English Cocker Spaniel - breed description and dog character

Initially, the representatives of the breed were used as effective assistants in hunting, and for this purpose, the Cocker Spaniel was bred in England. The dog gained popularity in a short time, they began to start it as a faithful pet of the family and a good friend of a person. Today, spaniels are actively involved in exhibitions, occupying a leading position. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, consider the main characteristics of the breed and everything connected with it.

Generally accepted standards

1. If you look at the dog from the side, its body will appear square. The muzzle is rectangular, the skull is rounded. The frontal and occipital parts are clearly visible, the head looks heavy. The nose is wide with a black pigmented lobe.
2. Eyes are preferably dark, all shades of brown. They do not bulge, have the correct shape and roundness. The dog does not look warily, but good-naturedly with a certain interest.
3. Ears are long, thin, hanging down along the head. They are not allowed to be upright. Silk coat must be present on the ears.
4. The teeth are sharp, the bite is strong and regular in the form of scissors. A defect in a breed is addition, in which one jaw protrudes forward.
5. Dogs have a developed and rounded chest, but it is not too wide, rather of a medium circumference. The neck has no suspension, medium in length, looks statically, as befits an Englishman. Shoulders are not visible, set apart askew.
6. Despite the fact that the dog is small in size, she has a powerful physique. The ribs are round and convex, the lower back is shortened, but from this it did not become weaker. Croup rounded, beveled, muscular. The back is inflated, smooth and strong.
7. The hind limbs boast a powerful skeleton, the knees are well developed, which is why the dog moves quickly and freely. The front legs are shorter, this provides the dog with stability and increased performance. The pads are soft, like cats. Fingers are gathered in a lump.
8. The tail is being stopped, but recently, few have resorted to this. It is planted just below the level of the back. When the animal is interested or excited, the tail forms a straight line with the body, but never bulges higher.
9. The coat is long, soft and silky, like in young children. There is no stiffness, and therefore dogs often appear tangle. The hair is not curled, only a small wave at the ends of the hairs is allowed. By color, dogs can be golden, black, spotted, roan. With a solid color, there should be no white spots on the side or back.
10. Gender superiority in terms of weight category and height is poorly expressed. Females are 38-40 cm tall, males 1 cm higher. As for body weight, it can vary between 12.5-14.5 kg. Light weight makes the dog mobile and energetic, it moves freely.

Dog character

1. A dog is famous for its intellectual abilities, kindness, and ability to make decisions. Cocker spaniels are cunning by nature, so they can find a way out of any situation and perfectly manipulate the owner. Partly for this reason, the dog requires a firm hand owner.
2. The representatives of the breed are extremely energetic, they have it from the hunting past. Therefore, if a person is going to keep an animal in an apartment environment, it is more often necessary to bring the dog to run free territory. However, the cocker spaniel may be seduced by an interesting smell and run a decent distance, it is worth keeping in mind.
3. Since the representatives of the breed are nature hunters, they can make decisions on their own. And this means that the dog will not always obey the owner, believing that he is fulfilling an important mission.
4. But along with this, dogs do not differ in severe disobedience. They quickly give in to training, execute commands, but do not serve themselves, wanting to get a treat. Individuals of this breed want to be a friend to the owner, and not a lifelong servant.
5. Spaniels quickly adapt, early give in to socialization, get along with other animals. They will not attack the cat and terrorize it if the animals live in the same house. Also, if your friends have dogs, you can get together to let the dogs frolic. Cocker will become the soul of the company, cheer everyone.
6. An interesting feature is the fact that by the calling of the spaniel they are nanny dogs. They tolerate even the most vicious pranks emanating from children. They play with them, do no harm, calculate their strength and age of the baby. However, until the child is 6-7 years old, he does not need to be left alone with the pet.
7. Anger is not inherent in the dog’s character. They are good-natured and cute, do not bite. But if a threat appears on the horizon in the person of an outsider, the dog may well defend the owner. It is worth knowing that cockers are famous for their agility, which often harms them.
8. The dog needs the same energetic owner who will not lie on the couch for days on end. The dog learns quickly, loves to swim and run. He is taken with him on travel and vacation, the dog leans out of the window towards the wind.

Hunting qualities

1. You can’t turn a blind eye to the fact that the spaniel from England is a hunter by nature. It is necessary to try to fully reveal these qualities, or at least not to ignore them. The dog is suitable for people who are engaged in hunting. The dog will become an indispensable assistant, raise the bird under a shot, help with waterfowl.
2. Dogs are taken for fishing, they like to jump from a boat and swim. Even if the water is not too warm, the dog will not freeze due to the presence of a dense coat with oily lubrication (protects from water). Also, cockers are often taken when they go on a wild boar or a hare.
3. However, the main purpose and favorite pastime of the individuals of the breed is forest game. This includes hunting for pheasant, quail, woodcock. Also, the dog moves easily through marshland.
4. The dog raises the game into the air, and the owner with a gun gives a signal with a loud exclamation. The breed presented is called the best bird hunters, but this is far from all the abilities. Dogs quickly take a trail and lead a hunter along it. They can detect a smell even after 12-14 hours, the smell is so good. For this reason, cockers are suitable for chasing a wounded beast, roe deer or elk.
5. Despite the fact that the instincts of the hunter are in the dogs, you can’t just take the dog out into the forest and order to search for prey. First you need to train her with the basic commands. The animal is then trained to capture odors from a distance. To this end, they give them a sniff of cheese, put it on a shelf 1 meter high and say "Look!" Similarly to this exercise, pets are trained to find hidden things or goodies.
6. Spaniels are trained for one season, this will be enough. Then the dogs are trained not to be afraid of shots, as well as raise game. The dog is allowed to sniff prey on every hunt. Over time, she will get used to it and will perform basic actions herself (find, pick up, bring, etc.).
7. In addition to the identified hunting qualities in dogs, other working abilities are developed. They are taken for field tests, as a result of which testing is carried out. Specialists identify the following abilities: the skill of searching and eyeliner, sensing, obedience, stress tolerance.
8. If you need a dog to help in hunting, an experienced dog handler or hunter with many years of experience will help you choose and train it.When choosing, attention is paid not only to generally accepted breed standards, but also to the personal characteristics of the pet, basic training.

Maintenance and care

1. The breed of dogs under consideration may well be kept in the apartment. The size of the pet is relatively small. It is worth noting that spaniels require some care, like any other dog. As for water procedures, they do not need to be carried out too often. It is enough to clean paws every time after a walk.
2. Do not forget that spaniels belong to hunting breeds. Because of this characteristic, a pet may rush through puddles or get dirty in the mud. In this case, you can not do without bathing the animal. Be sure to use directed shampoo for such purposes. Detergents intended for humans will not work.
3. In order for the animal to always look excellent, you should regularly comb it and pluck the crest on the head. You may encounter certain difficulties during molting. As a rule, it occurs 2 times a year. Be sure to timely remove all excess hair that will be on the pet.
4. If this is not done, the cocker will quickly become covered with tangles and the process of new wool growth will be spoiled. Separately, it is worth noting that spaniels need special care for the ears. They often get dirty on walks and while eating. For such a breed, special dishes on a high stand should be purchased. Thus, the ears will not rub on the floor and get dirty with food.
5. In addition, cockers need regular haircuts on their paws. Do not forget to promptly shorten the claws. Also, long hairs should be plucked on the muzzle. If you are going to prepare a pet for the exhibition, special attention should be paid to the appearance.
6. English Cocker Spaniels show excellent service skills, working at customs and police. The dog has an excellent scent and can easily detect illegal substances or drugs. Also, the smell of the dog will not be ignored by other persistent odors, such as gasoline, etc.

Rules for choosing a puppy

1. If you decide to purchase a purebred spaniel, then you should contact professional nurseries and checked breeders. The dog must have a good pedigree. It is not necessary to acquire a puppy from parents of champions, but the roots should not cause you doubt. Pay attention to all documents.
2. It often happens that a pet without a pedigree looks no different from a thoroughbred dog. The problem is different. Such an animal may have completely unusual habits and character. As a result, when the pet grows up, it can greatly disappoint you. A dog can be stupid and naughty.
3. After you come to the breeder, pay attention not only to the behavior of the dog, but also to the owner. A professional will not rush to sell you a puppy at any cost. Real breeders take care of their animals, and will not give them to anyone.
4. Some unscrupulous owners when maintaining puppies do not provide them with proper care and a balanced diet. The consequences of such errors are very difficult to fix. The first months of life are very important for any animal.
5. With each litter there will always be babies for the soul and promising puppies. Some may have serious deviations from the standards. Promising individuals will have a higher price. Unfortunately, at a young age it is very difficult to determine deviations. Therefore, you cannot know for sure who will grow out of the puppy.
6. If you are not sure about the breeder, it is recommended that you bring along a professional dog handler. Thus, you get exactly the puppy you are dreaming of. You will not have to regret the choice if something happens.The puppy may have certain abnormalities even despite a good pedigree.
7. As for the choice of gender, it is up to you. It is worth noting that males are more beautiful and stately, unlike females. Keep in mind that cables have a more independent disposition. Therefore, during education, certain difficulties may arise. Also, males love to walk in search of "love." Do not miss this fact.

Cocker Spaniels are great pets with a funny character that you can easily keep at home. With proper education, the animal will not cause much trouble. It is important to provide the dog with a balanced diet and proper care.

Video: dog breed english cocker spaniel