The English Cocker, more commonly referred to as just a Cocker Spaniel, is a medium sized dog that is well know for their long droopy ears and their almond shaped eyes. They have silky hair that is slightly wavy and can come in a huge verity of colors, from particolors, tricolors, roam, and solid colors (on a solid colored dog a small white mark on the chest is the only discoloration allowable). They should have a defined stop, and a bright, intelligent expression. Cocker Spaniels are a compact dog and should have strait forelegs, tight ‘cat like’ feet with plenty of feathering on their front legs.

History. One of the oldest spaniel breeds, the Cocker Spaniel can be traced back to 14th century Spain, however at this time all spaniels were categorized as being the same, then depending on their size used to either spring game or flush out woodcock. It was these differences that led to the official separation of the breed into the Springer Spaniels, and the Cocker Spaniels in 1892, they also split the general ‘spaniel’ breed into other separate breeds that we know today. During the 1930′s the Cocker Spaniel became the most popular breed throughout the UK and remained so for almost 30 years.

Temperament. The Cocker Spaniel is an intelligent and sturdy dog; they are loving, affectionate and excellent with children. However, A Cocker Spaniel is in fact a wonderful dog, they are gentle, playful and make some of the best companions. They are an outgoing dog, who when properly socialized, will easily take to strangers without any negative behavior.

Health Issues. Cocker Spaniels have an average life span of around 10-12 years which is just a bit lower than average for a dog of their size. The most common medical problems they can suffer from are skin conditions, cataracts, deafness (6%), heart murmurs, and benign tumors. Due to their long ears they can also be prone to a lot of ear infections and as with a lot of dogs they can also suffer from hip dysplasia. Its worth noting that they are one of the handful of dogs that can suffer from ‘Rage Syndrome’, this is a genetic mental condition that can cause the dog to suddenly attack aggressively, after the episode though the dog will have no idea what has happened, as during these ‘rage attacks’ as they black-out mentally. This is a rare condition and is mostly only found in show dog lines, it is thought that syndromes can be traced back to one dog, who won at the Westminster Kennel Club and went on to become a top sire. Studies have shown that ‘Rage Syndrome’ occurs most often in the darker solid colored Cocker Spaniels, this is thought to be purely because these are the dogs most commonly bred for the show ring, and not actually a direct link to the color itself.

Grooming. Cocker Spaniels need daily brushing to keep their coat in good conditions and to keep it from tangling, however, most pet dogs tend to have a shorter coat than show dogs and are often clipped shorter. If this is the case then you won’t need to brush the dogs quite so often. They do mostly need to be regularly trimmed to keep their hair to the optimal length wanted.

Living Conditions. Cocker Spaniels will do well living almost anywhere, although giving them a good daily walk or run is required. They are an energetic dog and will happily accept all the exercise they can get, and then some more.

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Molly, English Cocker Spaniel

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Description: The English Cocker Spaniel is a medium sized dog originally used for hunting. The dog is 15 to 17 inches at the shoulder and the bitch 14 to 16 inches and this dog will weigh between 26 and 32 pounds. The English Cocker Spaniel is a fairly compact dog with long ears. The tail is sometimes docked. The coat of this dog is medium long except of the head, where the fur is short. There is feathering on the ears, legs, underside, and chest. The usual coat colors are reddish, black, black and white, orange, or black and tan. There are considered to be two types of this dog, the show dog and the field dog. The Spaniel will usually live for 12 to 15 years.

History: Originally from Spain, the ancestors of the English Cocker Spaniel were taken to England hundreds of years ago. This dog was used as a companion to men hunting birds and other small game. The word ‘cocker’ refers to the dog’s hunting of woodcocks and it excelled at flushing game from heavy cover. The Spaniel was only separated from the American Cocker Spaniel in the 19th century.

Temperament: The English Cocker Spaniel is known for its gentle and pleasing disposition. This dog will bond very closely with its human family and enjoys interacting with them as much as possible. The English Cocker Spaniel is very good with children and it makes an excellent companion dog. This dog is easy to train and likes to please its master. One thing that should be noted here is that rage syndrome can sometimes occur in this breed. It should be noted that it is extremely rare and is usually associated with the show dogs, especially the orange ones.

Health Issues: Hip Dysplasia can be found in the English Cocker Spaniel as can Von Willebrand’s Disease, a form of hemophilia. Eye diseases can occur in this breed and progressive retinal atrophy is probably the most serious. Cataracts and glaucoma will also sometimes be present. The Spaniel is also subject to skin allergies and deafness.

Grooming: The coat of the English Cocker Spaniel needs to be brushed and combed on a regular basis – mats and tangles will form otherwise, making the dog not only unsightly, but uncomfortable. A bath now and then will do no harm, and the English Cocker Spaniel can also be given a dry shampoo. The ears will often be a magnet for ticks, and it is necessary to check them whenever the dog has been outside. Be sure to keep the ears free of excess wax and watch for signs of infection.

Living Conditions: Considering how closely attached the English Cocker Spaniel becomes to its family, it would be unkind to keep it in a kennel or chained outside. This dog does best when interacting with its people. The Spaniel is suited for apartment living as long as the owner gives it a good long walk every day. This dog loves to play and can satisfy some of its exercise needs in this way. Hunters and people who enjoy outdoor sports will find a willing companion in the Spaniel.

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Breed All About It – American Cocker Spaniel

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Description: The Field Spaniel’s coat can be black, liver or roan. Their head and skull show high breeding and nobility. Their almond shaped eyes have a gentle expression and are hazel in colour. They are a medium sized dog that are longer than they are tall, standing at around 18 inches and weighing 40-55lbs. Their coat is long, flat, glossy and should feel silky to the touch. They have long pendant ears and have feathering on their chest, underside, legs and tail.

History. The Field Spaniel originated in England during the 1800′s and used to be considered the same breed as the English Cocker Spaniel. It was in the 20th century that they decided any English Cocker Spaniel above 25lbs would be classed as a Field Spaniel. However once the breed was set up, as its own breed, it was bred with disastrous results to greatly exaggerate its length and weight which made it unable to work in the fields the way it had before. Since then though, through carefully introducing Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels back into their bloodlines they have returned to a moderate length and weight. They are good at tracking, hunting, retrieving and being a watchdog, recently the number of Field Spaniels has increased but they are still considered a rare breed.

Temperament. Field Spaniels are robust little dogs that have an easy going manner and are very affectionate. They have a docile nature, are intelligent, but can have moments when they can be stubborn. It’s important to socialise them well, from a young age or they can become shy and reserved, they are quick learners and love to have a job to do.

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Cocoa, the cute little field spaniel

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The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a small spaniel with instinctive hunting abilities. The Welsh is a gun dog which is referred to in Wales as a “starter”. This is the type of hunting dog which will startle the birds, causing them to fly up for the hunter. Like most of the spaniel breeds, he is dog that is agile and quick to quarter, with a good nose and desire to work for the hunter as a partner in flushing up the birds. The Welsh Spaniel needs to be trained to the gun early to prevent “gun shy” behavior. He is a hunting breed of great perseverance. Of course he possesses a good “nose” and should also be of a fearless nature, enthusiastic and willing to hunt for hours. His numbers are not populous and this has helped to protect his strong hunting instincts. The “show breeders” of the Welsh Springer Spaniel have not placed an over emphasis on coat, or head type, which can sometimes lead to a lessening of the instinctive qualities of the dog. Nor has this dog been over bred because of extreme popularity. Thus this is a spaniel which has retained its natural abilities and can be relied on to perform the task for which he was bred.

The Welsh Springer is somewhat lighter boned and more refined in appearance than his cousin the English Springer Spaniel. The coat is a rich red and white, no other color being accepted. The correct coat will be somewhat weather resistant and naturally clean. The breed is easy to keep with few genetic conditions, although hip dysplasia may be present and there is a small incidence of dogs of this breed being susceptible to epilepsy. The “rage syndrome” which has been reported in the English Springer Spaniel does not appear to be present in the Welsh Springer. He is a compact dog that should have the appearance of symmetry and balance. Tail is docked as a protection against the brush and thickets. Ears are lop and are smaller than those of the English Springer. The legs are strong and the rear quarters should have a good angle of the stifle for ground covering movement which is necessary for the function of the breed. The expression should be kindly and sweet.

The Welsh Springer makes a fine family pet. He is curious and lively, eager and playful. This is not a dog that should be left alone for hours, he needs human companionship and delights in long walks and playtimes with his family. He is easy to train, generally accepting of strangers and not overly noisy or threatening to other dogs in the household. This is a dog which endears himself to his owners after he is grown, but can be boisterous as a puppy and needs to be kept confined to a pen when he cannot be supervised. He is easy to train however and is usually very anxious to please and eager to learn. Once trained he is steadfast and steady both in the field and in the home.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Dogs

Welsh Springer Spaniels

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What does a chihuahua x cavalier king charles spaniel look like?

hi,
i want a dog and my two favourite dogs are chihuahua and cavalier king charles spaniel. So i thaught it would be great to have a chihuahua x cavalier king charles spaniel. what do they look like, are they nice, what breeders sell them?

They do not look nice and the people that mate these two breeds of dogs are not breeders, they are idiots. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have an issue with mitral valve disease and good breeders are working hard to remove this genetic problem once and for all. The dogs that are being used to make this blend are not from good breeding stock. You stand a high chance of getting a chihuahua sized dog with a big heart problem. All that aside, pick a dog breed that suits you and find a decent breeder that breeds for health as well as breed standard. If you want a mutt, please go to the shelter and find a wonderful dog there that needs a home.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

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Grooming your dog is not just to keep him looking good – it is also necessary for his health. An ungroomed dog is more likely to get sick, smell bad, get parasites, and suffer from periodontal problems.

The most important aspects of home grooming are daily brushing and a regular bath.

Tibbies have a double coat that is of medium length and is very soft and silky to the touch. To keep this in tip-top condition, and knot-free, requires careful attention by the owner. Daily brushing is essential and a full grooming session should be planned for every month.

The daily grooming will be done with a pin brush, slicker or specialist comb (all available from the better pet stores and catalogs). This brushing will remove cotters and tangles before they build up to cause a serious problem.  Knots, particularly under the arms can become very painful if left to build up.

When doing a more extensive grooming, it is important to make sure that you get the undercoat thoroughly brushed out as well as the top coat. If you don’t, you run the risk of it getting matted when it is soaked in the bath.

When bathing your dog, it is easiest if you put him in a bathtub with an anti-slip mat in it to avoid him slipping about. This makes him easier to handle, as well as limiting the possibility of him slipping and getting hurt.  Most dogs are not very keen on being bathed!  It is important to recognize this and to talk to him in a soothing voice to keep him calm.  If he still gets agitated, try putting him on a leash.

The bathing should be carried out using a gentle, purpose made dog shampoo. These are specially formulated to maintain the hair in good condition and keep it shiny, without stripping out the natural oil

While bathing your dog, pay particular attention to the area around the eyes. Tibbies, like many small dogs, have a tendency to have the lower area of their eyes wet.  If so, they need careful cleaning otherwise the area will stain.  It is sometimes necessary to trim the hair away from the eyes, but this is best left to a professional.

Bath-time is also a good opportunity to check for any ticks that you may have missed during the daily brushing sessions.  If you live in a town this is not likely to be a problem, but if he is walking in a park, or the countryside, ticks are a persistent problem in many parts of the country.  They also carry serious diseases that as well as making your dog ill, can sometimes be transmitted to humans.

After drying your dog from his bath, it’s time to get to work on his coat.

The first thing to tackle is untangling any knotted hair. Start out by brushing your dog with a hard comb being careful not to hurt him.  It’s best to use a quick, but not hard movement – see if you can watch a professional at work to see how they do it, or ask your breeder for a demonstration.

If knots are difficult to remove, special combs are available to help with the most difficult parts.  The important thing is to keep your dog calm and make sure that he doesn’t get either hurt or distressed.  If he does, he will remember that next time you go to groom him, and it will make him more difficult to handle.

While you’re grooming your dog, you should check his claws to see if they need trimming.  You should ask your breeder how to do this – it’s much easier to see it demonstrated than to describe it!

You will also want to check his teeth to see if they need cleaning.  It’s a good idea to brush them regularly anyway, and to have your veterinarian clean them professionally every couple of years.

If you practise these basic grooming techniques they will not take you long to master and will then only take a few minutes each day, but the effect on your dog will be noticeable.  He will look and smell good, and be more likely to stay healthy, as well as being less likely to leave a trail of hair wherever he goes!

The author, Chris Lewis, is a long time dog breeder. He has been raising, training and showing dogs for over 30 years. If you found this article interesting, you can get more details on the Tibetan Spaniel at this website Milestone Tibetan Spaniels.

Ragmop Tibetan Spaniels 2009

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