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Cocker Spaniel
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Country of Origin: England
Life Span: 12 - 15 years
Bred For: Hunting and companion
Coat: Long, fine flat hair
Color: Black and tan, black, any solid color other than black
Height: 14-16"
Weight: 15-30lbs
Family Rating:
History
Today's American Cocker Spaniel is derived through precise breeding from the English Cocker Spaniel. This has made the two look very different from each other. The American version of the Cocker Spaniel is used for companionship than for hunting like the English Cocker Spaniel.
In the USA the Cocker Spaniel is showier and smaller due to selective breeding than the hunters they came from. The conformation changed too over the years into a more stylish and elegant dog compared to the practical, hardy lines of the English Cocker Spaniel.
Unlike the English Cocker Spaniel, the American Cocker Spaniel have never been hunting and gun dogs. They are still well qualified though for hunting the game birds of quail, partridges, and pheasants. During the 1940s this breed gained popularity according to the American Kennel Club. In the US this breed is fifteenth on the list for most popular breeds of dogs, and is also popular across the world.
Temperament
This Cocker Spaniel is an enthusiastic, happy, and friendly breed and makes a great pet for children and families. Some of the Cocker Spaniels make great watchdogs but they can also have a tendency to warm up to strangers opposed to being territorial or aggressive. Since this breed is not dominant, they are extremely willing to please and be obedient, and have a fairly good ability for learning.
When socialized correctly this breed is a rarely aggressive to other dogs and makes a great companion. Cocker Spaniels are not shy; rather they are laid back and permit the other dogs to enter their space. If the Cocker Spaniel isn't socialized correctly they could run or hide because of feeling threatened. To work them out of this just socialize them by taking them places or introducing new people to them. These dogs can even be good with pets like cats when socialized to do so.
Cocker Spaniels enjoy being active and do better when the family has a moderate to active lifestyle, especially in their younger years. These dogs also enjoy playing with children and can tolerant even the real young ones. They can be left alone for up to moderate lengths of time but do not like being left alone longer than that. The Cocker Spaniels need to have interaction with humans to be content. They could resort to negative behaviors with they do not get enough attention.
Upkeep and Grooming
A Cocker Spaniel should get brushed every day or so to keep a healthy coat. Their silky long coat can mat and tangle easily, which is easily taken care of with a quick grooming session everyday. This dog loves to get the attention and makes grooming it quite simple. In the event the dog is being used for hunting, the coat can be trimmed in a puppy or sport cut for even easier grooming. A Cocker Spaniel can have frequent baths unlike some other breeds, in fact they actually enjoy the routine.
Health Concerns
- Some of the more serious health concerns if the dogs are not bred correctly are:
- Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)
- Skin - seborrhea, allergies, lip fold pyoderma
- Ear infections and otitis externa
- Eyes - cataracts, glaucoma, ectropion and entropion, PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy)
- Phosphofructokinase deficiency
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