The Cocker Spaniel and his nature
Not without reason the Cocker Spaniel is one of the most popular dogs in Germany. As a family dog he is an ideal companion with a very friendly nature. He is spirited and cheerful. However, he can also show a certain stubbornness from time to time. The Cocker Spaniel is a very adaptable dog who loves to play. Its practical size makes it an excellent companion. But the hunting fever is still in the Cocker Spaniel and so he needs regular and extensive activity. He has a great urge to move and simple walks are not enough for him. However, he likes to be animated to retrieve or to swim. If you are looking for a passionate hunting companion, you will find in the Cocker Spaniel a dog with intelligence and enthusiasm for rummaging. It pursues traces intrepidly, even if it must go for it through dense bushes or into the water. The Cocker Spaniel learns quickly and gladly and is interested in everything new. If it is used to full capacity, it is always in a good mood and gives a lot of pleasure to its family.
The Cocker Spaniel and its historical background
Spaniels may already have existed for several centuries. Lore and artistic representations prove this fact. These dogs have always been companions for hunting and as such were called "Field Spaniels" in the last century. Only much later the terms "Springing Spaniel" and "Cocking Spaniel" were created. These names referred to the kind of the dog, to hunt. The Cocking Spaniel or today's Cocker Spaniel was bred especially for hunting the woodcock. Today's popular family dog is the result of elaborate and dedicated breeding. This happened mainly in England. Around the turn of the century the first dogs arrived in Germany. Predominantly the Cocker Spaniel was a hunting dog, which was used until the Second World War mainly as a rummaging dog. From the 1920s on, the Cocker Spaniel became established as a family dog, whose marriage lasted from about 1950 to 1970. At this time he even reached the top 10 of the most popular dog breeds in Germany, which he has not left until today. As a hunting dog, the Cocker Spaniel is still to be seen occasionally today. The official name of the dog is meanwhile "English Cocker Spaniel". The reason for this is the "American Cocker Spaniel" which is descended from the European original and is popular as a show dog in the USA.
The appearance of the Cocker Spaniel
With a size of about 40 centimeters, the Cocker Spaniel is one of the small dog breeds. He is compact and sporty built. From the ground to the withers it measures as much as from the withers to the base of the tail. The Cocker Spaniel therefore has a square build. A pronounced stop or forehead-heel and a square muzzle mark the head of the spaniel. The characteristic eyes are large and brown. Long and drooping ears are a special characteristic of the Cocker Spaniel. The tail is moderately long. The Kupieren was earlier generally usual. Today, however, it is allowed only with proven hunt-dogs. The fur of this dog is soft, silken, dense and long. The exception forms the head. Here, the coat is short. Therefore, the Cocker Spaniel belongs to the long-haired dog-races, that also require special care. In color the Cocker Spaniel offers a colorful repertoire. The most common is the solid redheaded spaniel. Single colored black or brown is just as possible as multicolored, moldy or pied.
What are the requirements of cocker spaniels?
The Cocker Spaniel is cheerful and gentle but also spirited and lively. It is affectionate and faithful to its humans. It is open and friendly to both humans and animals. Therefore he is the perfect family and companion dog. He adapts quickly and easily, but in any case he needs a consistent and loving education and clear guidance. As a dog with a pronounced hunting passion he can be very stubborn at times. If the hunting fever seizes him, the obedience is not seldom put out of force. He needs a lot of movement and mental workload. Sufficient run, retrieval games or dog sports are especially important for him, because the Cocker Spaniel tends to be overweight. Regular weight control and care with the food are also required. If this dog has enough occupation, it can also be kept in the apartment. Besides that the Cocker Spaniel needs extensive care. The fur must be brushed daily. Eyes and ears should be checked regularly and cleaned if necessary.
The perfect human for the Cocker Spaniel is...
As an extremely lively contemporary, this dog needs a lot of exercise and therefore also time. He is not a dog for comfortable people who like to spend their free time on the couch. If the Cocker Spaniel is not left out, it becomes fat, ponderous and very obstinate. He is rather a dog for sporty natures, who like to walk, ride a bike or go swimming with the dog. Since he needs a lot of care, this time has to be calculated into the daily routine. With children the Cocker Spaniel usually has no problems in any age group. Nevertheless, it must always be carefully considered whether the education of children and that of a Cocker Spaniel can really be well combined. It should always be remembered that the Cocker Spaniel will immediately notice and react if it is not receiving 100% attention.
The Cocker Spaniel and its health
Basically, the Cocker Spaniel is a very robust dog that can reach an age of about 12 to 15 years. However, there are some diseases that are typical for this breed. These include problems with the eyes, which make regular checks necessary. It can lead to hanging eyelid, roll-lid or even cataract, eye discharge or conjunctivitis. The ears of the Cocker Spaniel are also susceptible. It is prone to infections, mites or even deafness. In addition, its tendency to be overweight also predisposes it to diabetes. One of the cocker spaniel's own diseases is cocker fever. This is an unprovoked aggressiveness that occurs in attacks. The reasons for this disease are not fully understood. Again and again, however, an occurrence with the fur-color "golden" (red) is discussed.
Conclusion
Sporty people who are willing to train a dog consequently and lovingly will have a lot of fun with the Cocker Spaniel. He can integrate very well into an existing family, because he has no problem with children. Nevertheless, it must be weighed up well whether there is enough time for the dog besides raising children. In any case it should be considered that the Cocker Spaniel still has a passion for hunting. Under circumstances this behavior can become problematic and so one should be prepared for it at any time. Whoever enjoys sports with his new housemate, pays attention to his diet and learns to deal with his peculiarities, will find a loyal companion in the Cocker Spaniel.
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