Having a pet dog is every
child’s dream. A Cocker Spaniel is medium-sized, which makes it easy to bring
up in an apartment and also is constantly trying to please everyone. There
are two main types of Cocker Spaniel and they are English Cocker Spaniel, and
the American Cocker Spaniel.
The English Cocker Spaniel
The
English
Cocker Spaniel is slightly larger than his American cousin, measuring approximately
17 inches and weighing approximately 30-34 pounds when fully mature. The English
Cocker Spaniel’s features are more elongated then those of the American Cocker
Spaniel. Thus, the face is longer, the eyes oval-shaped, and the body more slender.
The life expectancy of the English Cocker Spaniel is of approximately 15 years
if treated well. They came in colors such as the
Black
Cocker Spaniel, white, tan, red and all the
combinations in between.
The American Cocker Spaniel
The
American
Cocker Spaniel is just slightly smaller than the English version, thus measuring
only 15 ½ inches maximum and weighing approximately 28-30 lbs when mature.
The bitches are smaller than the dogs by merely an inch or so and they also weigh
less. The same applies to the English Cocker Spaniel bitch and dog. The life expectancy
of the American Cocker Spaniel is similar to that of the English version if the
dog is groomed and fed as per requirements.
Other Helpful Information About
the Cocker Spaniel
Both types of Cocker Spaniels have their tails docked
to about 2 ½ inches. This is a ritual that originates back when the Cocker
Spaniel was mostly used for hunting, and the tail used to be docked to help him
not get entangled in bushes.
Both types of Cockers Spaniels are intelligent
and easy to housebreak and train with a loyal, loving and obedient nature, which
makes everyone in the family adore him or her. Both the English and the American
Cocker Spaniel are also prone to ear and eye infections, due to which you need
to take extra care and groom them as often as possible in order to ensure that
they are always clean and healthy.
Other diseases to which Cocker Spaniels
are prone are hip, elbow, and knee dislocation, and cataracts with age. The English
Cocker Spaniel is also prone to epilepsy. Cocker Spaniels should not be left alone
and unattended for long periods of time, as they will develop a panic and anxiety
disorder and turn destructive to everything that surrounds them. Breeding of the
Cocker Spaniel should be done strictly with the same breed after carefully checking
the medical records for any genetic, mental or medical disorders.
To have
a healthy Cocker Spaniel, whether it is English or American, ensure regular check-ups,
daily grooming if possible, daily exercise and balanced diet. They are originally
hunting dogs, and need as much exercise as you can offer them.
