The appearance of the English Cocker Spaniel, the external standard of the dog, character and health. Care recommendations, training, interesting facts. Purchasing a puppy. A small dog with an incredibly touching look. It is easy to mistake him for a lap dog, and many still believe that he is. But if you really say, then he is an irrepressible hunter with a firm and decisive disposition. This pet should be appreciated because he is an excellent athlete - do not look that the size did not come out.
He is a favorite among domestic dogs, suitable even for an inexperienced owner. Due to its cheerful character and tenderness, the dog is a wonderful companion. Infinitely devoted to his master, and with his long absence, he is very nervous and bored. Likes to lie in front of the fireplace, play with children, of course, if they behave gently with him.
The history of the English Cocker Spaniel
The British consider this dog to be perfect and are proud of the fact that they were able to give the world such a kind, affectionate, and charming creature. There are many legends about their origin. According to one of them, the ancestors of these dogs came to Great Britain with the legions of Julius Caesar. Another says that similar dogs were bred by the Celts.
Many people think that his name speaks of his Spanish origin, but no, he is of pure English blood. Since 1879, a variety of these dogs began to be bred in the UK. But there is information that from the beginning in the 17th century, the British used spaniel-type dogs for hunting.
Perhaps their distant ancestors were Spaniards. Dr. Caius writes about this in his 1570 work on dogs. The English spaniel and the French epaniel were used in breeding a variety of canine breeds, which confirms their Spanish origin.
When the Carthaginians arrived in the Iberian Peninsula in the 3rd century BC, they were amazed at the abundance of rabbits in this land. In the Carthaginian dialect "span" is a rabbit. They named this peninsula the country of rabbits - Spain. And the local dogs, diligently hunting for the "long-eared aborigines" were named, the spaniel - a rabbit dog.
However, some authors disagree with this. They claim that the first spaniels were brought to the UK by the Phoenicians. After all, the word "span", in the language of these peoples, also means a rabbit. But even this assumption raises doubts. Canines of this type lived on the European continent even before they appeared in Britain.
Most likely, the crusaders brought them to Europe from the East. They also popularized hunting with falcons, for which such dogs were needed. These historical facts are of purely scientific interest, and the modern history of the cocker began in England. The name Cocker comes from the English "woodcock". These wild birds were hunted by the first spaniels. At first, the dogs were much larger than the current individuals of this species. Later they were brought together with miniature spaniels from Japan, which in the 17th century the Portuguese missionaries donated to their countrywoman, the Queen of England, the wife of Charles II.
As the centuries passed, the spaniel family gradually split into separate branches. This is how the Clumber, Sussex, Norfol, Field and Cocker Spaniels appeared. The smallest of them bred in Devonshire, used to hunt woodcocks, in English, "woodcock". Therefore, the artist Thomas Buick called them Cocker. He wrote that these are frisky, active and cute dogs.
Written references to them have been found since the X century. A good spaniel, in the UK at the time, cost a good amount, about a pound sterling. Therefore, according to royal laws, a criminal who stole such a pet was expected to receive a large fine. In the XIV century, the French duke Taston Defua, in his book on hunting, enthusiastically described an expensive gift that the king of Spain gave him. They were a pair of gorgeous spaniels.
At that time, such dogs were indispensable in the favorite entertainment of the nobility - falconry. Firearms had not yet been invented, and game was hunted with nets. Hunting falcons prevented the bird from flying, and spaniels helped to drive it into the net. After the invention of the gun, hunters began to use them as gun dogs. They turned out to be excellent swimmers and easily learned how to carry game from the water.
Until the end of the 19th century, they were not recognized as a separate breed. Dogs from the same litter, depending on their weight, could be called either Cocker or Springer. Only in 1859, at an exhibition in Birmingham, the breed was singled out into a separate group. The ancestor of all cocker spaniels is a dog named "Oba First", owned by James Ferr. This dog was an unsurpassed champion and an excellent producer. Many of his descendants became favorites of the exhibitions.
In 1893, cockers were recognized by the British "Kenel Club" as an independent species, and after nine years, their standard was developed and approved, with a strict restriction in the weight category. Many individuals with a greater or lesser mass were mercilessly sifted out. With such criteria of strict weight selection, without taking into account other data of the breed, spaniels for a number of years led a miserable existence.
But in 1901, Cocker breeders succeeded in removing this restriction and the breed immediately took off. In 1902, a standard was defined with adjustments, which has been adhered to almost to this day. In 1986, in order to legitimize the hunting, and not the salon accessory of the "Englishman", the standard was slightly corrected.
Description of the appearance of the breed
The English Cocker Spaniel is a small, strong and daring hunting dog. She is mobile, tireless and hardy. The addition is harmonious, proportional, compact. The eyes are dark, expressive. The dog's movements are very energetic and free, the step is confident, wide. They have a height at the withers from 38 cm to 40 cm. Weight from 12 to 14 kg.
- Head beautifully shaped, not too graceful, but also "not cut with an ax." The forehead is rounded, the occipital protuberance is pronounced.
- Muzzle an almost square format, with a confident and flowing profile from nose to occiput. The flews overlap the lower jaw. Lips dry, dark pigmented. Locking teeth.
- Nose well developed, with wide nostrils. It is mostly black, but it can also be chocolate to match the color of the coat.
- Eyes English Cocker Spaniel, medium-sized, not convex, oval in shape. They can be nutty, brown with a yellowish tinge, dark brown. Individuals with light eyes are disqualified.
- Ears located low. They start from the line of the eyes and end at the level of the chest. They are long, drooping and hairy. The cartilage is soft, slightly curled at the beginning.
- Neck slim, muscular. There is no dewlap.
- Frame athletic, lean, with a developed torso. The powerful chest is spacious, which provides support for the good development of the heart and lungs of a real athlete. Short backbone, provides dynamic movement. Closer to the back, the back is slightly sloping.
- Tail grows below the back line. He is in motion all the time, but at the same time he is omitted. It is usually cut off so that it does not distract the dog when moving.
- Front limbs: powerful, erect, short enough, stable. Sloping shoulders. The hindquarters are broad, voluminous and muscular, set at an angle. The hock joint is positioned low for a comfortable push.
- Paws broad and strong, with springy foot pads. The toes are slightly spaced apart, with hair between them. Strong nails.
- Coat straight, silky and dense. Fluffy growths on the fore and hind legs are provided as standard.
- Color in animals the most diverse. Monochrome dark-colored dogs may have light spots on the chest. Previously, red-headed individuals were popular, but now unusual colors are appreciated. The color with specks and large spots looks especially elegant.
Character features of the English Cocker Spaniel
The modern English Cocker Spaniel is an excellent hunting dog, but because of the beauty and good-natured disposition that all representatives of the breed have, they are kept in homes as friends, using their working qualities less and less. They are affectionate and charming animals. Their eyes are very expressive. Pets often use their irresistible gaze by begging for tidbits. They are docile, obedient and intelligent dogs. They value the comforts of home and a warm fireplace. But they love country walks no less. They often return home head over heels covered in mud and at the same time enthusiastically wag their tail from excess of feelings.
English cockers are absolutely not aggressive, so they are perfect for the role of a soul mate. In their homeland, they claim that these dogs conquered the whole world with their charm, a wide friendly smile and expressive eyes. They get along well with all people, without showing nervous behavior towards them. With every movement, the cocker exudes cheerfulness and positiveness. It seems as if this dog is wagging not only its tail, but also its whole body.
Unfortunately, many people forget that the dog is sporty, paying attention to its small size and charm. So an experienced hunter often turns into a lap dog, although this is not his original purpose. The pet adapts well to such a life and even finds pleasure in it. Who doesn't like lying on the couch from morning till night. But the English Cocker is an active and temperamental dog. If you do not give him the opportunity to throw out his energy in the fields and meadows, this will sooner or later turn into stress. In this state, he may become inadequate. And if the owner gives in to him at such a moment, he will reap the benefits of his weak character.
When the Cocker Spaniel fashion began, many dogs fell into the wrong hands. For children, he became a toy, for lovely ladies, beloved children. His charming appearance did him a disservice. Cocker began to attribute qualities that he did not have when he was born. Any athlete and hunter, if pampered, undead, strangled in his arms, will sooner or later "explode". In an unusual setting, pets often have breakdowns.
The man is to blame for this, of course, and the dog, which has earned the fame of an unbalanced hysterical bite, is forced to pay. Many owners, mistreating the pet: feeding, caressing too much, giving it to the children to be torn apart, think that their pet is immensely happy. But such an appeal, contrary to its nature and about a cheerful dog, is out of the question. That's when you take long active walks with him, then he will always be cheerful and cheerful, and in the house he will be gentle, friendly, and obedient.
English Cocker Spaniel health
The life span of these dogs is from 12 to 14 children. But it must be remembered that with a lack of movement and improper feeding, cockers are prone to obesity. Many owners are unable to refuse a pet begging for food with such a pleading and sad look. But this is not hunger, but gluttony!
We sometimes forget where our weaknesses can lead. After all, obesity is a disease that leads to malfunctioning of the whole organism. And a failure can happen anywhere, carrying with it: pancreatitis, allergies, hypertension or arthritis. Give your pet active physical activity throughout its life. Feed in dosage at the same time. A pet that is not given pieces from your table simply does not ask for them.
English Cocker Spaniel Care Tips
- Wool The English Cocker Spaniel is beautiful and flowing and requires regular attention from its owner. The dog must be combed every day with a brush and make sure that the fur does not get tangled up. Particular attention is paid to the armpit areas. Trim the paws and pads regularly to keep your pet looking tidy and not bringing in dirt from the street. If you want to fully cut your "Englishman", then before that, you need to comb it out well, and then buy it back. Choose shampoos for your pet's coat. Wash the concentrate well from the "fur coat". After the four-legged friend is completely dry, you can start cutting. It is better to do this with a machine against hair growth. On the ears and paws, it will be more convenient to cut the hair with scissors. The hairstyles of show dogs and pets are different. For a dog that does not participate in exhibitions, for the summer period it is better to remove the coat shorter so that it does not get hot.
- Ears spaniels are special, branded. They are set low and require not only cleaning but also haircuts. Once every two to three months, depending on the degree of overgrowth, carefully trim the inside of the auricle so that it is well ventilated. You need to trim the hairs along the edge to get a neat look. Ears are prophylactically cleaned once every five, seven days. The lack of a procedure leads to inflammation of the auricle.
- Eyes wipe if necessary.
- Teeth are subjected to systematic cleaning. Without manipulation, tartar can be deposited on them, which leads to periodontal disease.
- Claws cut regularly with clippers, as they grow back.
- Feeding should be very strictly dosed, as the dog tends to be overweight and suffers from increased appetite. He can steal food from the table, pick it up on the street. So do not leave anything at home that tempts your pet's sense of smell, but on a walk, follow him and teach that nothing can be picked up. Tie up their long ears or use special utensils when eating, otherwise they will quickly get dirty. Do not mix prepared food and regular food. This is bad for the dog's liver because different digestive enzymes are needed to digest them.
- Walking since the spaniel's energy is overwhelming, he needs to spend more time in the fresh air, in outdoor games - loading a ball or stick. It is a great happiness for these pets to be and do something with their master at the same time. At every opportunity, if you are near a pond or river, let him swim, and he loves this.
English Cocker Spaniel training and interesting facts
He is easy to train and learns commands quickly. This is a cheerful, energetic and agile dog, so training should be built as an element of the game. Mischievous, with the help of their cute innocent look, pets often manipulate their owners. You must not allow "sits on your neck" because in the future your favorite will turn into an egoist and you will not only not force him to follow your commands, but you will also "dance to his tune."
The peculiarity of cocker spaniels is the continuous wagging of the tail, especially if the dog has taken a trail on rough terrain. They even dock him so that he does not distract her.
Purchase and price of English Cocker Spaniel puppies
It is impossible to look at such dogs without a smile. If you want to make yourself a loyal and kind friend and at the same time you are not intimidated by the prospect of grooming, think maybe you will like the English Cocker Spaniel. But do not forget that they need energy output, initially it was taken out for hunting.
Always contact professional kennels for purchasing a puppy. In spontaneous markets, sick individuals of a dubious exterior are often sold. Speculators treat animals only as a consumer, trying to derive only their own benefit from this. They keep the dogs in poor conditions, feed them with anything, do not vaccinate, antihelminthic procedures.
The price ranges from $ 200 to $ 700.
For more information on the breed, see this video:
