Getting To Know The Cocker Spaniel

Article Title: Getting To Know The Cocker Spaniel
Author: Mark Ling

Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed,
and that includes getting a better idea about its appearance,
personality, and health requirements. Here's what you need to
know about the Cocker Spaniel:

The Cocker Spaniel is a breed of dog that falls within two
separate categories. First, you have the American Cocker
Spaniel and second, the English Cocker Spaniel. Historians
date the Spaniel breeds to somewhere around the 16th century
although the variances in breeds did not become well known
until around the 19th century. Most people think of Spaniels
as being game retrievers, but they were actually used to flush
out game for hunters.

In the mid-19th century, showing Cocker Spaniels became
popular. Just eight years into the recognition by the American
Kennel Club for showing, the two versions - American and English
- were placed in different classes. Because of this, the two
dogs are now bred specifically to incorporate traits of each.
Regardless of its hybrid quality, the Cocker Spaniel falls in
the working class, with amazing field and show skills.

Physical Appearance

The Cocker Spaniel is compact but strong and well proportioned.
The eyes are dark and expressive, the ears floppy or lobular,
skin loose, and the hair feathered, long, and silky. Most
often, this breed has a docked tail to about four or five
inches in length. The maximum height for the Cocker Spaniel as
accepted by the American Kennel Club is 15 inches, with weight
between 24 and 28 pounds. This breed also has a short but deep
muzzle and domed head. Both the American and English Cocker
Spaniel share the same color or color variations, which
include:

* Chocolate
* Red
* Buff
* Sable
* Parti-color (any of the above colors with white/black and
tan/chocolate and tan)
* Tricolor (white, black, and tan)
* Roan (black and white or red and white intermingled hairs)
* Sable (black and brown, with or without white or tan
markings)

Temperament and Personality

In most cases, the Cocker Spaniel has a happy and intelligent
temperament. This particular breed is very trusting and eager
to please, making them a great family pet. While the Cocker
Spaniel has an outgoing personality, this is also an easy to
train dog. The only thing to remember is that some breeds
require a firm hand during training but the Cocker Spaniel is
not one. Instead, you want to provide gentle training for
better results.

If you want a family pet, one that is good with adults,
children, and other animals, the Cocker Spaniel is a great
option. The nature of this breed is very affectionate, highly
faithful, and playful. This breed is so mellow that finding
one with a bad temperament would be difficult. Rated as a
good, all-around pet, both the American and English Cocker
Spaniels should be added to your list for an addition to the
family. One of the most important aspects is early and
on-going socialization.

Health

If considering this breed, you need to be aware of potential
health risks. For instance, the Cocker Spaniel is prone to a
number of things, specifically ear, and eye infections.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, cataracts, and glaucoma are just a
few of the more common health challenges. In fact, the problem
is so significant that breeders recommend the Cocker Spaniel
have an annual eye exam.

Other possible problems include Hemolytic Anemia, Hip
Dysplasia, and Luxating Patella, although not a common.
Typically, the Cocker Spaniel lives between 12 and 14 years and
if maintained on a good diet, followed by annual eye exams and
proper exercise, will have few health issues.

About The Author: Daniel Stevens is the renowned dog trainer
and author of SitStayFetch, a leading dog training guide having
sold over 21,000 copies (and counting). See
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/dogbreeds/cocker-spaniel.php
for more on breeds.

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