| American Cocker Spaniel |
| Written by hedvig | |
| Friday, 31 August 2007 | |
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Origin: USA Description: The American Cocker Spaniel breed was developed to become the dog we know today in the 19th century. It was bred to retrieve quail. The American Cocker Spaniel is the smallest breed of the sporting group. They are sturdy with a compact body, known for their silky coats. The American cocker is smaller and has a longer coat than it's English cousin. Despite the name, the American Cocker Spaniel is in fact originally a breed of Spanish blood. The Spanish Spaniel is considered to be the oldest of the recognized spaniels, and were bred as a hunting and retrieving breed of dog. Developed by crossing setters and spaniels, it was during the seventeen century they were divided into the water and land spaniels. From Spain the dogs were transported, traded, given away as gifts, or simply travelled with their masters to England. In 1892 the Cocker Spaniel was recognized as a breed in England. In the late 1870's the breed was brought to the United States and was used to hunt small birds, such as pheasant, grouse, and woodcock. The English and American Cocker Spaniel had identical histories up until around the 1930's. In the USA in the 1930's the English Cocker Spaniel under went significant changes to achieve a different type of dog. The American cocker is 1 to 2 inches shorter, with a smaller head and muzzle, and a longer, silkier, more dense coat of hair. In 1936 the American Kennel Club registered the American Cocker Spaniel as a separate breed. The popular Cocker Spaniel, sometimes called the American Cocker Spaniel, was originally developed from careful breeding of the English Cocker Spaniels brought to the United States. The American Cocker Spaniel is smaller than the English Cocker Spaniel and has a different conformation. The name "Cocker" comes from the woodcock, a game bird these spaniels flushed particularly well. Today, the Cocker Spaniel serves primarily as a companion and glamorous show dog. It can also be used for hunting, tracking, retrieving, watchdogging and agility. This is a beautiful spaniel with very long hanging ears, a rounded head, and a profuse, silky, feathered, medium-length coat. The head is chiseled with an abrupt stop. The muzzle is wide, deep and broad with a square jaw. The upper lip hangs down, covering the lower jaw completely. The teeth are strong and should meet in a scissors bite. The nose is always black on black dogs, but may be brown on other dogs. The eyes are round, set on so they look straightforward. The eye rims are slightly oval. The body is compact, with a short back. The topline should slope gently downwards from front to back. The front legs are straight, with good bone. Dewclaws on front and rear legs should be removed. The coat comes in buff, black, and other solid colors, black-and-tan (like a Rottweiler or Doberman Pinscher), parti-color (white with black, white with buff or red, white with black and tan points) Some requirements for correct markings are specified in the standard. The tail is docked to 2/5 it's original length and is carried on a line with its back; it is constantly in motion. Field lines generally have shorter coats which are better suited to work in brush. They also have better hunting instincts. Both types make good pets. Behavior/Temperament: These dogs are typically happy, trusting, and intelligent. However, their popularity also led to considerable bad breeding in an attempt to keep up with the demand, and some lines contain dogs who tend to be high strung and snappish. As with all puppies, owners are advised to choose their breeder very carefully. American cocker spaniels are bold and keen to work as a gundog but are also suited to become a most loyal household pet. They are cheerful, endearing, sensitive and playful making them excellent pets for families with children. American cockers are also well suited with families other dogs and other animals. They crave human attention and just love to be loved. This could be a downfall if you are thinking about owning this breed and will be at work all day, as American Cockers do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you. American Cockers are fairly easy to train, provided the training is consistent and early. They can however be difficult to housebreak. However they are mostly easy to train and get along well with other animals. This is a very popular breed. Beware of poorly bred puppy-mill Cockers as they may have bizarre temperamental changes and behavioural problems. Bold and keen to work, the American Cocker Spaniel is equally suited to life as a gundog or as a household pet. Cheerful, sweet, and sensitive. The Cocker Spaniel is respectful of its master's authority without much challenge. Merry and endearing. A happy tail-wagger. Gentle and trusting, with average intelligence. They are lively, playful and devoted, but should be socialized well when they are young to avoid a tendency for shyness. Usually good with children. Cockers love everyone and need people to be happy. They can be difficult to housebreak and some like to bark. However they are mostly easy to train and get along well with other animals. Note: This is a very popular breed; the above is the typical temperament of the American Cocker Spaniel, like any breed there are always exceptions. Due to this breeds popularity one must be careful to choose a Cocker from a reputable breeder; as some have reported in to the Dog Breed Info Center® reports of Cockers that have not had great temperaments and were not good with children. Cockers with this type of temperament are not typical of the breed. Before adopting an American Cocker, be sure to give it a puppy temperament test and if possible ask to meet the parents. Beware of poorly bred puppy-mill Cockers as they may have bizarre temperamental changes and behavioral problems. This would include shy-sharpness, which is a combination of fear and dominance that can cause viciousness. Also Submissive urinating; aggressive guarding of objects, people and places, hyper-sexuality and roaming. Coat: The coat is flowing, long, silky and abundant. The long, luxuriantly feathered ears are a striking breed feature. They have a double medium length coat with the outer coat silky and slightly wavy, while its undercoat is warm and woolly. Coat colours include black, any other solid colour apart from black, and parti-colour. Colour: They come in three major color varieties: black, solid colors such as red, chocolate, buff, cream, sable and multi-coloured. Height: Dogs 15 ½ inches (38cm.) Bitches 14 ½ inches (36.8cm.) Weight: 15-30 pounds (7-14 kg.) Health: Hip dysplasia malformation of the hip joint resulting in a poor fit between the head of the femur bone and the hip socket. This condition can be alleviated by surgery, at some cost to dog and owner. Because dysplastic dogs often produce dysplastic puppies, buyers should ask if both the sire and the dam of the puppy in which they are interested have been rated clear of hip dysplasia. Do not take yes for an answer without seeing a certificate, and ask for a copy to take to your veterinarian. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): is a family of diseases all involving the gradual deterioration of the retina. It is diagnosed by a retinoscopic exam or by means of an electroretinogram (ERG). Early in the disease, affected dogs become night-blind and lack the ability to see in dim light; later on daytime vision also fails. As their vision deteriorates, affected dogs adapt to their handicap very well, as long as their environment remains constant. Certain breeds are affected early in life, whereas in other breeds, PRA develops much later in onset. Hypothyroidism, an endocrine disease that results in the abnormally low production of thyroid hormones. The symptoms of hypothyroidism include lethargy, mental depression, weight gain and a tendency to seek out warm places. Hypothyroidism can also affect the coat and skin, causing hair loss and excessive dandruff. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA): Cocker Spaniels have a predisposition for AIHA. In AIHA, the dog's own immune system attacks its blood cells. Symptoms include pale complexion, fatigue, and sometimes jaundice. A swollen abdomen is also indicative due to an enlarged liver. Treatment includes the use of steroids. Primary Seborrhea: is commonly seen in the Cocker Spaniel and is caused by overproduction of skin cells including sebaceous (oil) cells. The skin, commonly on the trunk, back and ears, appears greasy and scaly with a foul odour. Itching varies among those affected. Ear Infections - Long Cocker ears lend themselves well to infections, for the long ears prevent air circulation that would dry the ear and prevent moisture-loving bacteria from gaining a foothold. Cocker puppies must be taught from an early age to have their ears handled, for they will need to be groomed to remove seeds and other debris, tied back to encourage air circulation, and cleaned if infection does develop. Some major concern in American Cocker Spaniels are cataracts, glaucoma and patellar luxation. Some minor concerns are hip dysplasia, ectropion, entropion, PRA, allergies, seborrhea, lip fold pyoderma, otitis externa, liver disease, urolithiasis, prolapse of nictitans gland, CHF, phosphofructokinase deficiency, and cardiomyopathy. Occasionally seen are gastric torsion and elbow dysplasia. Also IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia) One owner stated, "Our cocker never had a sick day in her life until she suddenly became lethargic and urinated blood. Six days later, and $3000 in vet bills, she died. I know you can't list every illness due to space limitations, but the internal medicine specialist that treated our dog said that IMHA is relatively common in cockers, and almost always fatal. It's a fast-acting, silent killer. Life Expectancy: About 12-15 years Grooming: American Cockers need careful daily grooming to keep their coats in good condition and tangle free. They will also need to be regularly trimmed. Their ears require careful attention as airflow is restricted and ear infections often occur The eyes need regular cleaning. Some owners prefer to leave the coat long, brushing daily and shampooing frequently with quarterly scissoring and clipping. Others prefer to clip the coat to medium length to be more functional. Either way, the dog will need regular trimming. When brushing, be careful not to pull out the silky hair. This breed is an average shedder. Good with children: yes |
