American Spaniel: description of the breed (photo)

Until recently, the most beloved companion dog was an American cocker spaniel. Reviews of the owners especially noted his friendliness, activity and curiosity - with such a pet you do not get bored and will not stay without regular physical exertion. In the last couple of years, the excitement over the breed has somewhat subsided, but to this day such dogs can often be found on the street, and breeders do not complain about the unclaimedness of the newborn puppies.

Becoming a breed

The American Spaniel, no doubt, shares a common breed with the English spaniel, although specialists have not been able to accurately track the details of its origin. There are vague data that the forefathers of modern breed representatives brought the first settlers to the newly discovered continent. For quite a long time, they crossed with local dogs, and in the 18th century the breed was deliberately started to improve, first of all again with English cockers. However, the goal of breeding was basically the intention to get a hunting dog of small size. The goal was achieved: today the American spaniel (photo is confirmed) is one of the smallest of existing hunters. But the starting point for the appearance of such dogs appeared a hundred years later. Only in the 19th century was the American cocker spaniel officially recognized. The cattery of James Ferrow was breeding only this breed. And the best specimens grown in it became the ancestors of the state spaniels. The breed was fully formed by 1915, although the British long did not want to recognize it. Britain agreed with its existence already in the second half of the 20th century. In Russia, the American spaniel first appeared in the seventies, then it was considered a very rare and even exotic animal, which was why it was very expensive.

Note that the English resistance was initially doomed to defeat. The breed differs from the British analogue not only by much smaller sizes, but also by the shape of the head (in particular, by the famous snub-nosedness), and the physique and freedom of color. And as for the ancestors - so in all dogs they are common.

Breed Standards

What does the American Cocker Spaniel look like? The description of it can be quite short, but at the same time capacious, and it will not be difficult for him to recognize the dog even to someone who has never seen such a dog. To begin with, it is small - an adult male above 39 centimeters does not grow. And if all this happens, it means that his mother went out with a representative of another breed. The maximum weight is thirteen kilograms. Exceeding this indicator with a regular growth is a serious reason to take care of the health of the pet. The constitution of the American Cocker is strong and proportionate, the head is beautiful in shape, with large eyes, hanging low-set ears and characteristic snub-nosedness. The coat is long, glossy and thick. Its color can be anything - and monophonic, and two-color (usually black and white and very appreciated black and tan), and piebald, and tri-color. Thanks to such a wide range, any person can find a pet with a color that corresponds to his aesthetic preferences.

Characteristics of character

Many people, an American cocker spaniel (his photo can be seen in our article) is perceived as a companion dog. He really is great in this role, most importantly, do not "lead" on plush appearance and treat him like a toy. Do not forget that before you is a hunter, albeit not used now in this capacity. The character remained serious! Yes, and unclaimed abilities can spoil it. Therefore, it is worthwhile to introduce some rules in dealing with the dog:

1. On walks, do not just wander around with a pet, but organize active games and practice at least the simplest teams. In a word, make him work: he will feel necessary, and obey will become better.
2. To work out certain prohibitions and demand their observance: for example, do not drag from the table and do not beg for it or go to bed with the owners. If you ever give slack, a charming American spaniel literally sits on your neck, finding yourself the chief in the pack.
3. Pay attention to the psychological condition of the dog. If it is inflated, it should be reassured and relaxed from communication. But you should not allow growling at yourself, and even more so - manifest physical aggression. Your pet should not feel dominant.

In all other respects, if you do not succumb to provocations and do not go in for a touching appearance, the American cocker spaniel breed is absolutely problem-free. Its representatives easily get along with any pets, kindly treat children, even the smallest ones, take into account the features of the rhythm of life and the temperament of the owners.

Casual care of wool

The main trouble that the American Cocker Spaniel requires is the care of his gorgeous skin. The animal is especially beautiful due to its wool cover, but, like long hair for women, it requires regular attention. You need to comb your hair every day, and the American spaniel puppies should be taught this procedure from the moment they appear in your home. The process of an experienced "hairdresser" takes about five minutes. If you have not had an American Cocker before, and even if you have an untrained puppy, it may take a lot longer. However, forget about combing or postpone it is not worth it. Firstly, it is much harder to fight with koltuns. Secondly, if your pet learns that the procedure is inevitable, then he will treat her patiently. When your dog grows up, you can comb it much less often - once a week, puppy fluff will come down, and wool without extreme in the form of rain and itself will look normal.

Required Baths

But you can not do with combing your dog. Spaniel American also needs regular bathing. Most often, washing is done every other week. Every month, a pet is bathed only if the weather is dry outside for a long time, and it does not last long. Before washing, the dog must be combed out to remove the formed coils. The water is recruited a little warm. If for the first time it is too hot for the puppy, then it will take a long time to work on luring him into the bath. Shampoo is bought either special, canine, or human, intended for damaged or dry hair. After washing, apply balm, on the tangled places - more, washed off, the hair is squeezed out with a towel (do not carefully wipe it) and dried with a hair dryer with simultaneous combing.

A haircut

To your American spaniel (photo can be seen in the article) did not turn gradually into shaggy, albeit cute pooch, about once a season it will need to be cut. At first, all the owners turn to this zoosalon for this purpose. Many in due course, having looked narrowly and remembering a sequence of work, render the pet hairdressing services independently. However, with the first haircut, it is not too much to delay: if for the first time your American spaniel hears the sound of a nine-month-old machine, he will most likely get scared and will act aggressively on the haircuts. If you bought a puppy already trimmed, and for a long time the hairdresser turns out to be unclaimed, sometimes include near him some appliance, similar to the sound of a typewriter, - a mixer, electric shaver, etc. The dog will get used to the fact that the noise should not be anything terrible, On him pay attention and will calmly treat the procedure.

Care for the feet

Paw pads in all dogs - a vulnerable place, especially in a city where the roads and lawns are just not lying around, except the dogs we are considering are not. The American cocker spaniel also has a thick coat on its paws. As a result of this, it is not only difficult to notice the wound at times (the dog itself hinted at this in the end), in wool it can get confused, and hurt the paw later. Therefore, after each walk the feet are not only washed, but also carefully examined. And on the washing day, the wool between the fingers is trimmed.

Some owners claw their claws. However, it is believed that if the need arises, the dog moves little. In a city with a sufficient duration of walks, claws without sideward tidy about the asphalt.

Care of the ears

All lop-eared breeds require special attention to their "mugs". First of all, they are not sufficiently ventilated, in connection with which there is excess moisture and temperature in the sink. Such conditions are ideal for accumulating dirt and, consequently, the development of a variety of diseases. So you need to clean your ears even more often than your own. They carry this procedure very philosophically, after the first time they felt considerable relief.

The second danger is pincers. From the middle of May to the end of September, ears are carefully inspected for the detection of these parasites, pulled out, if they are, and burned.

If the American cocker spaniel (photos of these handsome men are listed in the article) behaves restlessly, whims, shakes constantly with his head, rubs his ears, and when they see uncharacteristic discharge of dark color with an unpleasant heavy odor, the dog urgently needs to be taken to the vet. At a minimum, your pet has otitis, and it should be treated under medical supervision.

Care of teeth

With a correct and balanced diet, an American cocker usually does not have problems with teeth. To prevent dental difficulties, it is necessary to accustom the dog to milk and cottage cheese - they supply teeth and bones with calcium. Try to plant the puppy's habit of eating fresh tomatoes. It turns out not always - dogs, like people, have their own taste preferences. However, in the case of a lucky tartar from your pet, you will not find it ever. You should also give him a nibble of raw bones. Only not tubular! Beef muscles are quite suitable. Many "Americans" willingly gnaw apples, and this intention should be encouraged.

Naturally, you can not give your pet any sweets and pastries. In addition to the fact that in dogs the metabolism is disturbed from them, the stomach spoils, and the animals rapidly become fat, their teeth have no resistance to sugar. During the year with regular such feeding, the teeth of the dog turn yellow and begin to break down.

Older animals and exhibition specimens are cleaned. It is desirable for this purpose to use tooth powder. Find it in ordinary stores is now unrealistic, in pet shops it is also often absent. You can use human toothpaste, just choose it without the smell and pronounced taste.

Food

How to feed your Cocker is up to you. The main thing is that the food had everything you need. However, regardless of whether you are preparing yourself, or giving the dog ready-made food, remember that all cocktails - both English and American - can not stop eating. They eat while they see something in the bowl. Therefore, they need to give food strictly dosage, otherwise half a year later you will have a thick sausage on your legs on a leash. If you are something to encourage the pet between feeding, consider this in the total amount of food. And watch the dog carefully for a walk: this hunter and the glutton can pick up everything tasty from the ground. Besides the extra calories, it is also the risk of poisoning the dog.

Purchasing a puppy

The best place where an American cocker spaniel can be bought is a nursery or a club. When purchasing with hands, there is always the risk of buying a puppy with non-thoroughbred ancestors. And this is fraught not only with deviations from the breed standard, but also with a more aggressive nature. In addition, it is not a fact that the "market" pet will be healthy and vaccinated by age, and also not awarded hereditary diseases. If the purity of the breed is important to you, check the pedigree of the puppy. Please note: this document has certain security features, and not printed on a card with a color printer. Obligatory presence of a veterinary passport with indication of all vaccinations made.

When choosing a puppy, take a good look at his behavior. He should be moderately active, but not aggressive, play with his sister brothers, move fast and be interested in the world around him. If at the approach of a person a puppy is hammered into a corner, growls or whines, and even more lets a puddle, then choose another: this problem with the nervous system. Do not take the smallest in the litter. Maybe he's the sweetest, but, most likely, the weakest.

Beginning of education

To make the little cockerer easier to adapt in a new place, it was less stressed and did not get a nervous trauma; certain conditions must be met already at the time of relocation.

1. Picking up a puppy from the mother is better early in the morning - so it will be easier to transfer the separation.
2. Before the trip, it can not be fed, negotiate it with the breeder in advance.
3. On the road, do not allow strangers to touch the dog - it is already frightened and confused.
4. The habitat should be prepared the day before: a place for sleeping with a litter is allocated, bowls with water and for food are put, a cat's pot is prepared (at first, until the puppy learns to endure, it must be taught to cope in one place, and the tray in this respect Ideal).
5. Upon arrival, the toddler is sure to try to hide somewhere. Do not forcibly extract him from the shelter - let him sit still. It is necessary to stop the enthusiasm of the family about the new member of the family and remove them from the room until the puppy has mastered and will not come out himself.

Note that the education of a small "American" should begin from the first day. Call it should be only a nickname, without any "lapushka" and "kutya." The collar is worn as soon as the puppy begins to examine the apartment. Softly, but persistently need to accustom it to eat in one place and not to drag food through the rooms.

Who should not start an "American"

If you like the American Cocker Spaniel, you have been told about the breed, you have enough money to buy a thoroughbred dog, think about the purpose for which you get a puppy. To refuse from the observed breed follows in two cases:

1. If you intend to give a dog to a child of preschool age. Your offspring is not yet ready to perceive the animal as a partner. A pretty appearance will make him a plaything in the eyes of the baby. Of course, the Cocker will not harm the child. But your son (daughter) will dilute him to such an extent that it will be difficult to coexist in an apartment with him. Here is a teenager such a dog - an ideal friend.
2. If your elderly relative feels lonely, and you want to brighten up his life. In such a situation, choose a better animal. Firstly, the American spaniel is very active, and it will be difficult to walk with an elderly person. Secondly, caring for him is quite laborious, takes a long time (it's okay - the old people have enough) and strength. Thirdly, the content of such a dog is quite expensive: the services of a dog hairdresser are not cheap, and the dog will not be able to feed one porridge.

To all the rest, especially non-slim people, the American spaniel is quite suitable as a family dog. The feedback of those who have been living with him for many years are positive.