American Cocker Spaniel, Care

Such a breed of dogs as the American cocker spaniel appeared only in the middle of the XX century. It was derived based on the widely known and popular English cocker spaniel.

When breeding the breed, American breeders set themselves the task of creating a hunting dog with a very special exterior, different from the others.

But at the end of the work it became clear that the American Cocker Spaniel differs from the English Cocker Spaniel only in the presence of thick and dense wool and a shorter, snub-nosed head.

American Cocker is an incredibly active and cheerful dog that does not sit still for a minute. Many compare it with a living, constantly jumping, ball. One of the advantages of the American cocker spaniel is that, for all its activity and liveliness, it has a surprisingly predictable and balanced psyche. It's hard to think of a best friend for playing with children, because dogs of this breed adore children and take part in fun and active games with pleasure.

Also this dog has a natural tact and a unique flair. It is the perfect combination of a visionary mind, intuition and boiling energy. This helps her to understand well the changes in the mood of the owner and to disappear from the field of his vision in time.

The mobility of the dog can be explained by the fact that for many years this breed was hunting and required the dogs to react quickly, endurance and a reserve of forces for hours of hiking through the forest in search of prey.

Standards, species, species of the breed.

A healthy, thoroughbred American Cocker Spaniel is a small, compact, proportionally-folded dog with well-developed musculature. Characteristic for this breed is a beautiful head with drooping, low-set ears and snub nose. The pride of dogs of this breed can serve as shiny and thick wool.

The color of dogs is allowed almost any. It can be either monophonic or bicolor, or mixed. Among the bicolour are often dogs of black and tan and black and white color, and among mixed - piebald and tricolor.

Dogs of this breed are the smallest hunting dogs in the world. The growth of adult males at the withers reaches from 37 to 39 centimeters. The weight of the average representative of the breed is up to 13 kilograms.

It is worth noting that the American Cocker Spaniel refers to those representatives of the canine tribe, which are ideal for living in an apartment. Small size and livable character allows him to feel comfortable even in a small area.

If you have a desire to acquire an American cocker spaniel, decide what you need a dog for.

A dog that was taken for the role of a pet can not have the qualities necessary for exhibition dogs. There will be enough mutual sympathy.

If you are planning to actively participate in exhibitions, it is not superfluous to consult with experts who will advise you of a worthy puppy. And, maybe, and will be present at its choice in nursery.

The main recommendations for choosing a puppy of an American cocker spaniel are as follows: the puppy should be cheerful, active, playful and sufficiently well-fed. Also worth paying attention to such factors as the head of a beautiful shape, pronounced angles of the limbs, the correct composition of the compact body. With the age of the dog, these indicators will change slightly, but the specialist can now discern in the puppy of the future champion.

Regardless of the purpose of the dog, it is not superfluous to make sure that the puppy is healthy. About this will say a shiny and wet cold nose, clean, without discharge, eyes, soft elastic stomach and normal stool. Also one of the main indicators of the dog's health is clean and shiny hair.

When acquiring a puppy, be sure to specify the vaccinations he has been given and whether he has been de-worming.

Maintenance and care.

Regardless of why you need an American cocker spaniel, caring for him can present some difficulties.

Dogs of this breed require a certain correspondence with the recognized original appearance. To the dog was just an American cocker spaniel, you need to visit a dog hairdresser every two to three months. It is necessary to cut the hair itself once every two weeks around the anus, between the fingers and inside the ears. As claws grow, you need to cut them. Before eating, it is advisable to tie up the ears of the spaniel so that the dog does not stain them in a bowl of food.

It is also recommended to do a daily combing of the wool. It is necessary to accustom dogs to this from the infant age, so that it becomes a habitual part of life for them.

Unlike his close relative - the English Cocker Spaniel, an American spaniel requires frequent bathing. This procedure should be conducted at least once every two weeks. You can use special shampoos and balsam-rinses.

In our time, very few people use and represent this decorative dog as a hunter, but do not forget that the temperament of a cocker requires great physical activity and certain loads.

Try to take the dog out into the woods more often, take walks in the park and outdoors. Use games with a ball or a plate - they will like a dog that loves to run fast, jump high and enjoy life loudly.

American spaniel quickly adapts to the surrounding conditions and easily gets along with people. In doing so, he tries not to violate the established rules. But, despite this, it is worth giving enough time to train the dog. Cocker Spaniels are considered very smart animals and are easy to train, especially if you teach the training in the form of an exciting fun game. Undoubtedly, such a game will bring joy not only to the dog, but to its owner.