English Cocker Spaniel: description of the breed. Character of the dog, content, training

English Spaniel - to the impossibility of a playful animal. A small tail, hanging ears and huge eyes create a special atmosphere of absolute happiness and joy around this little dog. And the soft, flowing under the fingers, full of shine, the hair asks to be stroked.

In the Middle Ages, when this breed was born, cocker spaniels were used in hunting as hounds water dogs. The breed English spaniel (photo below) was born, as you might have guessed, in England. To date, these pets are not just dog hunters, they have become true friends for people because of their light and cheerful disposition.

English Cocker Spaniel. Description of the breed

They do not have high growth, on average 39-41 cm, knots a little less. For exhibition individuals, there are quite serious requirements for appearance. The pet should be of small height and weight. According to the rules of the standard, its weight should vary in the region of 12-15 kilograms. However, the main focus in checking is the correctness of the constitution, not weight. The dog should be very well-fed, with beautiful and shiny hair. Without signs of rickets and other abnormalities in health. Eyes bright and shiny, wet nose, well-groomed ears. Here's the first thing you should pay attention to when buying an animal for yourself. For breeding or participation in exhibitions the requirements are much broader.

So: There are certain rules of the standard for the dog English Cocker Spaniel. The description of the breed, presented below, will allow you to understand how to properly look a thoroughbred dog.

Rules of the standard

• The head has a clearly defined, regular shape of the skull, with a pronounced transition from the nose to the frontal lobe.
• The ears are located on one level with the eyes, thin, drop-shaped. Since they are quite long and at the same time low planted, they easily reach the nose of the dog.
• Eyes large enough, but not convex and always dark in color. Bright and shiny pupils. But for animals chocolate color is allowed a light brown shade of the eyes.
• The nose is straight, with a large tip and developed nostrils. Color - black, except for the breeds of chocolate shades, they are allowed a brown nose pads.
• Bite: cheekbones are even, not protruding. The incisors must be strictly vertical, and the bite should have a scissors-like shape.
• The body is well developed with a regular top line and a slight inclination from the waist to the beginning of the tail.
• The chest is deep, beautifully folded, of medium size.
• The back is rather short, straight, with strong muscles.
• Forelegs straight, short and with full pads.
• Hind legs differ from the forelegs with more developed musculature. They have impressive thighs, giving the power and speed of running. The shins are straight, parallel to each other.
• The tail is below the line of the back. Trimmed in half or two-thirds of the length.

Summarizing, we can say that the requirements for these dogs are quite strict. And when selling a puppy of the breed, the English Cocker Spaniel price is set with the calculation not only of the personal qualities of the animal, but also the status of its parents.

A haircut

Since this breed of dogs was bred in the UK, the haircut must be done according to the rules of this particular country. It is performed in a very natural style, and when looking at a four-legged friend, it seems that his hair was a creation of nature, and not the result of painstaking work of the master.

Cutting an English Cocker Spaniel hides its secrets, the main one of which is the use of scissors for filing. Cutting can be divided into two parts - first treat the head and body, not forgetting to thin the undercoat of the animal, and then begin to cut the hair on the ears and paws. English spaniel (photo below) is trimmed according to all the rules of the standards for this breed.

Character

Distinguished by an extremely good-natured temper and extreme energy. The dog will be an excellent friend to children and a wonderful helper. With proper education with this merry beast, you can participate in agility exhibition competitions.

Spaniels are very affectionate, becoming loyal to their masters for all their lives by faithful companions and companions. Due to their very easy nature, they perfectly get on with the rest of the animals in the house. But do not indulge their whims, while they are still puppies, otherwise a very wayward and harmful dog will grow up in the future. These dogs are trying their best to play a dominant role in the family.

Rules of training

They are admirably amenable to training. These are great athletes, in whose blood lives a real hunting passion. Knowing the characteristic features of the dog's behavior, it is necessary to make the exercises as saturated as possible and establish equal relations. Under no circumstances should you beat a pet, it will never forgive you. But do not give a descent either, otherwise your four-footed partner will grow up to be an extremely selfish animal.

Care and maintenance

It is a very beautiful dog, with shiny, flowing hair and bright, bottomless eyes. But, as far as she is beautiful, so does she require attention. The greatest advantage of this breed is wool. True, it is also the biggest drawback, bringing a lot of hassle and problems for those who keep at home such a dog as an English Cocker Spaniel. The description of the breed, presented below, affects very important nuances for the care of this dog.

• Moulting in the dog is not a periodic, but a permanent character. It must be combed every day to remove dead hair. For the same purpose, you need to periodically trimming. Everyday combing will save from the coils, which easily form on a curly thin coat.
• It is not necessary to wash the animal often, this may cause dandruff, and the hair itself will grow dull and become completely ugly. But you need to clean daily, especially since the dog simply adores when it is scratched. To do this, use a special brush, with teeth of different lengths. Brushing is a very useful procedure, because during it a massage is performed, which improves blood circulation and, consequently, metabolism in the animal.
• Claws are trimmed as they grow, using claws. Do not forget about the wool, which grows in the intervals between the pads on the paws, it must necessarily cut.
• In winter, when coming from the street, always wash salt from the paws of your pet, it can provoke a strong inflammation.
• Ears, too, need close attention. Somewhere one or two times a week they are cleaned with a special solution, and periodically, using a tampon of cotton wool, remove various secretions. During feeding, ears need to tie, or buy a bowl for cocker spaniels. Extra hair in your ears is trimmed.
• About three times a week, you should wipe your eyes with tea brew or a certain solution, which is sold in a veterinary pharmacy.
• Teeth also need regular cleaning, with toothpaste for animals and brushes. Do not rely on food, which itself cleanses the teeth.

Remember, you need to accustom your four-legged friend to hygiene from childhood. And then the procedures, the implementation of which has already been brought to automaticity, will not take much time. And your dog will be healthy and beautiful.

Do not buy an English cocker spaniel if ...

An animal has a very beautiful coat, which requires constant attention. If you are not ready to give the dog a considerable part of your time from your personal life, then you should not start it, so you will only ruin the life of yourself and your pet.

Who should buy an English Cocker Spaniel

If you have never had a dog, but you are ready to do your dog, giving him all the caress and care; Or you have children, and you decided to purchase the whole family in the house of a four-legged friend, then this is the dog that you need. Incredible mobility and friendly character will not leave anyone indifferent. For hunters and those who just love to travel in nature, this dog will be a wonderful partner.

Health

Spaniel lives about 15 years and has, in general, good health. True, some members of the breed with age overtake such eye diseases as glaucoma and cataract. Keep in mind that dogs with a monophonic color are usually prone to aggression and require more strict upbringing. An indispensable condition for maintaining the animal's health is a large number of outdoor walks and active physical activity.

Mating characteristics

If you decide to breed puppies for sale, you should consider that this is a rather complicated process. Think well, clearly assess your abilities, and only then start looking for a partner for your dog. After all, to puppies of the English Cocker Spaniel appeared in the near future, it is necessary to invest a lot of energy and finances in caring for your pregnant ptomite.

Before mating, it is necessary to conduct all necessary tests to ensure that the bitch was completely healthy. You also need to do a genetic test. The testicle should be repeated 2 times a year - this is an indicator of the norm. It is after the passage of all procedures before the estrus that the mating of the English Cocker Spaniel will be most fruitful.

The process of binding itself must be strictly controlled. First, animals are given time to get acquainted and adapt in new conditions. Next, in order to prevent the bitch from escaping, it is held by the head and underneath the belly, until the moment of the so-called castle. The duration of the castle is usually about ten minutes. A couple of days it is recommended to repeat the binding.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Ordinary pregnancy, without any problems, occurs during the course of 56-63 days. To accurately determine the date of onset of labor, the rectal temperature is measured. When it falls and will stay at around 37 ° C, you can begin to prepare for the process of the appearance of puppies in the light.

Primary labor is best performed in the presence of a veterinarian, since a caesarean section may be necessary. Puppies appear in the membranes, do not interfere, the bitch itself gnaws them and frees the kids. Childbirth is a rather long process, usually the second puppy appears only three hours after the first. Then things go a little faster.

Puppies English cocker spaniel require a very careful attitude. If the knot does not have milk, or it will be too small, then you will have to feed your little ones yourself. Every two hours, including at night, they will need to be watered from the bottle with warm milk.

Somewhere in 2.5 months puppies are planted. And only then, plus a week of incubation period, with the kids can go out for a walk on the street. When selling English cocker spaniel puppies, the price of promising youngsters is significantly higher and may differ significantly from the usual market value.

Color

A black English Cocker Spaniel is not always completely monophonic. This color has many options, for example: black and tan, black with gray, black and piebald. Clean, without impurities, a black tint - a rare phenomenon.

In the breed English Cocker Spaniel colors are very diverse, and in different countries there are their wishes for coloring. For example, in Eastern Europe love the golden-red color scheme, and a rare, pure white color is considered undesirable, since it can go hand in hand with congenital deafness.

Summarizing, let's say: if you have children and you want to have a dog, then take a closer look at such a puppy as an English cocker spaniel. Description of the breed, provided in this article, makes it clear that from it grows a terrific four-legged friend, who every day will please you with his cheerful disposition.

English cocker spaniel reviews always get very sympathetic. Many owners note that this is a wonderful dog, a little timid, but very kind. Everyone likes her touching face and beautiful hair. And always the owners mark her playful character.