All about American Cocker Spaniel

The American Cocker Spaniel is one of the smallest hunting dogs. This animal is characterized by mobility and endurance and literally glows with joy and optimism.

The history of the origin of this hunting dog breed can be judged by an intricate name. It is believed that the very first spaniels appeared in Spain, known for its hunting grounds. After some time, they came to the UK, where English breeders actively took up them, having begun multiple crossbreeding. As a result, many newer varieties appeared, including cockers, and they were all commonly used during hunting.

Obviously, the word "spaniel" has Spanish roots. It was there that these animals were distributed among the Crusader knights - great lovers of hunting for flying game and rabbits. However, if we take into account the data of archaeological excavations, pets with long ears came to Europe from Malaysia, so it can be said with a high degree of probability that before getting to the Iberian Peninsula, the old ancestors of the cocker spaniels lived in different countries.

Dogs of a similar type were bred in the Balkans and North Africa, and from there the Carthaginians brought them to Spain. In those years, Spanish lands were literally flooded with rabbits - it is no coincidence that the name of the country translated from Spanish means “country of rabbits,” so breeding dogs there was a necessary measure.These animals proved to be excellent hunters who quickly coped with the invasion of eared rodents. It was this feature of them that became the reason why local dog breeders engaged in active breeding of the breed.

It is difficult to say exactly when the animals came to Britain, but one thing is obvious - as soon as this happened, the British simply could not pass by and not pay attention to this hunting breed. In those days, spaniels at the English court enjoyed an impeccable reputation and were considered court favorites. In the X century, a pretty serious fine was imposed for the theft of this four-legged thief hunter. This is not surprising, because spaniels then cost a whole pound - at that time quite a lot of money.

Over time, spaniels gradually spread throughout England, and since different regions of this country have their own specifics, the number of varieties of dogs, respectively, increased. The animals were distinguished by their size, color and coat length, each new breed received its name in honor of the nobleman who owned them.

Even experts now find it difficult to calculate how many dog ​​breeds appeared in England over several centuries. The very first information about cocker spaniels is dated 1697 - then breed breeding was actively engaged in the largest counties of Devonshire and Wales. By the way, it was during that period that the dogs began to stop tails so that during the hunt they would not get life-threatening injuries.

English cockers then could boast of a variety of stripes and from their fellow tribesmen were distinguished by their small size, more elongated body, light weight and rather thick coat. As before, the breeders made no attempt to infuse the blood of some other varieties of spaniels. The situation changed only in the middle of the XIX century, when English cockers were singled out as an independent breed, and in 1859 dogs even participated in an international exhibition. The winner then became the owner of the cocker spaniel named Obo. In those years, a dog with this strange name was considered a real standard of spaniel breed, which was guided by many generations of breeders.

The descendants of Both were repeatedly recognized as leaders in competitions, two of them - Bo-2 and Chloe-2, were later exported to America, where they laid the foundation for the famous breed of American cockers. After meeting these animals in the United States, a funny puppy was born, which the breeders, without thinking twice, were nicknamed Obo-2.

This dog was slightly different from typical English cockers - he had very big eyes. In England, he was immediately recognized as a defective puppy, but in America they saw the possibility of creating a new charming breed that would be not so much a hunter as a good companion for children and adults.

American cocker spaniels differ from their English counterparts in several ways, the main of which is the shape of the head. The muzzle of the Americans is 2-2.5 times shorter than the skull, while the transition from the forehead to the muzzle has become more pronounced. The eyes look so big that the dogs look a bit like a humanoid.

Their fur has become a little more magnificent and elongated, and the undercoat has become more dense. In American cockers, it seems to fall from the body of the animal, and the sternum and ears are covered with rather thick curls.

Despite the fact that animals of the American species are not suitable for hunting, they are distinguished by a strong skeleton and developed muscles. This is a very hardy and extremely active animal, ready to rush tirelessly all day.

American cocker is a fairly compact breed, small, but at the same time very strong. The animals are distinguished by a graceful head landing and pronounced musculature.

The muzzle is usually wide, ears set low, always hanging, with a long wool coat. The tail is usually docked, but this question is left to the owner's discretion.

Silky, thick and rather long hair, slightly wavy and with a good undercoat, is distinguished from English cockers of American dogs. Its color can be the most diverse. Brown, chocolate, fawn, black and red dogs are widespread, two-and three-colored animals with white spots, as well as tan colors are less common. By the way, in black dogs, the nose is also black, and in all other stripes it is most often brown.

American cockers are restless and affectionate dogs that are ready to go even to the ends of the world for their master. These dogs get along well with cats and other pets. However, this does not apply to birds - the blood of hunting ancestors still makes itself felt, so dogs can encroach on the life of birds. In the presence of the dog, canaries, parrots and other birds are best kept in a cage, and released for a walk only at those hours when the four-legged hunter disappears from their field of vision.

American Cocker Spaniels are friendly with children, but at the same time they can’t 100% control themselves - they are passionate about games, therefore, in excitement they can attack a child and even bite him a little. In general, an American character is characterized by liveliness of character. As breeders respond, this is one of the few breeds that, even in adulthood, fully retains all of its puppy habits.

These dogs do not take tricks, so they feel when the owner gives slack, and use it to the fullest. Feeling freedom of action, they remain charming, but at the same time they become uncontrollable mischievous people who absolutely do not recognize any restrictions.

American cockers are so much dependent on the presence of a person that sometimes it becomes almost manic dependence. That is why the breed is not suitable for workaholics who disappear in the service for days. This dog does not tolerate loneliness, and indefatigable temperament requires a constant surge of energy, which the owner, who is always absent from home, is unable to provide them.

Therefore, putting your pet under lock and key for the whole day, be mentally prepared for the fact that upon returning you will find gnawed shoes, wallpaper torn from the walls, broken blinds - Your pet all day tried to entertain himself as he could. The nature of this dog is such that without activity the animal comes up with a fascinating activity for himself and the house turns into a real sports ground.

A spaniel is a hunting dog, not a guard dog, so it will not guard your house and will not act as a bodyguard. Despite a cautious attitude towards strangers, the American quickly makes contact with them and is immediately imbued with confidence. These dogs express any displeasure with a light growl, biting only in the most extreme cases.

It should be noted that American cocker spaniels are real masters of seduction, who are well aware of how favorable and disarming the impression they make and actively use their knowledge for a variety of purposes. For example, if your American wants to enjoy something tasty, then she will turn on all her charm to get the coveted “yummy”. But you should not follow his lead, otherwise the animal will gain excess weight very quickly.

Sometimes this dog begins to show aggression during games - it can hang on its trouser leg, bite at the finger and cling to the hands with sharp teeth. While the dog is small, it may look entertaining, but as it grows up, teeth begin to give owners a lot of trouble, and getting rid of acquired habits can be almost impossible.

The merits of the breed include the hunter's talent, peace-loving character, compact size. This animal has everything to become a good hunting companion and ally, it is perfectly adapted for life in a city apartment and does not require much space. American cockers can easily get along with other pets, can doze with cats and dogs, feeling like part of a large flock.

When choosing a pet, first of all, you need to determine the class of the puppy and evaluate your financial capabilities. If you need a dog of a show category, which is allowed to participate in exhibitions and serves as an excellent breeding material, be prepared to part with a rather large amount, as well as the costs of constant trips and maintaining the spectacular appearance of your dog. If you need a pet just for the soul, then you can buy a cocker with defective signs that make it impossible for him to participate in contests, but at the same time do not detract from his cheerfulness, love for the owner and funny appearance.

An important criterion for evaluating dogs is gender. Bitches are softer, they quickly adapt to a new place of residence, while males begin to find out who is the boss in the house. However, if you acquire a female for further breeding puppies, then you also will not pass her behavioral twists at the time of estrus.

The optimal age for acquiring a young American cocker is considered to be 6-9 weeks. If the puppy is younger, separation from his mother will be a difficult test for him, and if you buy a dog of an older age, it is likely that the young dog will miss some important aspects of socialization. For example, if he spent too long in an open-air cage - unfortunately, there are also such unscrupulous breeders.

A reliable indicator will be friendliness and energy of a young cocker. To make sure of his complaisance, you can conduct a small test - put the dog on his back and press a little on the belly of the dog. If the baby perceives this as a new game and does not get angry - buy it without hesitation, if the dog begins to show aggression - it is better to refuse the purchase.

It is not recommended to buy an adult dog. The fact is that the separation of such an animal from the owner is always accompanied by psychological trauma, since cockers are very strongly attached to a person. It is possible that you will not be able to make contact with your pet.

From about 8 weeks old, cockers begin to feel fear of outsiders, so during this period it is extremely important to establish their communication with all household members and guests of the family. If you miss this moment of socialization, it can grow aggressive towards people or, on the contrary, it will be too timid.

Newly made owners of the American Cocker Spaniel are usually worried about increasing the height and weight of their puppy, so they are often interested in the growth rates of puppies at different ages.

Approximate parameters of such pets are:

• 1 month - 1.5 kg;
• 2 months - 3-3.5 kg;
• 3 months - 5-6 kg;
• 4 months - 6.5-8 kg;
• 5 months - 8-10 kg;
• 6 months 9-10 kg;
• 7 months - 10-12 kg.

The weight of an adult male is approximately 12.5-15.5 kg, females - 12-15 kg. Height at the withers in males is 40-43 cm, in females - 38-41 cm.

Since the American cocker refers more to decorative companion dogs than to hunters, its habitat may be a house and a small apartment, but the pet must be properly looked after. This dog is taken out for a walk twice a day, but after vaccination. In the first 6 months, the young cocker is not allowed to descend the stairs himself, otherwise his limb position may deteriorate.

Caring for an American begins with arranging a corner with a stove bench, buying bowls, drinking bowls and necessarily toys. It is better to place a berth in a secluded place where the dog will not be hurt by the feet of the household, where drafts do not penetrate, but at the same time it is not worth equipping the corner of a four-legged friend near the battery. In the very first days of stay in the house, the cocker spaniel will try to ignore all your efforts and will certainly try to lie down on the couch, armchair or in any other place that seems attractive to him.

Americans love walks, we can say that they need them like air. In the process of walking, be sure to let the animal run and stretch, the dog with great desire drives the race with you. It will be useful to train her in maintaining good posture - for this you can let the walking dog pull you forward. But it is better to limit contacts with other animals, especially homeless animals, since cocker spaniels have a high predisposition to various infections.

Please note that the cocker spaniel is the dog is not for irresponsible owners. Maintaining a tidy state of her coat will require a lot of effort and time. Newly-made owners should definitely get a nimble, as well as a chipper and several combs. These purchases need to be done as quickly as possible, since you need to comb the cocker every day. Do not be reassured that the kids have a rather rare coat - as the pet grows older, it will become much thicker.

The combing process is quite tedious, because the sooner the puppy is accustomed to it, the better for him and for you.

Puppies and adult dogs love active walks, because a lot of dust, dirt and road debris sticks to their fur coat, which indicates the need to wash the dog much more often than dogs of other breeds - approximately every 2 weeks. It is best to use for washing special shampoos from a veterinary pharmacy designed for long-haired animals. It is best to supplement the care with the use of conditioner balms.

To facilitate combing, you can rinse the pet after the bath procedure with acidified water - the use of weakly concentrated citric or acetic acid gives the coat a beautiful shine and also protects the skin from fleas.

The wool of an American cocker tends to fall off, and the quantity and quality of care for the dog does not affect it in any way.

It is very important to constantly engage in the ears of the American Cocker Spaniel. Before eating, you need to lift them and securely fix them with a soft rubber band so as not to dip them in food. The American’s auricles accumulate sulfur and earplug quite quickly, so mites often wind up in them. To avoid such troubles, you should at least once a week to inspect the auricles and auditory passages, remove the accumulated dirt there. To do this, a couple of drops of slightly warmed vegetable oil are instilled inside and the surface of the shells is wiped with a solution of boric alcohol or a special veterinary lotion.

With the eyes of an American, there is also a lot of trouble. In some dogs, the eyelids do not fit tightly, so dust and debris often get on the mucous membrane, which leads to the development of inflammatory processes. Sore eyes soothe with a weak solution of furatsilina or infusion of chamomile. If your eyes begin to fester, you can instill albumin in them.

Twice a week, you need to brush your dog's teeth, especially if he is fed with natural food. If dry food predominates in the diet, its grains perfectly clean plaque, so the procedure should be carried out much less often - about once a month.

From time to time, American cockers need to be cut. It is best to accustom the dog to this procedure from 1.5-2 months, if you hold on to this, then the dog is under great stress. For domestic dogs that do not participate in competitions, the usual hygienic treatment, which is carried out every two to three weeks, is quite enough.

During the procedure, the animal is cut out with tassels, plucking long hairs in the ear opening, and also tearing off the hair between the toes. Once a quarter you need to visit the groomer - he shortens the hair in the nape of the neck and from the muzzle with the help of a machine, in addition, at the request of the owner, he evens the length on the sides and mills the wool in the area of ​​the shoulders and sternum.

American cocker spaniels often suffer from indigestion and are prone to being overweight. Allergies also make adjustments to the dog’s menu, so when feeding animals, it is best to give preference to dry foods of premium and super premium class and series for small breeds with sensitive digestion.

A mixed diet is allowed. In this case, natural products are added to it:

• sour milk - low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, sour cream;
• lean meat - rabbit, chicken, beef or veal;
• the eggs - no more than two chicken eggs per week and no more than one quail per day;
• seafood - Necessarily without stones and shell.

Some owners prefer a completely natural pet menu. In this case, meat should account for about 70-75%, and for all other products - about 30%.

Even if you do not intend to take your American for hunting, you will have to deal with the training of a four-legged friend, if only for the sake of your personal comfort and peace of mind of the household, because a poorly trained dog is still a lawless person who does not obey any standards of dog behavior.

Animals of this breed easy to train, but innate restraint does not allow them to learn commands. The lesson will be learned faster if classes are held in a playful way. The method of food reinforcement will be a very good help - be sure that not a single American cocker spaniel can resist a delicious treat.

The trainers begin with the study of the simplest commands - "sit" and "can not."From the very first days of living in the apartment, the puppy must clearly understand its nickname, as well as clearly remember the essence of the “place” command.

Any abuse of animals should be avoided. Cocker spaniels have a rather subtle spiritual organization, so with a loud cry and even more so with beatings, you will only get extra phobias.

In America, cockers are known as athletes - they are frequent participants in agility competitions, so a pet must be trained in a quality faithful stance. So, for the formation of good posture, you can walk your dog in the "ring", which is a shortened tape with ends twisted into loops. A leash of this kind allows the dog to pull up its head, keeping it in a slightly elevated position.

Keep in mind that such an accessory must be used strictly dosed. - in no case should an animal have the feeling that they are being pushed around.

American Cocker Spaniels live quite a long time - 14-16 years, however they do not differ in strong immunity, therefore they are characterized by congenital and priority diseases, which representatives of this breed quite often encounter. First of all, this includes behavioral anomalies that are the result of improper upbringing - aggression, a tendency to panic conditions.

Spaniels have skin asthenia, in which the skin loses its sensitivity. Due to carnitine deficiency, the heart muscle suffers, which often leads to dilated cardiomyopathy.

In American cockers, an eversion of the eyelid and keratoconjunctivitis are often found, as is inflammation of the outer ear and inflammatory infections on the paws.

There are a great many suitable nicknames for spaniels. Most importantly, the name should sound melodic, indicate some specific properties of the breed or have a certain meaning. The most popular names include Cosmos, Max, Jim, Jerry, Zeus, Watson, Leater, Ninja, The Hobbit or Bilbo.

Some owners come up with their boys names that characterize the suit, for example, Akira (pearls), Yuki (snow), Ren (lotus) or reflect some character traits of the pet - Keko (happy) or Haru (spring).

Eared pets differ in a playful disposition, therefore they look harmoniously with such names as Shaman, Circus, Tenacious, Igrun, Zorkiy, Cowboy or Dexterous.

Some breeders prefer names from Slavic mythology, such as Anchar, Valdai, Arman, Nady or Ferry.

Cocker spaniel girls are usually called Berta, Molly, Alma, Theisy, Remy, Ilsa, Dolly, Sheldi, Sophie, Anda, Greta and others.

In total, there are more than a thousand nicknames suitable for a cocker spaniel, so each owner will probably be able to choose which one will be best suited for his pet.

The breeders' feedback on the American Cocker Spaniel is mostly positive. As a rule, the characteristic of dogs describes them as excellent companions who will charge everyone around with their love of life and optimism. People appreciate their kind and cheerful disposition, and, of course, a spectacular appearance that leaves no one indifferent.

About the features of the breed, see the next video.