The Cocker Spaniel, A Small Size Working Dog.

Sweet and Loving, Cocker Spaniels have a Cheerful Nature

Cocker Spaniels are hunting dogs. They are a very popular choice as a family pet. Small and cuddly, they seem to always be happy. As a small dog, a Cocker Spaniel needs less exercise than other working or sporting breeds. But they still very active and they require a fair amount of mental and physical stimulation …  and a lot of grooming. So be prepared for the extra work!

Training

The Cocker Spaniel is part of the sporting dog group and were originally bred as hunting dogs, and many of them still retain a strong prey drive for air and ground scent. They are very loyal companions devoted to their humans and don’t strive when left at home alone.

They have a loving cheerful nature.  Cockers are intelligent and are typically easy to train. They are eager to please and very food motivated. Training should be by positive reinforcement only due to the gentle nature of Cockers, harsh reprimands are likely to dampen their spirit.

They have a variety of coat colors solids, tri-colored, parti-colored, sables, roans & merles to name a few. Cockers have an average life span of 12-15 years.

The Cocker Spaniel breed is not for everyone.

They are very loyal companions devoted to their humans and people oriented. The majority of them do not do well being left alone for extended periods of time and can become very stressed.

Due to their sensitive nature they do better with older children. Cockers don’t tolerate well the unintentional,overzealous, lovingness young children can sometimes display when showing them affection such as hugging them tightly around the neck, lying or sitting on them, petting them to roughly, cornering or confining them, holding them beyond their tolerance level and pulling on those oh so tempting beautiful long ears that the breed are so well known

Grooming and Nutrition

Cockers require regular brushing, they are medium shedders, they typically need to be groomed and bathed every 6-8 weeks depending on the length of the coat. Their ears long ears require a lot of attention and need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Cockers are prone to ear and skin issues so therefore do better on a quality, nutritious grain free food.

Like most purebreds they are predisposed to certain health issues that can be costly to treat.

Exercise and Sport

Don’t let their good looks and small size fool you. They from the sporting breed therefore a working dog and require moderate daily exercise and mental stimulation.They are athletic, compact and muscular. They have endurance and speed and often do well at agility. Nosework and tracking are also great sports to get involved with to keep your Cocker out of trouble
They are indoor dogs and are not meant to live outdoors. A fenced yard is required to keep them safe and secure because of their strong prey drive for flying birds and small furry animals. They can be quite unpredictable when they pick up a scent. So it is best to keep them on the leash. When their instincts kick in, it can lead them onto the path of danger such as into oncoming traffic or take them away to unfamiliar territory where they could get lost or stolen.

Lisa Atterby had Cocker Spaniels all of her life. She created Angels Under Our Wings. a small volunteer run organization. She is passionate about the breed and want to help those dogs less fortunate by giving them a second chance and find them their forever homes. She  couldn’t bare to see all these beautiful dogs being euthanized simply for lack of space so decided she had to do something even if it was one dog at a time.

Angels under our Wings is located in Victoria BC.  The rescue is always in desperate need of foster homes. Foster homes save lives and are an integral part of rescue efforts. There is  also a need for volunteers to help out at events and with our fundraising efforts. Donations of food (Natural Balance Venison& Sweet Potato dry/canned), gift certificates for pet supplies, bully sticks, dog toys, bedding and leashes are gratefully accepted and deeply appreciated

Tags: Cocker Spaniel