English Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed Profile
The English Cocker Spaniel can make a great family
dog. She has a great temperament, is highly trainable
and loves her human family. She needs extensive exercise
so either a properly fenced in back yard and or frequent
vigorous walks are a necessity. She requires above average
grooming care due to her long pendulous ears and her
long and silky coat. She generally gets along well with
other pets, especially if socialized young. She loves
children but may need to calm herself down with them.
As a reminder, never leave children unsupervised with
a dog or puppy.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size
(two years old or older) of the male English Cocker
Spaniel is 16 to 17 inches to the withers (highest point
of the shoulder) and 28 to 34 pounds. The female ranges
from 15 to 16 inches to the withers and 26 to 32 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds
have certain inherited health problems associated with
that specific breed and the English Cocker Spaniel is
no exception. Be on the look out for ear infections
and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (inherited disease of
the retina that can cause vision loss and blindness).
This disease list is an informative guideline only.
Other diseases may also be significant threats, please
contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the
first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as
an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for
shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and
on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for
check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog
sweets.
*Grooming. The English Cocker Spaniel has a silky,
fine, medium length, slightly wavy or flat coat. She
will benefit from occasional professional grooming.
She should be brushed regularly. Brushing will help
her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats and
help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen
your emotional bond with her. Dry shampoo or bathe as
she needs it. Her hair around her feet need attention
also.
Her ears should be specifically checked once a week
and be kept clean. If you have her professionally groomed,
make sure ear cleaning and inspection is part of the
package. No water or excess fluid should get in the
dogs ears, and do not try to irrigate the ears. Ear
cleaning is too complicated and critical to instruct
here. Look for hair growing in the ear canal, excess
wax, or moisture. If her ears have a discharge, foul
odor or she seems to be in distress and you suspect
an infection, or tumor, consult your veterinarian.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with
toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing
removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which
can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease.
Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth,
bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and
clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow
slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally
a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore
and competent instructions to accomplish this can be
found on the net.
*Life Span. The English Cocker Spaniel can live
between 12 and 15 years with proper nutrition, medical
care and excellent living conditions.
*History. The English Cocker Spaniel comes from
comes from Wales and southwest England where they were
used for hunting game and retrieving. They were first
registered by the American Kennel Association in 1878.
Some Registries:
* English Cocker Spaniel Club of America, Inc.
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry
Litter Size: 3 to 8 English Cocker Spaniel puppies
Category: Gundog, Sporting
Terms To Describe: Active, merry, energy, alive,
affectionate, good disposition, faithful, good companion,
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Good watch dog.
High learning rate.
High obedience.
Easy to train.
Generally a good child dog.
Can tolerate cold.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
Poor guard dog.
She needs major exercise.
*Other Names Known By: Cocker Spaniel
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this
information may be correct for your dog. This information
is meant as a good faith guideline only.
About the Author
Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website
developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.
www.petpages.com
is a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds,
and puppy for sale info
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