Food. The American cocker has a very good appetite, and at a young age, he can stretch out his stomach, then he will grow fat, and losing weight is not easy. It is necessary to watch that not to give him anything from the master's table and not overfeed. The main products for spaniel feeding are fresh and stewed vegetables (pumpkin, turnips, onions, cabbage, carrots). And also fish, meat, cottage cheese, porridge. Meat and fish should be given in the evening, and cottage cheese, salads, vegetables and cereals are best given in the morning. Meat is an indispensable product for a growing organism, as a meat it is necessary to give chicken without bones, lean lamb and not fatty beef. Puppy should be fed often, because rare feeding, walking after eating, can destroy a dog's health. The spaniel needs to eat well, move more and walk more.
Caring for a spaniel
Combing. Let's talk about wool. It seems that you do not need to comb a month and a half a puppy, but in your hands there should be a brush comb. At this age, you need to teach the puppy to ensure that he can safely treat the procedure itself combing. When the puppy is tired, after the games, put him on his knees, stroke his belly and back, get him completely calmed and grasp the comb. For a start, this will be a plastic scallop with short teeth, then a massage comb, and then a soft special brush.
Later you will need a few combs - a massage comb with a brush on the back, a rake - a metal comb with two-sided or one-sided teeth.
Daily combing massages the skin, which contributes to the growth of the coat, improves blood circulation, supports the hair in order. It is better to spend every day on combing 5 or 10 minutes than if you are 3 hours a month to tear the tangled wool from a spaniel, cut out the coils, thereby damaging the appearance of the dog. Even a well-dressed cocker spaniel, without the necessary care, will turn into a grubby dog.
Frequent scratching will harden the skin, it is less susceptible to scratches and jerks, which sometimes appear when caring for hair. If you took a brush in your hand, then you need to bring the matter to the end, and until you completely comb, do not let go of the dog. Movements with a brush should be done on the wool and against the fur on the ears, abdomen and on the paws. During the combing, the dog must be trained to lie, turning on its back. After the procedure, you need to let her get up and shake herself, then brush her hair down and smooth her on her back.
A haircut. Never cut hair on the back of a cocker. At such puppy the wool on a back lays slightly waves or lies exactly, but at the age of 7 to 9 months the puppy fluff leaves, the wool becomes on end and begins to curl.
Take a special comb with sharp short denticles. This comb is carried on the back, pushing in the direction of the tail, the down will, therefore, be well removed. If you do this for several days, the coat on your back will be flat. Depending on the rate of fouling, the frequency of the haircuts is determined, which is determined individually. American cocker spaniel must be cut once in three months, and some need to level the fur every month.
Experienced breeders advise the first haircut do not before 6 or 8 months of age, but these tips are harmful. Conscientious breeders are cutting a cocker spaniel at the age of one and a half or two months.
But some do not do it and under the magnificent fur hide the defects in the head's structure in the puppy: a flat and wide skull, cartilaginous ears and a narrow muzzle. All the same, the expert will determine all these shortcomings, and the beginner can easily fall into error, what a hairy muzzle in a puppy. The first six months of the puppy must be cut very often, so that he calmly treated this procedure. The first trip to a hairdresser for a one-year-old cocker spaniel can remain stressful for his whole life.
This all relates to a complete haircut, but there is also a hygienic haircut, which the dog owner should do every 2 or 3 weeks. For example, all the hair around the ear canal is cut. If this is not done, then the hairs that will grow will irritate the auricle, and the dog will be provoked to scratch. And already further from the claws in the scratches will get an infection that will lead to different diseases of the ears.
For hygienic purposes, the hair is cut around the anus and the lower part of the tail.
The last procedure involves the treatment of the feet. Carefully cut off the wool just above the claws, like a cup, around the pads of the paws in a circle, between the fingers, so that the wool does not touch the ground when walking. Often, not shorn paws adheres to an abandoned chewing gum, burdock, garbage, it all rolls between the pads and can cause even limp and purulent nimes.
Long "flippers" on the legs do not decorate the cocker spaniel, but simply give him an untidy look. When the paw is well trimmed, it seems as if the dog is running and does not touch the ground at the same time. If the owner of the dog closely follows the work of the hairdresser, he himself will be able to maintain his pet's coat in order. Be aware that the health of your dog depends on this procedure.
The washing up. American cocker spaniel can be washed once in two weeks, if necessary, once a week. The dog is long-haired and small, often spoiled when dusty. It is necessary that the detergent does not dry the skin. Shampoo for long-haired breeds will suit the dog, now there are a lot of them. And it is better to consult the employees of the club where your dog is registered.
But no matter how the owner tries to look after the dog, there are certain places on the body of the dog where the coots appear periodically: over the hocks, under the arms, in the groin. These places need to be processed and applied to washed hair using a brush, a special cosmetic oil. When the dog dries, it will have a "wet" look.
After that, the hair hangs, becomes slippery to the touch, but after 7 or 10 days, this oil will be absorbed, and the wool will be protected from tangling. Oil well nourishes the skin. To facilitate combing, rinse with water for one liter of water, you need to take a tablespoon of citric acid. Among other things, this procedure will protect the hair from parasites.
When you take a decorative dog into the house, some lovers believe that it does not need to be taught anything. This is not the correct opinion. The dog that lives with you must adhere to a certain behavior. From the first days of the appearance in the house, the puppy must allow himself to be taken in his arms, placed in a rack, turned over, allowed to examine ears, teeth, in a word everything that the host deems necessary.
Proper behavior of the dog should be encouraged by delicacy. When putting the dog in the rack, you must give the appropriate command, no matter how it should sound, the main thing is that it was the same. The lesson should be completed after the dog's correctly arranged rack. Teach the puppy to approach you by the command "To me". Hold a treat, show it to the dog and say the nickname and command, for example: "Jack, to me!" At first the dog will approach the food, but then will obey without it. Periodically, the treat should be replaced with praise and stroking. Once the puppy has been made all the necessary vaccinations, you can deal with it on the street.
During the walk once 5 or 6, call the dog and treat it with a treat, then release. If you just call the dog to take him home, then he can stop coming, and it will be difficult to take him away.
Usually American cocker spaniels drive on special "strikes". It is a flat one and a half meter cord, with a loop for dressing over the head and a lock, and with a loop for the hand. On such a collar the dog develops a correct posture and high carries the head. When learning, a good effect is given by "conversations" with a cockerer. The dog, when listening, raises his head, looks in the face and every few such beautiful steps should be encouraged by delicacy. After spending some 5 minutes walking on a boa, your spaniel will not be afraid of the exhibition ring, and even if you do not get it, you will show pictures of your pet to your friends, showing their dignity and beautifully standing in the rack.
The training process for different teams is described in the manuals by different trainers, we will not repeat this. After all, a well-bred dog is always more pleasant and easier to maintain.
If you returned from a walk in wet weather, thanks to obedience commands, leave a dirty dog in the corridor. And while she is sitting, you will undress, and then you can tidy up your pet, and the apartment will be clean. With a trained dog it is pleasant to talk, it is insured against the wheels of cars and from the teeth of large dogs.
A few words need to be said about how aggression manifests in the breed of these dogs. Like other puppies, the Cocker is healthy and active, in the game it can growl, disperse and grab its owner by the legs or by the hands.
In a family in which a Cocker Spaniel lives, strictly violent games are strictly contra-indicated. In order not to raise an angry "terrorist" or there is a risk to spoil the bite. If the puppy broke up, then it should be switched to a treat, toys, and if it does not help, it should be sensitive to the rump. Then take the puppy in your arms, calm down, talk, caress.
With an American cocker spaniel you do not have to show nervousness, be consistent in actions, patient and calm. Without screaming and spanking, try to execute your commands. Then your pet brings you the joy of communication, grows affectionate and obedient.
American Cocker Spaniel, a breed in which a lot of people's work is invested. Bring up and take care of the dog every day, and not just from time to time, because this dog is for you, and not just intended for exhibitions.
Now we know what kind of care for the dogs is American Cocker Spaniel. Fulfilling all the requirements, you will be able to ensure that the appearance of the cocker spaniel corresponded to the standard and pleased the eye. Be merciful to the animal that you have brought to yourself. And even if you are a busy person, then you can always allocate 15 minutes of your time to elementary care of a dog. And if not, then you need to think about whether you need to buy a dog.