English Cocker Spaniel Dog

Breed: Gun dog

Height: Dogs 15-17 inches Bitches 14-16 inches

Coat Type: Silky and flat- laying

 

Belonging to a breed of gun dogs, English Cocker Spaniel is an energetic and good-natured canine. The dog boasts of having a sturdy and robust body. Its perky, lovable, pleasant and affectionate nature makes it an excellent pet. There are several varieties of the spaniel, few among which are the ‘field’ or ‘working’ cocker and ‘show’ cocker. In terms of looks, English Cocker Spaniel resembles its American counterpart, though it is more similar to the working-dog form of the Field Spaniel and the Springer Spaniel. This breed of dog is a hunting breed, which is able to work in difficult terrain in both wet and dry land.  To get detailed information about the origin, appearance and temperament of English Cocker Spaniel, read through the following lines.

 

The English Cocker Spaniel was originally known as a general spaniel-type dog. This breed of dogs is one of the oldest spaniels ever known that were imported to England centuries ago. The breed was divided into 7 different spaniel breeds - English Springer, Cocker Spaniel, Clumber, the Sussex, Welsh Springer, Field and Irish Water. Out of these, the Cocker and Springer Spaniels were developed together, with only their size differentiating them. It was only in the year 1892 that the Kennel Club of England recognized them as separate breeds. Later, in 1946, the American and Canadian Kennel Club recognized the English Cocker Spaniel as a separate breed from the American Cocker Spaniel. The breed got its name from the ‘woodcock’, a game the dogs were known for flushing.

 

The English Cocker Spaniel is a medium-sized, compact dog, with an arched head and a slightly flattened look. The muzzle of the canine is of the same length as the head with a defined stop. Depending on the coat color, the dog has a black or brown nose and dark brown or hazel colored oval-shaped eyes. The ears are set low and hanging, covered in silky or wavy hair. It has a deep chest and straight front legs with a leveled top line, sloping slightly from the front to the back of the dog. The canine has cat-like feet with tight arched toes and docked tail. Mostly, English Cocker Spaniels have medium length hair on the body, but short and fine on the head. There is a feathering on the ears, chest, abdomen and legs. There are usually two types of English Cocker - field and show. The two are differentiated by the kind of coat - the show types having longer coats than the field/working types.

 

The English Cocker Spaniels are an intelligent, sturdy and racy breed of dogs. The dogs are known for being quite lively, pleasant, gentle, playful and affectionate. English Cocker Spaniels are excellent with children, thanks to their sociable and affable nature. They are generally outgoing, taking to the strangers easily, but few of them can be reserved without proper socialization. English Cocker Spaniels are willing and obedient breed for their owners. These dogs are extremely sensitive to the tone of one’s voice and will not listen if they sense a stern and demanding tone in their owner’s voice. They will also not respond well to harsh discipline. The temperament of both the types of dogs depends on the way their owner treat them and the kind of exercise they provide. Though both the types of English Cocker Spaniels are energetic and vivacious, the field or working type has a higher energy level as compared to the show type.

 

English Cocker Spaniels are prone to ear infections. As such, their ears should be checked often during summer season. They can even become host to tics or burr, as they hang close to the ground and this can lead to deafness in them. Make sure you don’t overfeed these dogs, as the canine is susceptible to gaining weight very easily.

The coat of English Cocker Spaniels requires daily brushing and combing. Their coat type varies within the breed. Some coats have an excess amount of cottony hair and are prone to matting, while others have a more silky and flat-laying coat which is less prone to matting. The dog should be regularly washed with a good shampoo. At the time of washing, the ears need to be checked thoroughly for grass seeds and signs of infection. You should brush the hair down over their toes, but not between the toes. This breed of dog is an average shedder.