History of origin
There is a beautiful legend that the ancestors of the English Cocker Spaniels come from ancient Phoenicia, and the word “spani” in the name of the breed is nothing more than the Phoenician word, which means “rabbit” in translation (either as an object of hunting, or an allusion to long ears of these dogs). But, most likely, this is nothing more than a myth, although images of small hunting dogs with hanging ears are found on ancient bas-reliefs.
Most likely, the first spaniel-like dogs arrived in Europe along with the Crusaders, since it was during the time of the Crusades that the fashion for falconry spread among the nobility, in which the ancestors of the spaniels invariably took part. However, those dogs were larger than modern ones, but then they were crossed with small Chinese spaniels, having achieved modern small dimensions. And the breed got its name from the English word “woodcock”, that is, the woodcock is a favorite object of hunting among the British aristocracy.
And by the XNUMXth century, the spaniel, despite the Spanish name, had become an invariable symbol of England, along with bulldogs, Big Ben and red double-decker buses.
The breed received official recognition in 1879, when British dog breeders adopted the standards of the English Cocker Spaniel.
Breed description
The English Cocker Spaniel is a small, beautifully built dog. The head is rectangular, rather large with a pronounced occiput. The ears are low set, very long, the eyes are medium in size, with an attentive and cheerful expression. The paws are powerful with large feet and webbing between the toes, which allows these dogs to easily move through the swamps. The coat is quite long, especially on the ears (there is often also wavy) and paws. Sometimes requires a hygienic haircut. The tail is docked 2/3. Height at the withers reaches 40 cm, but not higher, weight – about 14 kg. The colors are very diverse, the most common are black and piebald, fawn, fawn and piebald, black, chocolate.
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Character
The English Cocker Spaniel is incredibly positive. He is always cheerful, always ready to play and communicate. However, this is not the kind of dog that will rejoice at any person – cockers are quite distrustful of strangers. This is never expressed in the form of aggression, but the dog will simply keep his distance, avoiding familiarities.
These are very active dogs, so if you are not a hunter, be prepared for long walks where your four-legged friend can run, “hunt” pigeons, and play with other dogs. Cockers, like all other spaniels, are completely fearless, so be careful when approaching large, serious dogs. Like all hunters, Cocker Spaniels are prone to independence and, being let off the leash, can go somewhere on their own business. They love water very much and willingly bathe in any body of water – whether it be a lake, the sea or a dirty puddle.
In general, this is an excellent family friend, and more and more often English Cocker Spaniels are brought in as companions, because they are incredibly sensitive to the mood of the owner and always behave very delicately.
Care and maintenance
Like all other spaniels, English Cockers are great for keeping in a city apartment. Of course, provided that they walk a lot, otherwise you can say goodbye to beautiful wallpaper and furniture polishing – out of boredom and unspent energy, spaniels begin to destroy everything that turns under their teeth. Otherwise, the English Cocker is a fairly trouble-free dog. In food, he is unpretentious, does not take up much space. Here, however, after a walk in slushy weather, it will take quite a long time to wash it, since this specialist in hunting for water game is unlikely to bypass puddles and dirt. Also, his luxurious long ears often end up in a bowl while eating, so it’s better to remove them in advance with a hair tie or under a special cap. A tall and narrow bowl will also work.
Cockers do not need frequent bathing with shampoo, it is enough to comb them out once a week to remove loose hair.
Education and training
The English Cocker Spaniel is a very independent and intelligent dog. He tends to decide for himself what to do and where to go. On the hunt, this is no doubt a plus, but in ordinary life – alas, a drawback. Therefore, from the very beginning, you need to convey to the puppy that you are the owner and think tank. Pack instincts will prevail over individualism, and the dog will recognize you as a leader.
It is necessary to start training with basic commands: “no” (“no” or “fu”), “you can”, “place”, “come to me” and, of course, a response to the name. Also, from childhood, it is worth eliminating food aggression in a spaniel – the dog should not growl and rush at people while eating. To do this, the first month, while the puppy is eating, you need to keep your hand in his bowl.
Another problem that concerns all hunting dogs is picking up on the street. This also needs to be weaned, otherwise the dog runs the risk of poisoning.
Health and disease
Cocker, being a typical representative of his breed group, has all the problems inherent in it. In particular, these are ear and nervous diseases. English Cocker Spaniels are very emotional and temperamental, therefore they are often prone to hysteria, which can take painful forms. Therefore, owners should exercise maximum patience and calmness while communicating with their dog. In no case should you yell at a spaniel and, moreover, show violence.
In the absence of sufficient loads, Cockers become prone to obesity with age, which, of course, does not benefit their health.
In general, these are quite healthy and long-lived dogs, maintaining a cheerful disposition and activity until the most advanced years.
Word to the breeder
Breeder Irina Kukoleva from the kennel “Iriski’s” in Moscow says about this breed: “The English Cocker Spaniel is a small, but at the same time strong and well-knit dog with thick paws and good bones. Expressive eyes and long ears give their appearance a special charm and charm. Long adorning coat requires regular, but not particularly difficult grooming. But it is not an obstacle for active walks and hikes with a dog. Because the English Cocker is primarily a dog for active pastime, which is happy to accompany the owner anywhere and everywhere.
The English Cocker is not only a companion dog. Representatives of this breed work wonderfully in the field, even those that are descended from show winners.
Going in for sports is not a problem – many representatives of our breed are permanent winners and prize-winners of agility competitions, many dogs receive diplomas in training, an obedience course.
Like any dog, the Cocker needs proper education, and then the pleasure of communicating with this breed will be for life.
It is necessary to purchase a puppy only from breeders of the RKF-FCI system. This is a guarantee of breed, natural character and temperament, appearance and health of the pet.
А breeder Irina Zhiltsova, owner of the kennel “Irzhi” from Samara, adds: “The spaniel is more of a companion dog. But in view of the fact that the Cocker is still a very active dog, he can also be a good hunter. He likes long walks, he likes when they communicate and work with him. In general, these dogs are very human-oriented and perfectly trainable. But due to the fact that this is a long-haired breed, the future owner needs to be prepared for the fact that the dog will need to be taken to the groomer regularly.”
Popular questions and answers
Answered our questions about keeping and caring for Cocker Spaniels cynologist, author of a book on the behavior and training of dogs Irina Makarenkova.