Jul
31
2009
0

The Beloved Gun Dog And Family: The American Cocker Spaniel

Just like the English Cocker Spaniel, the American Cocker Spaniel is also a medium sized breed of gun dog. Originally, this breed was developed in the United Kingdom as a small game hunter particularly of the woodcock, which is where the term cocker came from. In the US, the cocker breed was further developed until it became a distinctly different breed called the American Cocker Spaniel.

In its native country the US, it is simply called the Cocker Spaniel. In other parts of the world such as Canada and Europe, it is called the American Cocker Spaniel. Before, this dog flourished as a gun dog but today it is more known as a lovable family pet.

Spaniels that came to England were actually brought in from Spain and then later on developed to become good hunters. In the early days, a Spaniel’s litter was composed of a cocker spaniel and a Springer spaniel and these two were only segregated in to types when they grew up. But with the help of the English Setter, a different breed for the Cocker Spaniel has been developed.

To know the difference of an American Cocker Spaniel from an English Cocker Spaniel, the size of the former is relatively smaller than the latter. The American version also has a long and low set coat while the English one has a shorter coat. The head of the American Cocker Spaniel is dome-like and the ears are floppy while the English variety has a rectangular head and shorter ears.

The height of the American Cocker Spaniel should be 15 inches and any dog higher than 15.5 is disqualified in shows. The average weight is also 25 to 35 pounds but the male can be a bit heavier. The average life span of this breed is up to 12 years, only one year shorter than the English Cocker Spaniel.

As a pet and as a dog show competitor, the luscious fur of this breed should be carefully groomed and maintained. The coat should be soft, smooth, long, flat and double coated. There are four categories that the coat colors of this breed fall under and these are: Black, ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black), Tricolor, and Parti Color.

Describing this breed as a pet, one can say that it is affable, sweet and cheerful. As a gun dog, it is an eager worker, an obedient companion and a courageous hunter. This dog is noted for its gentleness, devotion and sensitiveness that’s why harsh reinforcement is not recommended.

The American Cocker Spaniel is fairly active and has an infinite stamina and so daily exercise should be given to it. Keeping the fluff healthy and beautiful requires daily brushing and shampooing. Additionally, regular nail clipping, coat trimming, and eyes cleaning should also be implemented.

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Jul
03
2009
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The World’s Merry Cocker, The English Cocker Spaniel

Most people know what a cocker spaniel looks like but everyone should be aware that there is an English Cocker Spaniel and an American Cocker Spaniel. These two may look the same but they are different in a lot of forms and are definitely separate breeds. Both breeds are being used as hunting companions and as conformation show competitors.

There are two varieties of the English Cocker Spaniel and they are the field/working cocker and the show cocker. The working cocker is used as a hunting companion wherein it drives game towards the guns instead of retrieving it. The show cocker on the other hand joins dog sports in conformation shows.

One interesting fact about the English Cocker is that it is continuously wagging its tail as a sign of a merry disposition therefore many have called this breed “merry cocker”. This dog is also notorious for independent and stubborn disposition although it does not mean that it is difficult to train. The English Cocker is innately intelligent and alert and these characteristics show in its face all the time.

The body of the adorable English Cocker is sturdy, compact and well-balanced. The eyes should be dark and the ears should be floppy and long that it should reach the tip of the nose when pulled forward. The tail of this breed is docked except in those countries where this practice id banned.

The coat color of the English Cocker is restricted according to its purpose. For the conformation variety, some colors are only allowed but for the working or field variety, any coat color is allowed. English Cockers are found in an abundance of color varieties and may be found in solid color, tricolor and roan.

Solid colors may come as black, silver, tan, chocolate, blue, red, gold, copper red and white. Color combinations can be black and white, black and tan, blue tick, blue roan, chocolate and tan, lemon and white, orange and white, red and white, and more. Today, hunters prefer their field cockers to have a white color on their coats for visibility purposes.

The English Cocker is well-known for a domineering and stubborn disposition but it can also be extremely loyal, likes to be around people and loves to get close with just one member of the family. This dog is also known to be very affectionate, optimistic, flexible and intelligent. According to Stanley Cohen’s the Intelligence of Dog, the English Cocker ranks 18th in working and obedience intelligence.

Interestingly, studies by the University of Cambridge have shown that the temperament of the cocker has a relevance to its coat color. The studies conclude that solid-colored cockers are more likely to be aggressive compared to the others. Additionally, findings have shown that Red/Golden colored cockers are the most aggressive towards humans when it is being disciplined or sometimes when there is no reason at all.

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Jul
01
2009
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The World Famous Happy Dog, the English Cocker Spaniel

Most people know what a cocker spaniel looks like but everyone should be aware that there is an English Cocker Spaniel and an American Cocker Spaniel. These two may look the same but they are different in a lot of forms and are definitely separate breeds. Both breeds are being used as hunting companions and as conformation show competitors.

The gun dog English Cocker Spaniel has two varieties namely the field or working cocker and the show cocker. The working/field cocker is used during game hunting but rather than retrieving the game, this variety actually drives the game towards the guns. The show cocker on the other hand is used for conformation shows most often competing in agility and obedience competitions.

This breed has been nicknamed as the “merry cocker” because of its perpetually wagging tail in manifestation of its happy disposition. However, this dog can be stubborn although it is highly trainable, too. Moreover, the face of this dog should be a manifestation of intelligence and alertness.

It has a sturdy, well-rounded and balanced body. The eyes should be dark and the ears floppy and long enough to reach the tip of the nose when pulled forward together. In most countries, the cocker’s tail is docked except only for those places wherein this practice is prohibited.

The coat colors of the English Cocker come in different varieties but some are acceptable only depending on the cocker’s variety. For the show cocker, there are only some colors that are allowed but for the working cocker, all colors and combinations are practically accepted. The color variety for this dog ranges from solid, tricolor and roan.

Examples of the solid colors are black, silver, tan, chocolate, blue, red, gold, copper red and white. Other color combinations are black and white, black and tan, blue tick, blue roan, chocolate and tan, lemon and white, orange and white, red and white, and a lot more! In hunting, hunters prefer that their field cockers have color white in their coats in able to see them properly in the woods.

The adorable English Cocker may also become domineering and stubborn but it is also extremely loyal to the family, does not like to be left alone, and loves to get close with only one person in the family. This breed is also loving, optimistic, intelligent and adaptable. This breed also ranks 18th in Stanley Cohen’s the Intelligence of Dog as a measure of the breed’s excellence in working, obedience and intelligence.

Interestingly, studies by the University of Cambridge have shown that the temperament of the cocker has a relevance to its coat color. The studies conclude that solid-colored cockers are more likely to be aggressive compared to the others. Additionally, findings have shown that Red/Golden colored cockers are the most aggressive towards humans when it is being disciplined or sometimes when there is no reason at all.

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