Cocker Spaniel - History, Description, Maintenance, Feeding, Personality, Coexistence, History, Photo, Dog Breed
English cocker spaniel
Cocker spaniel photo:
Cocker spaniel video : The Cocker Spaniel
Article about Cocker spaniel
Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed Information, Pictures
Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed Information - American Kennel Club
5 Things To Know Before You Adopt a Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed: Facts & Characteristics
Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed Information
The English Cocker Spaniel is a breed of dog native to
England. It was developed with the purpose of chasing the redfish by herding
them from their hiding places in the bushes. There are two varieties: the
English Cocker Spaniel, and the American Cocker Spaniel, which resulted from
the adaptation of the English Cocker Spaniel.
History
It was recognized as a breed in the 19th century, although
its heritage dates back a few thousand years before that of the original
spaniel. The name comes from the old French "espaigneul", which means
"Spanish dog" in reference to the country where the original dogs (a
breed of hunting and collecting dogs) came from.
The spaniel arrived in England with their Spanish owners and
some copies were later sold or given as a gift to the English aristocrats to
use on their farms. The increase in popularity is reflected in the numerous
references in English literature, such as in works by Chaucer (S XIV) and
Shakespeare (S XVI).
During that period, the spaniel breed was used to designate
a certain type of hunting dog. Over time the following differences emerged:
Water spaniel: used to collect water birds
Ground Spaniel, which in turn were divided into two more
types:
Sample dogs: which showed the dam to its owner?
Prey lifter: which raised birds to hunters?
The hunting lifters were the ones who originated the current
spaniel lifters. When a new litter was born, the dogs separated according to
size. The largest (lifters) were used to lift the largest birds, while the
smallest dogs were used to lift the small prey (especially the quail), giving
the latter the name "Cocker", derived from the term English
"woodcock" which means "woodcock".
It was not until 1892 when the UK Canine Club recognized the
Cocker Spaniel as a breed, making it necessary to differentiate between lifters
and Cockers.
The cocker spaniel has the benefit of having numerous coat
colors and each one can have their favorite color. However, color selection has
no influence or precedent on health.
Description
It is a strong, athletic, compact and balanced dog. In them,
the measurement of the ground at the withers and from this to the tail is
approximately the same. The body of the dog is compact, with a well-developed
chest and they have a slight inclination from the back to the tail. The legs
are strong and muscular, especially the hind legs.
The wide, light-looking head with a large truffle. The ears
are lobular in shape and low insertion, at eye level. He has big eyes. They are
usually brown, almost dark, although some specimens have them light. The
expression of the eyes is intelligent, alert, bright and cheerful. You can see
this dog in multiple colors. In solid colored dogs only a white spot is allowed
on the chest.
The coat can be single-colored or multi-colored. In
single-color dogs, only a white spot is allowed on the chest. The hair is
smooth and silky in texture. The extremities and the lower body must have
fringes.
It has long lobular ears that reach at least as far as the
nose. Its skull is perfectly modeled and well developed and ends in a square
muzzle. The eyes are round and brown or dark brown.
Although it is still used for hunting, today it is more
normal to find it snooping through the thickets of a park or garden.
Maintenance
A beautiful coat,
a healthy body and its natural exuberance are characteristics that define the
breed. The body is strong and well balanced and stands out especially for its
coat of hair. Regardless of whether the coat is solid color or is made up of
any of the color combinations that characterize this breed, to keep it in
excellent condition it is necessary to brush it regularly, take good care of
its health and provide it with a quality diet.
While the inner
hair is soft and glued to the skin, the outer hair is a long, smooth and silky
coat that provides great protection to the skin and body. You need to brush and
cut your hair regularly, taking special care with your ears to avoid tangling
your hair.
It looks lush and
that is due to the largest organ in your body, the skin. But the role of the
skin is not only aesthetic, it also protects the body against disease and
infection, and acts as its first line of defense. Your hair also has
complementary functions that consist of isolating the body and protecting the
skin against possible trauma and damage due to heat, sunlight and irritating
agents. It is susceptible to skin irritations and that is why the nutrients
present in its diet are of vital importance, since they ensure the proper
functioning of the skin.
Feeding
A diet rich in
essential nutrients such as: proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, zinc, copper
and fatty acids are essential for the health of the dog's hair and skin.
Chicken, lamb,
fish, and eggs contain proteins that provide essential amino acids for good
health. Cocker's hair is 95% protein. If your diet does not contain enough
quality protein, there is a risk that your hair will fall out or dry, weak and
brittle.
The English
Cocker Spaniel is slightly taller than it is long.
This moderately built
dog is small enough to pass through dense bushes (and fit on your lap) and
large enough to catch prey (and go jogging with you). English Cocker Spaniel
measure between 35 and 43 cm and weigh about 7-8 kg.
The head of this
breed is long and narrow, compared to other spaniels. The ears are long and
droopy. In general, the expression of these dogs is soft and the contour of the
head is rounded without sharp angles.
The coat is of
medium length with a silky touch, long enough to protect the bottom of the dog
but not long enough to be an obstacle. The coat of these dogs has a multitude
of colors and patterns.
Personality:
The English
Cocker Spaniel has maintained its strong hunting instincts, there are few
things in the world that this breed likes more than going out in search of
birds. Although this passion rivals the pleasure of staying close to family
members. This is a breed that enjoys being a part of all family activities.
Cheerful, docile, loyal, sensitive, and playful, in short, the perfect companion
for a caring child or adventurous adult.
It is a friendly
dog with other dogs or pets, children, strangers and even thieves. The
English Cocker Spaniel is a good watchdog although a poor choice as a guard
dog.
Coexistence:
The English
Cocker Spaniel was bred to hunt throughout the day, searching, marking and
collecting prey (specifically birds). This type of energy is not burned by
walking around the block. These dogs need a lot of exercise but fortunately
they can meet their needs with a couple of good periods of exercise a day.
Having access to a fenced garden is always a help.
The coat of the
English Cocker Spaniel should be brushed two or three times a week. To improve
its appearance, the hair should be shaved or trimmed around the face, ears, tail
and legs approximately every two months.
The ears need
special attention, as they are prone to developing problems if the dirt that
accumulates inside is not removed. When the dog is eating, the ears should be
pulled back with a hairnet to prevent food from sticking to the hair.
History:
Spaniel are one
of the first groups of dogs bred to help catch birds. For this reason, it is a
huge group of dogs with different breeds specialized in hunting different
species of birds and in different terrains.
It is this
specialization in hunting that determined the division of the breed into larger
and smaller Spaniels, the latter specialized in hunting woodcocks. No attempt
was made to breed the different varieties separately, so it is normal to find
dogs of different sizes in the same litter. With the arrival of the dog shows
this was a drawback, so in 1892 the two spaniel sizes began to be designated as
different breeds, naming the smaller ones as "Cocker Spaniels".
When the Cocker
Spaniel arrived in America, many American breeders began to breed dogs with a
different appearance than that traditionally developed in England. The
differences between the two types grew larger and larger until they gave rise
to two separate varieties in 1936. This means that they can interbreed but must
be displayed separately. Since no one crossed both varieties, they separated
into 2 different breeds in 1946. In America, the American version of the Cocker
Spaniel became more popular, while in the rest of the world the English Cocker
Spaniel is more frequent.
Cocker spaniel photo:
Cocker spaniel video : The Cocker Spaniel
Article about Cocker spaniel
Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed Information, Pictures
Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed Information - American Kennel Club
5 Things To Know Before You Adopt a Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed: Facts & Characteristics
Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed Information