This breed is one of the oldest dog breeds and is descended from Spanish dogs belonging to the group of flushing dogs. At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, spaniels were considered versatile hunting dogs. They displayed the game excellently, scared, tracked and retrieved. The division into spaniels took place in the 19th century. In 1885, the Sapniel Club was established in Great Britain with the aim of promoting breeding with different types of spaniels. The development of a breed standard also began. In 1892, the Englsih Cocker Spaniel was recognized as a separate breed.
- Life expectancy: 12 - 15 years
- Height at the withers - male: 39 - 41 cm
- Height at the withers -female: 38 - 39 cm
- Weight: 13 - 14.5 kg
English Cocker Spaniels are playful hunting dogs that are strong and compact. They are full of life and vigor, constantly on the move, with a tail always happily carried, especially when they are working. The English Cocker Spaniel is attached to its guardian.
The Cocker Spaniel is a well-liked companion dog. It is very intelligent and sensitive. This small dog is full of temperament, always cheerful and ready for any fun. When we look at its dreamy eyes, we immediately fall in love with it. Cocker Spaniels have a perfect sense of smell and an innate instinct to inspect the terrain. Dogs of this breed love movement in all forms. They can compete successfully in dog sports, e.g. agility. They will also enjoy working as a therapist dog, especially with children, provided that a given individual is predisposed to do so. Their advantage is a good sense of smell, which is why this breed is also used to detect drugs and explosives.
The English Cocker Spaniel is a dog with a big heart, gentle and perfect as a family companion. It is a patient dog with children, but it does not tolerate harassment of the youngest members of the household. You should take care of consistently raising your dog from a puppy age. It is important to socialize the dog early. Then it will become a confident, fearless and wonderful dog. A neglected spaniel will discharge its energy in a way that we will not like.
The English Cocker Spaniel requires fairly intensive grooming due to its thick and silky coat. It needs to be brushed and combed regularly. When brushing, pay close attention to the ears and groin, as these can be tangled up. Additionally, Cocker Spaniel's hair requires regular trimming. A person from a grooming salon can help us in this activity. Long and hairy ears should also be checked regularly and cleaned after meals as they tend to end up in the bowl.
The coat of the English Cocker Spaniel has a whole spectrum of colorus:
- solid: black, red, chocolate, black and tan, chocolate and tan
- two-color: white and black, white and orange, white and chocolate
- tricolour: black and white with tan and white and chocolate with tan
- sieved: blue, orange, lemon, chocolate, blue with tan, chocolate with tan
It is generally a healthy breed, but progressive retinal atrophy may occur in some individuals. As it is a genetic disease, before buying a puppy, you should ask the breeder to provide you with a certificate stating that his dogs have been tested for this. Kidney disease, heart problems, and dislocation of the kneecap can also develop. English Cocker Spaniels are dogs that are resistant to changing weather conditions. They tolerate cold and heat well, although it is better for older animals to avoid long walks on hot days. Because the Cocker Spaniel has a great sense of smell and likes to sniff on walks, it can sometimes develop conjunctivitis. After such a walk, it is best to wipe your dog's eyes with a moist cotton swab soaked in, for example, physiological saline.
Every dog, including the English Cocker Spaniel, deserves the right food that will provide it with the necessary ingredients for proper development. This breed is prone to gaining weight, so the diet should be adapted to the activity of your pet. It should not be given various types of snacks between meals. When choosing a feed, first of all, read the ingredients on the packaging. Good foods are those that contain a lot of meat, especially dried meat. Then we know that the given percentage composition of a given type of meat is as shown on the packaging because the meat has been dehydrated. There are many companies on the market offering complete dry, wet or semi-moist food. We have to choose one that will be suitable for our dog. Every dog is a carnivore, so a good solution for our dog is also the Barf diet. The Barf is any kind of raw meat, with a small amount of giblets and soft bones. Before introducing this type of nutrition, it is worth learning more about it.
