English Cocker Spaniel

The 'merry' Cocker, as it is called, makes an ideal family pet - a dog for Dad to take out shooting or for the children to romp with in the garden. It is manageable, intelligent and a good all-purpose gundog, second to none at flushing out game.

With correct diet and exercise the Cocker Spaniel proves to be one of the healthiest and most long-lived of dogs. Its beautiful, appealing eyes make it difficult to refuse it anything, and there are few breeds in the world to challenge its beauty as a pup.

The English Cocker Spaniel makes a gentle pet, but owners should be aware of potential eye problems.

Origin and history

The Cocker Spaniel is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. In the United States It is known as the English Cocker. It is also sometimes referred to as the 'merry' Cocker because of its happy, lively temperament and constantly wagging tail. Other titles bestowed upon it have been the Cocking Spaniel or Cocker, because of its one-time prowess at flushing out woodcock.

The Cocker Spaniel did however originate in Spain - whence the name 'spaniel' - and its ancestry can be traced back to the fourteenth century It is believed to have been used in various countries in falconry. Today, however, it is in its element rabbit hunting, flushing out game for its master, then remaining motionless until a shot has been fired. It is alsol well able to retrieve and is an ideal choice for both working trials and dog training competitions.

English Cocker Spaniel Puppies

Good points

• Affectionate, gentle nature
• Excellent gundog
• Good with children
• Long-lived
• Merry temperament

Take heed

• Overfeeding will cause weight
• problems
• Keep ears out of feed bowl
• Progressive retinal atrophy exists in this breed.

Size

The weight should be about 28-321b (12.7-14.5kg). The height at the withers should be: dog 15V2-16in (39.5-40.5cm), bitch 15-15V2in (38-39.5cm).

Exercise

This is an active dog that needs regular exercise. It adores the country and is likely to return)rom a walk with tail wagging and covered with mud. So it is not perhaps the ideal choice for smart town dwellers, but it does enjoy home comforts, such as a place beside a warm fire.

English Cocker Spaniel Information

General appearance
A merry, sturdy sporting dog. The Cocker Spaniel should be well balanced and compact and should measure about the same from the withers to the ground as from the withers to the root of the tail.

Colour
Various; in self-colours no white is allowed except on the I chest.

Head and skull
There should be al

good square muzzle with a distinct stop, which should be half-way between the tip of the nose and the, occiput. The skull should be well developed, cleanly chiselled,

neither too fine nor too coarse. The cheek bones should not be prominent. The nose should be sufficiently wide to allow for the acute scenting power of this breed useful when flushing out game in the wild.

Body
The body is close-coupled, compact and firmly knit. The ribs are well sprung, and the depth of brisket should reach to the elbow

Dogs that are too long or that lack depth should be faulted.

Tail
The tail should be set on sligh lower than the line of the back; it must be carried in line with the back and never cocked up. The tail! should not be docked too long nor too short to interfere with its action

Feet.
These should be firm, thickly padded and cat-like.

English Cocker Spaniel Feeding & Grooming

Grooming

The Cocker requires frequent brushing and combing, care being taken that its coat does not become matted. Particular care must be exercised that the ears do not become tangled; and watch out that they do not flop into the feed bowl - a common occurrence. You might consider taping them back while the dog is eating.

Feeding

Recommended would be 13-200l (369-587g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added in equall part by volume, or 2-3 cupfuls of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to Y21 cup of hot or cold water. Obviously I rations will need to be stepped up III the dog is taking vigorous exercise.

This is a breed that will plead endearingly for titbits, which should! be denied if the owner is to avoid an overweight pet.

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