The ancestor of the English cockers is considered to be a dog named About. The first exhibition at which the breed was demonstrated took place in 1859. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognized the English Cocker Spaniel as a breed in 1974.

It is interesting that in the first years of the breed’s existence, only dogs weighing up to 11 kg were recognized as purebred; over time, the standard changed.

Character and temperament

The English Cocker is an energizer whose tail wags non-stop. He loves to be the center of attention, is sociable and dependent on people. It is not recommended to leave dogs alone - loneliness is fraught with disturbances in the psycho-emotional state and the appearance of behavioral problems.

good hunter;
brave and resilient;
playful;
smart;
affectionate and devoted;
distrustful of strangers.

overly active;
easy to spoil;
prone to loud barking.

English cocker spaniel and man

This is a tireless hunter, wonderful friend and companion. He is devoted to his owner and is ready to follow him to the ends of the earth. Thanks to its compact size and easy care, the Englishman feels good and in a country house, And in a city apartment in the presence of active walks, activities, communication with the owner. It is not advisable for older people and those who do not like active recreation to have a spaniel.

The spaniel cannot act as a full-fledged guard, but it makes a good “bell” - this breed is prone to barking loudly with or without reason, and will warn you of the approach of a suspicious stranger.

It's tireless friend for children. He is patient with little ones and will not bite a child. The main thing is to ensure that children do not torture the dog. The cocker is “for anything except a hunger strike” and happily joins in outdoor games with children - catching up, fetching the ball, hide and seek.

He is patient with other pets, but can also get into conflict with a cat or other dog.

Choosing a nickname

Focus on the characters of your favorite films and books, pay attention to the dog’s color, its behavior, and the name will appear by itself. If your pet's destiny is to hunt, then choose a short and sonorous name so that you can easily pronounce it in the forest.

Nicknames for males: Ringo, Jack, Jingle, Bobby, Phil, Lucky.
Nicknames for bitches: Belka, Vaxa, Mary, Vita, Greta, Lady.

An Englishman doesn’t need a lot of space to live, so he lives comfortably even in a small one-room apartment. The main condition for keeping a dog is constant communication with a person, and therefore keeping a spaniel not allowed in the enclosure. In addition, living on the street is contraindicated for him: in the cold season he will freeze and catch a cold.

If the cocker does not realize his seething energy, chewed furniture and howling under the door are guaranteed.

Walk need a dog at least 2 times a day, it wouldn’t hurt to make one walk 2 hours long and include jogging. Use your pet’s sharp mind and hunting instincts in sports competitions, which he will be delighted to attend. Obedience, agility, freestyle - he has no equal here. If you can visit bodies of water during the warm season, you will make your dog happy - the love of swimming among cockers is inherited.

Feeding

The dog is active and needs food high-calorie. The diet should contain lean meat (beef, horse meat), boiled offal (heart, lungs, liver), fish taken from the bones (cod). It is useful to add vegetables (carrots, cucumbers), herbs and fruits, except citrus fruits, to the bowl. A cocker will not refuse buckwheat or oatmeal, but still the majority of the portion should be meat. Periodically treat your pet with cottage cheese or kefir.

The portion of a working or sports dog should replenish the energy expended, and therefore it should be increased compared to the portion of a companion dog.

If you feed your pet dry food, do not mix it with natural food– this will harm the pet’s health. Food is offered 2 times a day.

Grooming and cutting

Wool requires regular brushing with a soft brush, otherwise it will get tangled and you will get tangles. Bath the dog as it gets dirty, but at least 3-4 times a year. The hair in the area of the paw pads and between the toes is trimmed. Dogs are also shorn/trimmed before the show. Grooming an animal is a responsible matter, entrust it to a professional.

Ears should be cleaned periodically with a cotton swab to avoid wax buildup and disease.

The eyes are wiped as necessary with a cotton swab soaked in tea solution, and the claws are cut if they do not grind off naturally.

Training and education

English cockers have high intelligence, and training them is a pleasure. They are ready to serve the owner, so even a beginner can raise a dog.

It is better to organize training in the form of games Using positive reinforcement, harshness is only acceptable in minimal amounts (not to be confused with cruelty), as these dogs tend to be dominant.

Nataska hunting spaniel It will be useful not only for hunting, but also for participation in hunting competitions. Full training begins when the puppy turns 6-8 months. But there are also exercises that are practiced when the puppy is still small. To begin with, the dog’s ability to catch odors is developed using the upper sense.

Description of the exercise: place a piece of treat at a height of up to 1.5 m and give the dog a command "seek".

The training lasts one hunting season. During this time, the dog learns to find and pick up game, and after that, not to chase and lie down, giving the hunter the opportunity to shoot. After the shot, the dog goes for the game carcass and brings it to the owner.

Health and life expectancy

Representatives of the breed live 12-15 years.

English cockers are gentle dogs, although they have strong immunity. They are susceptible to the following diseases:

eye diseases (cataracts, conjunctivitis, glaucoma, entropion, retinal atrophy);
otitis;
urolithiasis disease;
food allergies;
hip dysplasia;
hypothyroidism;
hepatitis.

Despite the fact that the official history of the breed begins in the 19th century, residents of Great Britain became acquainted with its representatives much earlier. Well, to be more precise, all English cockers are descended from spaniels that have lived on the shores of Foggy Albion since time immemorial. Scientists have ranked the spaniels themselves among the relatives of the ancient ash dogs that accompanied man during the Bronze Age. Although some experts still consider the Mediterranean coast to be the homeland of animals, citing as evidence the Old French name of the breed “espaigneul”, that is, literally, a Spanish dog. However, be that as it may, the ancestors of cockers in England took root and even began to participate in crossbreeding experiments, which led to the stratification of this dog tribe.

By nature, all spaniels are good pursuers of feathered game. However, in the 19th century hunting qualities dogs underwent a large-scale “upgrade” by breeders, as a result of which the spaniel genus split into two distinct families. Large individuals, the so-called field spaniels, whose weight exceeded 11 kg, began to compete with their lighter counterparts - the ancestors of today's cockers. By the way, the British Esquires themselves preferred to go hunting for game birds with more massive dogs, leaving the cocker spaniels to hunt woodcocks, which gave the animals a start in life.

1893 is the year of official recognition of the English Cocker Spaniel breed and its final separation from the Field Spaniel clan. At first, the weight of dogs was strictly regulated by the standard, which somewhat hampered their breeding. But when restrictions were lifted, British nurseries were able to catch up in just a few years. The breed was imported to Russia several times, but it did not arouse great enthusiasm among both breeders and ordinary people. As a result, the full-fledged breeding of English cocker spaniels in our country began very late, approximately in the mid-70s.

An interesting fact: British breeders claim that the word “cocker” in the name of the breed is a shortened form of the English “woodcock”.

Video: English Cocker Spaniel

Appearance of an English Cocker Spaniel

Although the English cocker is inferior in appearance to his glamorous American “cousin,” he does not look like a poor relative compared to him. In general, the “English” are larger than the “American” (the average weight of an adult male is 13-14.5 kg) and are a centimeter or two higher at the withers. At the same time, they have a completely harmonious physique. The dog looks especially graceful in motion, and it doesn’t matter at all whether it’s rushing across the field after prey or just trying to catch a Frisbee disc.

Head

The English Cocker Spaniel has a normal, not wide and moderately short skull. The muzzle is proportional, square, with a raised stop.

Jaws

Massive, with a classic type of bite (“scissors”).

Nose

The exceptional sense of smell of English Cocker Spaniels is ensured by their fleshy nose with wide, open nostrils.

Eyes

Large, without noticeable bulge, dark brown or brown in color. Dogs with chocolate coats typically have nutty irises.

Ears

Long, oval, low set. Covered with soft, silky hair. Ear type: hanging.

Neck

The neck of a correct English Cocker should not be very long, strong, muscular and without folds.

Frame

Purebred representatives of the breed have a strong body of compact size. The back of the English Cocker Spaniel is straight, without a hint of sagging. The croup is massive, but short. The chest is moderately deep and spacious, but without noticeable convexity or barrel-shape.

Limbs

The ideal option is to have strong, straight and not overly elongated legs. The shoulders and knees of this breed are well bent, which makes the dog's movements freer, and the reach of the front limbs greater. The elastic push of the English Cocker is provided by good angles of the articulations of the metatarsus and hock joint. The animal's paws are rounded, with toes tightly adjacent to each other and elastic pads.

Tail

The tail of the English Cocker Spaniel breed is traditionally docked. But since in a number of countries this procedure prohibited; at exhibitions there are individuals who have never been exposed to it. The natural length of a dog's tail is to the hocks, the set is noticeably lower than the level of the back, the shape is thick at the base and tapering as it approaches the tip. The docked tail should not be too short, which would prevent the “Englishman” from clearly expressing own emotions and, as a result, will significantly worsen his hunting performance.

Wool

Fitted, very soft, not frizzy or wavy. On the front and hind legs, belly and groin area the hair is more abundant, with a slight wave. There are fringes.

Color

The FCI standard grants English Cocker Spaniels the right to solid, spotted, tricolor and speckled color types.

Solid (one color):

golden;
black;
red;
chocolate;
liver with scorch marks;
black with tan.

Spotted:

fawn with white;
red and white;
liver with white;
black and white.

Tricolor:

black and white with tan;
liver white with tan.

Speckled:

fawn roan;
red roan;
blue roan;
hepatic roan;
liver roan with scorch marks;
blue roan with tan marks.

Defects and disqualifying defects

There are a lot of reasons for lowering the rating of show cocker spaniels, from curly hair to a short neck. Disadvantages that exclude the possibility of an animal entering the “Champions League” also include a deformed or hunchbacked back, cow-like limbs and white “patches” on the chest and throat of individuals with a monocolor.

An English cocker can withdraw from the competition at the selection stage only if he is diagnosed with malocclusion, pink lobes, depigmented lips, yellowish irises and cryptorchidism. Aggressive individuals and dogs that amble have nothing to do at exhibitions either.

Photo of an English Cocker Spaniel

Character of the English Cocker Spaniel

English cocker spaniels are inquisitive, self-aware nimble dogs with a friendly, but not at all weak, character. They will value and obey the owner by default, but they will not allow the rest of the household to manipulate them. Moreover, when trying to force your pet to do something, be prepared to observe stubbornness and skillful imitation of misunderstanding. If we talk about respect, then first of all the dog feels it towards the owner, and secondly – towards itself. Children in this hierarchical pyramid occupy the penultimate step. Yes, the “English” play with them with pleasure, but do not expect angelic patience and iron endurance from the dog when the child begins to cause serious discomfort or pain to it.

Most cockers are peaceful and accommodating (exceptions are also possible), so adding cats and other dogs to them is quite acceptable. But in the case of birds, not everything is so smooth. Left alone with canaries, parrots or chickens, a pet is unlikely to cope with the temptation to hone its hunting techniques on them. The call of the ancestors - nothing can be done. In the games, the “English” are like Nancy Drew in dog form. Possessing an excellent sense of smell (American cockers are resting) and excellent eyesight, they love to play detective and look for seemingly forever lost objects. While walking, most individuals turn on the “excavator” mode and begin to excavate flower beds and sandy hills, which looks very funny from the outside.

As for temperament, inside every English cocker spaniel there lives a restless party animal who despises regularity and imposingness. These long-eared livelies are sincerely happy to have any company. Moreover, the more participants there are, the better, because doggies really love to play in public. Born tacticians and psychologists, the “English” will always find a way to squeeze into even the least friendly dog team and gain a foothold in it as a shaggy-haired entertainer.

Recently, more and more breeders have noted a love of traveling in English cockers. various types transport. So, for example, taking advantage of the owner’s absent-mindedness, during a walk they can easily jump into a shuttle bus and drive off in an unknown direction. If you have your own car, your cocker spaniel will be happy to test its speed by lounging in the back seat and exposing its muzzle to the wind through the open window.

Education and training

It is impossible to force an English Cocker Spaniel to study under pressure, but it is very easy to interest him in a new, unusual activity. Cockers are simply focused on physical activity, so they learn best from lessons that involve reasonable physical activity presented in a playful way. This breed’s intelligence is also fine, so it won’t take much time to master basic command techniques, but classes should not be long and monotonously repetitive - this way the dog will quickly lose interest in them.

Raising an English cocker begins with its socialization. At 2-3 months, the baby needs to be taught to observe subordination and etiquette, as well as overcome fear of strangers. Possessing gourmet inclinations and keen sense of smell, small English cocker spaniels love to watch their owner eat, managing to simultaneously play the role of a hungry sufferer. Do not fall for such shows and under no circumstances treat the pretender with food from your own table. Each such concession reduces your authority in the eyes of the dog, which quickly begins to understand how to apply pressure to get what it wants. It is also better to avoid extremes. An authoritarian parenting style for a puppy is just as harmful as excessive lisp. Teach your pet basic commands unobtrusively, but persistently and systematically.

Despite their cute appearance, English cocker spaniels are no strangers to leadership habits. Usually a wave of independence hits puppies at the age of 3-4 months. During this period, the dog tries to take the position of head of the house, displacing the owner. If you don’t want to find yourself under the thumb of a shaggy dominant, you’ll have to prove your worth to him hourly. The methods can be very different. In particular, during walks it is better to “extinguish” your pet’s emotional outbursts. Use prohibitions more often in everyday life, and also do not allow a puppy walking on a leash to drag you along in tow.

They start trying on a collar for an English Cocker at 3 months of age. It is better to put on the “accessory” for the first time during the game so that the animal does not notice it. You can do this procedure before feeding: food will distract the dog from unpleasant sensations. At first, you should choose a longer leash, gradually shortening it as you get used to it. If the puppy is 8 months old, you can move on to the General Training Course (GTC), which is considered a mandatory program for cocker spaniels. Even if you are not going to take your pet hunting, he must obey your requirements.

English Cocker Spaniel training

IN modern conditions“Englishmen” are gradually changing their qualifications, becoming more and more sports dogs and playful companions. However, the hunting instincts of the breed do not suffer from this situation. English cocker spaniels can work with both swamp and field or even upland game. However, taking into account the fact that each type of bird has its own odor, varying in intensity, it is unlikely to be possible to train a dog on both snipe and black grouse at once. Experienced owners recommend starting to introduce your pet to hunting with a wading bird. According to observations, a dog that deftly handles great snipes performs just as well when working with quails. At the same time, dogs, accustomed to lifting only wild animals onto their wings, slow down and get lost in wetlands.

The English Cocker Spaniel begins to be trained from an early age and in a playful way. For example, you can tie a bird's wing to a string and twitch it in front of a 3-month-old puppy's nose. The surprised animal will immediately try to grab the animated bunch of feathers, and your task is to allow him to do this. Just do not allow the puppy to chew the “prey”, since this habit will later be transferred to real hunting trophies. At 4 months, babies are trained to search for and present objects. The dog is allowed to sniff the bird carcass, after which they hide it in a secluded place and offer to find the missing one. At first, you can use hints - a hand gesture in the direction of an object or a deliberately created draft that carries the smell of game throughout the apartment.

Commands “Come to me!” and “Nearby!” in hunting dogs they must be practiced to the point of automatism, therefore the OKD completed before training is only beneficial for the English cocker. Another important skill is indifference to shots, which is the most difficult for the “English”. They begin to accustom their pet to the sharp sounds and smell of gunpowder at field conditions. First, shots are fired at a distance (the optimal distance is 150 m) and only after the dog gets used to the noise, the gap between the shooter and the animal is gradually reduced.

Important: in order to develop a clear understanding of your requirements and compliance in your English Cocker Spaniel, use only one prohibitive command out of several possible ones. Do not disorient the dog with the word “Ugh!” if before that he only heard from you “No!”

It is better to start getting acquainted with swamp game with great snipes, which fly quite low and heavily. Swamp hens are also a good target for an inexperienced cocker. In upland hunting, the optimal target will be a brood of grouse. As a rule, English cocker spaniels are not involved in working with waterfowl, but if you wish, it is also possible to train your pet for this type of game. Wait until mid-July, when the ducklings are grown but not fully fledged, and begin training. Well, an option for the most seasoned is hare hunting. Why specifically for the aged? Because spaniels love to chase their long-eared dogs aimlessly, in 99% of cases leaving the owner without prey.

English Cocker Spaniels feel most comfortable in private country houses, where they will always have the opportunity to chase butterflies and dig in the sand. Keeping in an apartment is also possible, but with regular and long walks. English cockers are not just hunters, but playful and active naughty creatures who need to run and fool around to their heart's content to maintain mental balance.

It is not at all necessary to take part in all the pet’s antics while walking. Just let him off the leash in an uncrowded and safe place and let him run circles around the area. However, if you throw a frisbee or a ball to your ward, he will gladly support your initiative and join the game. The “Englishman” is supposed to be walked twice a day, and each of these walks should last at least an hour. It is a big mistake to take your dog outside just to relieve yourself. In the end, the lack of free time is the owner’s problem, not the cocker spaniel’s.

Hygiene

Caring for an English Cocker Spaniel is not the most difficult, but the animal will need to be given some attention. Mandatory: trimming nails, cleaning eyes and teeth (all according to the same scheme as for other breeds). On the issue of bathing, breeders' opinions were divided. Some people recommend washing cockers as little as possible, because too much splashing in the bathroom can cause dandruff in pets. Opponents of this method advocate regular “bath days” (once every 7-10 days) and the use of veterinary shampoos that preserve the structure of the coat and stimulate its growth.

Brushing is a daily ritual in the life of an English Cocker Spaniel, so add soft and hard brushes, a slicker brush, a tangle cutter and a long-toothed metal comb to your must-have list. Owners planning to save money on professional grooming should add a trimming glove and comb, as well as hairdressing scissors.

The English Cocker Spaniel's floppy ears require extra attention. For example, when the animal is eating, it is advisable to tie them with an elastic band at the back of the head. This way the ears will get less dirty and distract the dog. Cockers themselves greet such manipulations without enthusiasm, but over time they get used to reacting to them adequately. Bad ear odor, which inexperienced Cocker Spaniel owners often complain about, is the result of insufficient care. In the ear funnel of spaniels there are a lot of hairs that block the flow of air inside, as well as magnetize dirt and sulfur secretions, which are the source of the characteristic “amber”. The problem is solved by plucking the hair in the ear canal and removing the dirt accumulated in it using veterinary lotion and a sponge.

English Cocker Spaniel Grooming

There are several basic techniques for processing the wool of English Cocker Spaniels, which can be combined if necessary:

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 haircut with a clipper);
flatvec (regular haircut with a clipper);
blending (cutting with scissors).

When cutting your English Cocker Spaniel's hair yourself, avoid radically changing the animal's image. In the homeland of the breed, its representatives are cut very carefully, so an inhabitant of Foggy Albion leaving the groomer’s office looks as if he had never entered it at all. The optimal haircut option is to go over the dog’s head with a trimming knife, strip the body and slightly shorten the hair on the legs. The fur between the toes must also be trimmed.

English cocker spaniels and water

Despite the fact that the English Cocker Spaniel breed was bred mainly for hunting swamp game and rarely worked with waterfowl, its representatives’ thirst for water is simply fantastic. If there is no normal body of water nearby, the cocker will calmly swim in a puddle, shake himself off next to the owner and will sincerely wonder why the latter has such a sour face. Don’t be lazy in the warm season and take your pet to the river beach. Firstly, because bathing is an additional physical activity that indoor cockers often lack. And secondly, because water relieves dogs from fatigue and stress accumulated during the day.

Feeding

Most “English” people are not prone to spontaneous gluttony, but are quite capable of falling into food addiction. And all because cockers are notorious gourmets, having their own taste preferences that the owner needs to control. In addition, dogs that walk little and unproductively, but fill their bellies heartily with treats, quickly develop obesity, which significantly reduces their life expectancy. If you do not set out to send your pet “over the rainbow”, do not give in to his pleading glances and do not feed the animal with delicacies.

Prohibited products:

legumes;
potato;
pasta, as well as any confectionery and bakery products;
sausage products;
bones;
broccoli;
tomato sauce and dishes with it.

You can supplement the English Spaniel menu with rice or buckwheat porridge, fermented milk products, sea fish and seasoned vegetables. vegetable oil slicing Eggs are given to dogs soft-boiled or in the form of an omelet. Cockers also have a real passion for fruits, but since most of them can provoke digestive upset in the animal, it is worth treating it with such delicacies less often. Or, alternatively, use dried fruits and raisins as reward treats. Once a week, offer your pet a clove of garlic, which works as a natural anthelmintic. In addition, during the period from 3 to 7 months, when the skeleton is actively forming, it is recommended to mix grated chalk or 2-3 tablets of calcium lactate into the puppy’s food.

Health and Diseases of English Cocker Spaniels

The average lifespan of an English Cocker Spaniel is 10-14 years, but the animal does not always pass this time period in good health.

Typical diseases of the breed:

urolithiasis disease;
hip dysplasia;
melanoma;
otitis;
deafness;
food allergies;
distichiasis;
eye diseases (conjunctivitis, entropion/eversion, cataracts);
epilepsy;
hydrocephalus;
hepatitis;
atopy;
discopathy;
perianal adenocarcinoma.

The mental health of the breed is also not always standard. For example, many cocker spaniels are prone to hysterical fits, which can be treated with physical exercise combined with regular walking.

How to choose a puppy

Attend dog shows often to meet reputable breeders and their pets.
If you buy a puppy as a future hunter, make sure that his father and mother have diplomas in field and swamp game. In most cases, offspring inherit parental talents.
English Cocker Spaniel females are easier to train than males, but both are good at work. Take this fact into account if you are going to instill hunting skills in an animal yourself.
It is worth checking with a breeder who boasts of the field diplomas of the puppy’s parents about the type of document available. It’s great if the dog has a 1st degree certificate. This gives hope that the hunting abilities of her offspring will be quite clearly expressed. A 3rd degree diploma is not the biggest reason for pride.
It is better to choose cheerful, curious and playful kids. But it is better to refuse the constantly vocal English cockers. Excessive “talkativeness” is of no use to the future hunter.
Those who are looking for a friendly pet for their apartment, on the contrary, should take a closer look at more phlegmatic puppies.

Photos of English Cocker Spaniel puppies

How much does an English Cocker Spaniel cost?

The cost of an English Cocker Spaniel puppy with the RKF metric varies from 20,000 to 25,000 rubles. Pet With minor defects exterior and a completely pure pedigree can be purchased for 12,000 - 18,000 rubles. Plembrak and mestizos will cost even less - on average from 4,000 to 8,000 rubles.

Cocker spaniel photo | Dreamstime.com

basic information

Estimation of breed characteristics

Adaptability A definition that refers to how easily a dog can adapt to changes in life.
Shedding level Level and frequency of hair loss in an animal.
Level of tenderness The level and amount of tenderness and affection that a dog gives in return for attention to itself.
Need for exercise The dog's daily activity level.
Social need The required amount of contact between the dog and other animals, as well as people.
Apartment ratio A factor that determines the level of noise and other inconveniences that a dog can cause to owners in relation to the size of the apartment to the size of the dog.
Grooming The number of baths, brushing, and the required number of professional grooming sessions required by the dog.
Friendliness in an unfamiliar environment Peculiarities of dog behavior in society with strangers or in an unfamiliar environment.
Tendency to bark Tendency to bark and its frequency and volume.
Health issues The dog's potential health status.
Territoriality A dog's tendency to protect its owner's home, yard, or even car.
Friendly to cats Tendency towards tolerance towards cats and reduced expression of hunting instincts.
Intelligence The dog’s ability to think and solve emerging difficulties (not to be confused with learning ability!).
Education and training The level of difficulty in training a dog to perform certain actions.
Child Friendly A factor that determines how friendly a dog is to children, whether it likes to play with them and tolerate some children's pranks.
Game activity The concept is defined by its very name, and, as a rule, occurs in almost all dogs.
Observation A dog's ability to detect the presence of a stranger in its territory.
Friendly to other dogs Dog's tendency to find mutual language with his other relatives.

Brief description of the breed

English Cocker Spaniels first became known at the beginning of the 20th century, and work on their breeding began in the 1880s. From the name of the breed it is clear that the homeland of English cockers is England. Often, however, English cocker spaniels are confused with theirs - these breeds are similar, but slightly different in appearance. The vocation of English cockers is for swamp and field game, although these dogs quickly adapt to almost any role. It is not for nothing that English urban cockers are bred as companion dogs, which is not surprising, given their good-natured nature, healthy curiosity and high degree getting along with other pets. These animals are highly trainable and can be adopted even by inexperienced owners. They are unpretentious in care, they can live both in an outdoor enclosure and in a small one - their good endurance and modest dimensions allow this (the dogs' weight ranges from 12.5 to 15 kg, height - 38-41 cm). English cocker spaniels are wonderful human companions, meeting almost every desire of a potential owner - they are ready to hunt without damaging their prey, they are affectionate and playful, and they are able to adapt to the owner’s mood.

The main distinguishing features of English cocker spaniels are long hanging ears, decorated with wavy hair, well-developed muscles, and large paws that allow them to catch trophies while hunting from the water. The head of English Cockers is domed, medium in size, the transition from forehead to muzzle is smooth, well defined. The eyes are predominantly dark brown and have oval shape, with tight-fitting eyelids. The ears are low-set, long, and fit tightly to the head, which does not negatively affect the quality of the animal’s hearing. The nose is moderately large, dark, crowning a fairly elongated muzzle (unlike American cockers, the English muzzle cannot be shortened). The bite of the strong, well-developed jaws is scissor-shaped. The neck is quite long and muscular. The strong body is moderately short, straight, convex in the lumbar region, the chest is deep, the stomach is tucked. The limbs are distinguished by bonyness and well-developed muscles, the paws are large, with large toes. The tail is set slightly below the level of the back, most often. English Cocker Spaniels have long (sometimes curly) hair on the legs, ears and sides. The undercoat is well developed. Shades of wool - black, brown, red, golden, black and white, red and white, brown and white (sometimes with tan marks or specks).

Photo of Cocker Spaniel:

Photos of Cocker Spaniel dogs | Dreamstime.com

Origin story

Despite the fact that the breed was developed in the British Isles, Spain is also related to English cockers. After all, this country is considered to be the birthplace of spaniels. True, some scientists believe that long-haired hunting dogs appeared in Germany. Other experts attribute the origin of all spaniels to Ancient Greece. Be that as it may, the main version of the origin of spaniels is that these dogs were formed in Spain. Allegedly, from there, in the Middle Ages, dogs were taken to Ireland, and then they appeared in Great Britain. Having become interested in strong small dogs, the British decided over time to create their own national breed, capable of hunting in almost any conditions - in water, thickets, fields. Images of dogs similar to English cocker spaniels can be found in paintings from the 14th to 17th centuries, although at least two and a half hundred years must pass before the breed was officially recognized. Initially, English breeders divided their spaniels into field and water. And only by the 19th century did breeders decide to create a breed capable of hunting both land and water game. This is how the breed of English cocker spaniels was bred - hardy, passionate in hunting, but quite calm dogs around the family. The Kennel Club of Great Britain approved the English Cocker Spaniel as a new breed in 1893. And in 1902 the whole world learned about them when the first breed standard was approved. Soon the spread of English cockers occurred almost throughout the world. By the way, the word “cocker” became a prefix to the name of the breed from the English “woodcock”, which translated means “woodcock”. English cocker spaniels were imported into Russia at the beginning of the 20th century, but their popularity in our country arose relatively recently - in the 1970s. Moreover, the interest of buyers in English cockers was dictated not only by hunting - many people liked these dogs thanks to the classic appearance, and obedience, and relatively easy to care for silky long hair. Unlike the American cocker, the hero of this article is best hunter. American cockers were bred more as decorative dogs, pleasing the eyes of their owners.

Cocker spaniel personality

A well-bred Cocker Spaniel has an excellent character. This affectionate dog loves to participate in all family events. The Cocker is playful, alert and active. He loves any games and exercises: from a regular walk to active running. The Cocker Spaniel is known for its sensitivity and excellent mental and physical abilities. He has a gentle character, but reacts to rough treatment. Sometimes this reaction consists of growling, but it comes to this only in extreme cases. During the period of early socialization, it is very important to teach the dog basic behavioral norms. Socialization helps the animal show its best qualities.

The Cocker Spaniel's coat varies. Thick, sometimes wavy short hair adorns this dog. The color is most often one-color. It can be black and light cream, and sometimes even red-brown. There are also spotted spaniels (two or more colors). Cocker Spaniels require intensive and systematic grooming. Most owners of these dogs prefer to seek the help of professionals who can not only clean the coat, but cut it and buy the dog. It is best to carry out this procedure once every two months. Please note that the cost of such services in different salons may vary.

Many Cocker Spaniel owners prefer to keep their pets' hair short. This makes overall dog care easier. But even then, you will need to trim your dog's fur and nails every two months, as well as bathe your dog thoroughly. Grooming for dogs of this breed should begin as soon as the coat reaches the appropriate size. It is best to teach haircuts and regular brushing from an early age. This will allow your pet to be accustomed to the procedure from childhood. The same goes for trimming nails and brushing teeth. Try to accustom your dog to everything hygiene procedures from the first days the puppy appears in the house. Unfortunately, cocker spaniels are distinguished by their negative attitude to grooming. Therefore, it is best to obtain extensive advice on this issue from your veterinarian.

Nails must be trimmed every month and ears checked weekly. When examining the ears, you need to pay attention to the presence of irritation, inflammation and any signs of infection that may appear in the ears. unpleasant smell from the ears. This procedure is important, since cocker spaniels are prone to various ear diseases of an infectious nature. To prevent ear problems, you need to treat your pet's ears with a special solution weekly. During feeding, it is necessary to use narrowed bowls. This will prevent your ears from getting into your food while eating. The same applies to drinking bowls. Some Cocker owners even put their dogs on a leash while eating to prevent their ears from getting food in them.

Training and education

English Cocker Spaniels are easy to train, but the training and education system should include rewards and praise. Cocker spaniels are very sensitive, so during training any rudeness and aggression should be completely excluded. Otherwise, your lessons will fail. The best thing about training is rewarding and praising the animal for any success, no matter how minor.

If a cocker baby is purchased as a pet friend, then the best option for training would be to take an OKD course, during which the dog will learn the commands: “near”, “place”, “come to me”, “sit”, “no” and others . Moreover, natural qualities English spaniels(in the field of training) are so well developed that the basics of training can be taught to them by both a professional and a beginner. The main thing is not to be overly affectionate during classes. A dog that has realized that the owner is too soft will begin to either become stubborn in following commands or try to ignore the person’s words. As a reward during training, a calm and friendly tone is used (usually they say to the dog: “Well done!”) and a treat. Punish the dog using a stern tone of voice. In rare cases, the animal can be lightly hit on the rump with a hand, a twig or a newspaper without causing pain.

Since English Cocker Spaniels are hunters, after completing the OKD course, they are trained at approximately 7-9 months (at the owner’s request). Since childhood, such dogs have been taken with them during outings. From childhood, the spaniel will become accustomed to the area where game hunting will take place in the future. Typically, English Cockers are used as assistants in gun hunting for upland, swamp, field and waterfowl. Initially, the animal can be accustomed to the sound of a hunting horn (sometimes a whistle), for example, by serving food, accompanying the action with a signal. This way, the dog will not only not be afraid of the characteristic sound, but will also understand when to approach the owner. Also, from an early age, the pet is taught to develop its sense of smell - they hide some object (toy, treat) first on the lower shelves of the closet, under the bed, for example. Gradually the task becomes more complicated - the desired thing lies higher and higher, and the windows are open - so it is more difficult for the dog to recognize exactly where the desired thing is located. The animal is gradually trained to catch snipe (this bird flies low and allows periodic landings), duck, pheasant, corncrake, snipe, quail, and partridge. To begin with, the dog should be allowed to smell the bird, and then move away from it, pointing in the right direction where it is. As a rule, these dogs quickly learn the basics of training, which allows them to become good hunters at a young age.

Health and illness

The average lifespan of a Cocker Spaniel is 12-15 years. The main health problems that cockers may experience include: cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, autoimmune, hematological, immunological disorders and infectious diseases.

Some interesting facts

The Cocker Spaniel is affectionate, gentle and well-mannered pet, which is suitable for keeping in any home.
Cocker spaniels are companion dogs, so they should live exclusively in the house with their owner.
Character and physiological development The breeding of a spaniel will largely depend on the professionalism of the breeder. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase a dog from experienced and trusted dog breeders.
The Cocker Spaniel takes part in various competitions with pleasure: hunting, running, search competitions, etc.
The cocker's tail is usually docked in the first days of life, but dog breeders have differing opinions on this matter. Many people prefer to leave the tail undocked.
During training, you should thank the dog and please it with treats.