Mary Allen
One of the Most Popular Breed: English Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel is a lively, recognized British dog breed.
What Does It Look Like
These dogs are very compact in build and have long lop ears. They have strong jaws and muscular hind legs. They proudly carry their tails at back level.
How Big & How Heavy Will It Be?
With the Cocker, the males are up to 41 cm high and the females up to 39 cm. So they are not too big and not too small. Adult dogs weigh between 12 and 16 kg.
Coat, Grooming & Color
The coat is wonderfully soft and dense, short on the head and long on the ears, chest, belly, and tail.
These dogs come in a variety of colors – either solid, bi-color (black-white, orange-white, brown-white), and tri-color.
The eye color varies from dark to light brown.
Suitability
The Cocker Spaniel is originally a hunting dog. In the meantime, however, he is often kept as a family dog because of his cheerful liveliness. He is very affectionate and also a bit sensitive.
But then he is a good guardian for his family and an excellent playmate for the children.
Nature, Temperament
Its nature is characterized by very great cheerfulness and a lot of temperament. It is affectionate and loyal, but can also be a little stubborn at times.
It is a glutton. You have to be very careful about your diet, otherwise, the Cocker tends to get a little obese.
Its also always friendly towards other dogs, but can also assert himself against unfriendly fellow dogs.
Upbringing
The Cocker has a mind of his own and is very spirited, especially as a young dog. That’s why he should be trained as a puppy consistently and with clear rules. Exceptions should not be made as this dog will misunderstand and will then try again and again to get its way.
In general, he is easy to train as he is enthusiastic and enjoys pleasing his humans. Especially with a treat as a reward, he learns quickly.
If necessary, you should work on his hunting instinct early on, because if he encounters a fresh scent, he sometimes forgets to listen to human commands.
Posture & Outlet
Keeping in the apartment is possible if the dog gets enough exercise every day.
It enjoys retrieval exercises, likes to swim, and needs a lot of exercises. Playing and frolicking outdoors is his greatest joy. You can also take it with you for jogging or cycling.
The Cocker Spaniel is a dog that needs a lot of attention and exercise. If he gets that, then he is a grateful companion to the family.
Breed Diseases
As with all long-eared dogs, special attention should be paid to ear care. In addition, the Cocker Spaniel is prone to inner ear disorders which can lead to balance problems and sometimes even deafness. This is a hereditary disease ( congenital vestibular syndrome ).
It has been observed that red Cockers are sometimes attacked by what is known as Cocker rage.
It is the aggressiveness that haunts him like an epileptic seizure. The dog is completely exhausted after such an attack. Male dogs are more likely to be affected by this disease, which is also an inherited disease than female dogs.
Life Expectancy
On average, Cockers reach an age of 12 to 15 years.