The Cocker Spaniel
by Aaron Wilmont
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The name "cocker" hails from the woodcock, a bird this spaniel
was initially bred to hunt. Excellent retrievers with sensitive
mouths, Cocker Spaniels are great at hunting all sorts of birds in
difficult terrain. Because they are originally hunting/water dogs,
their skin tends to be super oily. Though the English Cocker is
regarded as a companion dog because of his good nature, the
intrinsic talents of this breed fall in the realm of hunting,
retrieving, competitive obedience and agility.
A compactly crafted, medium-sized dog with long floppy ears
that reach to the nose when pulled forward, this breed is strong,
well-balanced, and solid with medium length hair. Their inky oval
eyes have an unyielding intelligence about them--enough to make
you melt.
These companion dogs are energetic, merry, and easy to love.
Naturally affectionate, they are wonderful with children--to a
point. Though gentle and playful, they do not tolerate teasing and
taunting very well. With strangers, this dog is a socialite and
will chat it up with the best of them. A great watch dog, the
English Cocker Spaniel barks if anyone knocks on the door and they
obey orders respectfully.
Though this breed is generally outgoing, some individuals in
the breed can be quite reserved. In fact, temperament varies
widely in this breed. Some Cocker Spaniels suddenly become enraged
and bite their owners for no apparent cause--this is known as
"Cocker rage." Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be an
effective way to treat this. Some female cockers can be fairly
dominant and should not be placed with passive owners. Because of
their long ears and their love for outdoor exercise, this breed is
prone to ear problems due to heat and/or bacteria. During the
summer, the ears should be checked for grass seeds and signs of
infection and cleaned often to remove wax buildup. HealthyPetNet
Ear Care will help this kind of debris to rise to the surface,
allowing you to clean it out with ease. Hanging so close to the
ground, the ears become quite vulnerable to ticks and dirt. It is
highly possible for this breed to go deaf if the ears are left
unchecked.
Grooming is also a must. These dogs are also known for their
skin challenges. Because of their oily skin and various allergies,
itching, lesions and sores can occur often. Board certified
dermatologists suggest that these dogs should be washed 8-10 times
a week!
Make sure you give this breed plenty of exercise because a low
thyroid, which these dogs are known for getting, can result in
obesity.
If you plan to trim down this summer, this dog is the perfect
companion. This breed loves exercise and has plenty of stamina.
You'll find yourself struggling to keep up.
About the Author
This article initially appeared in the June 06' issue of the
Healthy Pet Net Newsletter. More dog information at
http://www.dog-food-nutrition.info
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