Everyone knows the Cocker Spaniel with its long, wavy ears and sweet face. These pups were made most famous with the Disney movie ‘Lady and the Tramp.’ In this classic movie, Lady, the Cocker Spaniel, falls in love with the Tramp, a street mutt. The two share a sweet scene involving spaghetti, and has anyone really not seen this movie?
Cocker Spaniels are an old breed. There are recordings of them that go back as far as the 14th century. While that does not make it the oldest breed in the world today, it is certainly one of the oldest
. These lovable pups originated in Spain as hunting dogs. When they were introduced to the US, their popularity as pets soared.Today the Cocker Spaniel is one of the most popular breeds in the US. They are not quite as popular as the yellow lab or golden retriever, but they outmatch several other breeds. They are also a fairly intelligent breed that is easy to train.
The Cocker Spaniel is an all-around friendly and loving dog that can make an excellent addition to any family. As with any dog, it is important to know a few facts about the breed before you adopt your Cocker Spaniel pup. Here are 10 things that you should know before owning your own Cocker Spaniel.
They Are Very Social
Cocker Spaniels are a very social breed. These pups prefer to be with their people and involved in whatever is going on than to lie around doing nothing. They typically bond to multiple people and other animals with ease. They can even easily bond with cats and other small animals that dogs normally chase.
Cocker Spaniels are also very protective of those that they have bonded with. A Cocker Spaniel is wary of strangers but can be trained to be polite if socialized properly. Proper socialization is important for any dog, but particularly so for dogs that have such strong protective instincts as the Cocker Spaniel. A Cocker Spaniel that is not properly socialized can easily bite strangers.
When properly socialized, a Cocker Spaniel is one of the friendliest dogs ever. They love to be around people and have no problems with new people. They also enjoy being around other pets, particularly other small to medium dogs.
Cocker Spaniels always want to be right in the middle of the action. They are also perfectly content laying on the couch watching TV with you; they just want to be with their people. It is best to avoid getting a Cocker Spaniel if you cannot be at home with it for most of the day. They are excellent for families with children but can get lonely with a single person who works a full-time job.
Cocker Spaniels Were the First Cancer Sniffing Dogs
Today dogs are used to detect cancer in some patients. The dogs can be trained to sniff out cancer cells. They can then detect with impressive accuracy whether a patient has cancer or not. This process can reduce the need for expensive and often invasive testing that must otherwise be done to detect the presence of cancer.
Today the process for training cancer sniffing dogs has improved, and most dogs can be taught to detect cancer in patients. The original dogs that were used for the program, however, were Cocker Spaniels. The process was first proven back in 2004 and has improved since. In the original tests, it was proven that dogs could detect cancerous cells by smell. What is still not know is what it is that the dogs are smelling.
The experiment took place in England, and the original dog used in the experiment was a Cocker Spaniel named Tangle. Initially, Tangle was able to identify cancer with an accuracy of 56%. Over time this was improved to an impressive 80%.
The results of these early experiments have been corroborated and reproduced, resulting in entire generations of cancer sniffing dogs. It is also possible that cats can perform this job, but the behavior is not seen as much in cats. Some notable examples record cats sleeping beside people who are about to die or other such cases, but further research is needed.
Watch Out for Their Ears
A Cocker Spaniels’ ears are its trademark feature. Every breed has at least one feature that makes it unique among dog breeds, and for the Cocker Spaniel, it is their long, curly ears. Their ears are easily recognizable, even from a distance thanks to their long, broad shape and wavy fur.
While their ears are certainly adorable, it is easy to overlook the fact that they can be a potential health problem. Thanks to their length, Cocker Spaniels’ ears can easily pick up dirt and debris when playing outside or even walking around the house. They are also prone to ear mites and ear infections. Since ear problems are common, you should make cleaning their ears a regular part of their grooming.
The best idea is to give your dog a bath once every two weeks. Each time you give your dog a bath, you should also be sure to clean out their ears gently. A turkey baster and warm water worked excellently for cleaning out your Cocker Spaniels’ ears. Do not use cotton swabs; these can push dirt and wax further into the ear canal, eventually leading to blockage. At this point, a visit to the vet becomes necessary.
You should also keep your pup’s ear fur trimmed to prevent it from getting in their water or dragging on the ground. Some people get their pups hats to keep their ears from falling into their water or other dirt or debris.
They Are Very intelligent
Cocker Spaniels are easily one of the most intelligent dog breeds. The most intelligent is the Border Collie, with Poodles coming in close behind. This high level of intelligence has its advantages, but it also has a few drawbacks. For most people, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks of having a highly intelligent dog.
First, the more intelligent the dog, the more command they can learn. This makes more intelligent dogs better for certain jobs that require more flexibility from the dog. This is especially true of farm dogs and is a major reason why Border Collies are a top choice of breed for farmers and herders around the world today.
The main drawback to having an intelligent dig is that they can become stubborn. This is especially true when the dog gets bored. When training a highly intelligent dog like a Cocker Spaniel, it is important to keep the training interactive and engaging for your pup. If they are not kept entertained, they are not going to pay attention to the training. This can also lead them to develop bad habits over time.
Their intelligence can also be a problem when left alone. If you leave a dog such as a Cocker Spaniel alone all day, it is very likely that your dog can tear up your house. Dogs do this when they get bored. There are two main ways to handle this, provide them with more entertainment, or crate training. Usually, a combination of both is what is best for your dog.
Cocker Spaniels Love Being Groomed
Cocker Spaniels require a lot of grooming. This should not come as a surprise to anyone, however. Look at its coat, and it is easy to see that these pups need ample brushing to keep their fur from knotting and becoming matted. Thankfully, the process is simple and requires only minimal professional involvement.
The most important step to keeping your Cocker Spaniels’ coat healthy is a simple brushing. All that you need to do is brush their entire coat once or twice per day, every day. This process prevents the fur from clumping together. Over time these clumps can form large mats that cause the fur to be pulled and can become painful for your pup.
Thankfully, if you begin grooming your Cocker Spaniel when they are young, they are sure to love the experience. If you wait until they are older, you may meet with some resistance from your pup when first trying to brush them. Keep trying, however, and they can eventually grow comfortable with being brushed. By starting them young, however, you can avoid this potential issue altogether.
In addition to brushing your pup’s fur, you should also be sure to bath them regularly. This can vary, but you should generally not bath your dog more than once every two weeks.
Housebreaking is Important
Housebreaking a Cocker Spaniel is an easy, but vital job. It is always important to housebreak your dog, at least if you don’t want everything you own to smell like pee all the time. It is even more important with a Cocker Spaniel. These pups like to mark everything they see as their own, so if you do not housebreak your Cocker Spaniel, you can expect him to pee on anything and everything.
The key to housebreaking a Cocker Spaniel is repetition. Your dog isn’t going to get it the first time, or even the first several times most likely. In most cases, it can take up to several weeks for a dog to successfully be housebroken. Once the training is done, however, only regularity is needed to maintain it. This means that if you let your dog out when he needs to go out, you don’t have to worry about them unlearning the training.
A good way to make sure that you always know when your pup needs to go outside is to use a bell on the door. Simply get a bell and hang it from the doorknob. Each time you take your pup outside, ring the bell as you walk through the door. Over time your dog begins to associate the bell with going outside. They can then ring the bell to let you know that they need to go outside. There are other methods that you can try that are just as simple.
They Are Generally Healthy
Most purebred dogs suffer from some form of genetic disease. This is thanks entirely to the breeding restrictions placed on papered dogs by kennel societies. Kennel societies forbid papered dogs from breeding outside of their breed. They also emphasize certain characteristics. To account for both factors, many breeders resort to inbreeding their dogs. This reduces the gene pool and opens the way for genetic diseases.
Cocker Spaniels do not suffer the same level of genetic diseases as some other breeds, but they do suffer from some. Some of the most common are hip dysplasia, kidney failure, and eye and ear problems. Compared to other purebreds, this list is relatively short and easy to deal with. Pet insurance is still recommended as hip dysplasia surgery, in particular, can be expensive.
Since the Cocker Spaniel is such an old breed, the breed has a large existing gene pool. This has helped reduce the effects of inbreeding as it is less needed. Thankfully, breeders have recently begun shifting to more ethical and sustainable breeding practices. This means that dogs are being allowed to breed with other breeds in order to reintroduce genetic diversity to the breed while either retaining the traits of the breed or adding new ones.
In many cases, breeders are simply adding new traits to breeds and labeling them as designer breeds. By doing so, the breeders can get around the kennel society rules and still charge a premium for their puppies. Unfortunately for prospective adopters, these puppies cannot be papered, so good luck entering them into a show.
They Can Live Up to 15 Years
Thanks largely to a lack of genetic diseases, Cocker Spaniels can live for a very long time. On average, a Cocker Spaniel can live for up to 15 years. Most are fully grown after only one to two years and do not get much above 30 pounds. They are a fairly small breed and are the smallest ‘sport’ breed of dog recognized by the AKC.
They are highly intelligent dogs, but they have a bad habit of running into the road. This behavior appears even more common in Cocker Spaniels than in other dog breeds. Thanks to this, a good fence or electric fence can help to ensure that your pup lives a long, healthy life.
Many people opt for the electric fence option now, but physical fences still offer their own advantages. A physical fence serves to not only keep your dog in the yard but also to keep other dogs outside of your yard. An electric fence, however, only keeps your dog inside the yard. Other dogs are still free to come into your yard, but now your dog has nowhere to go to escape from the other dogs.
Conversely, it is easier for a dog to dig under a physical fence and escape from the yard than it is for them to get out of an electric fence. With the electric fence option, your dog cannot get out without triggering its collar. This is especially true with proximity systems.
They Have Excitable Urination Issues
Cocker Spaniels are very submissive dogs. They are naturally far more submissive than most other breeds and rarely attempt to assert dominance. This is likely due to their role as hunting dogs in the past. Unfortunately, this means that they tend to show their submission more than other dogs.
One common way for dogs to show submission is by urinating slightly. This submissive urination is meant to show that the dog is acknowledging that they are below you on the social hierarchy. This can also result from them getting over-excited. It is not uncommon in other dogs, as well.
If you notice your puppy urinating submissively, do not punish them for it. Punishing them can result in the habit of becoming permanent. If you discourage the behavior without punishment, it is likely to go away with time.
Another common mistake is thinking this is caused by a urinary tract infection. While it is certainly possible for your pup to get a UTI, the symptoms are different. If your pup has a UTI, they are likely going to be reluctant to urinate or to be vocal while urinating. This is because of the burning sensation the UTO causes. If your pup shows either of these signs, take them to the vet to get checked out. If they are just leaking a little bit while playing, it is likely just excitable urination and can go away on its own as long as it is not encouraged.
They are one of the Most Loving Breeds
Cocker Spaniels are easily one of the most loving breeds of dogs today. They are also known by the nickname ‘Merry Crocker’ because of their fun-loving and friendly nature. Cocker Spaniels always want to play and be around people. They are never too tired to play or shy away from the fun.
Thanks to their even temperament and fun-loving nature, Cocker Spaniels make excellent family dogs. They are safe to have around small children that a more temperamental breed may pose a danger to. This is especially true of toddlers. Toddlers have a bad habit of petting animals, too hard, and causing them to bite. You do not have to worry about this behavior with a Cocker Spaniel, however. The Spaniel may voice their displeasure, but they are not going to bite a person that they have bonded with.
Cocker Spaniels are one of the few breeds that benefit greatly from having children in the house. This is particularly true when all of the adults in a household have work. They can easily develop separation anxiety and can even become depressed if left alone all day.
To prevent damage to your property, crate training is the most effective option. This disallows your dog from causing damage, but it does nothing to eliminate their underlying discomfort. Over time, ignoring your dog’s discomfort can lead to further behavioral problems. Most of these issues can easily be resolved by simply giving the dog more attention during the day.
Conclusion
There you have it. The Cocker Spaniel is a loving, gentle dog with no significant health concerns. They do have some minor issues to watch out for, particularly regarding their ears, but they do not have significant genetic diseases. The most important thing to remember when it comes to your Cocker Spaniel’s health is to keep their ears clean. Ear infections and blockages are common because of their long, broad ears.
Regular brushing is needed to maintain its long coat. Thankfully, their fine fur makes this process easy, and their even temperament means that you should have an easy time. Start brushing your dog when they are very young, and most likely, they are going to enjoy the experience.
Cocker Spaniels love to bond with their people and other pets in the household. They make excellent family pets and are very protective of children. Thanks to their even temperament, Cocker Spaniels are generally very safe to have around small children and even toddlers.
Cocker Spaniels are long-lived dogs that are sure to keep you smiling the entire time. They love to be around people, and nothing makes them happier than being at the center of attention. If you want a pup that is going to be an ever loyal and smiling companion, a Cocker Spaniel may be just the breed for you.
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