Now you may not know this but, the “English” Cocker Spaniel is actually a different dog breed that a“traditional” Cocker Spaniel that most American’s are aware of.
And while they…
Are both great dogs, you really ought to know the difference between the two particularly if you’re thinking about purchasing or adopting one.
This is why…
In this article, we wanted to take a moment and discuss the English Cocker Spaniel dog breed so that you can get a better idea about what it might be like to actually own one and so that you can have a better understanding of where these dogs originally come from.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
English Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: England
Original Purpose: Bird flushing and retrieving
Height: 15 to 17 inches
Weight: 26 to 34 pounds
Dog Breed Classification: Sporting Group
Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
Origin of the English Cocker Spaniel
While it’s true that the “Spaniel type” dog breed has been around for over 500 years, they didn’t start to be breed for certain characteristics such as size until the late 1800’s early 1900’s.
It was then…
That the “Spaniel” breed began to be “customized” to meet the individual needs of the hunters that were using them. As a result, two different “types” were created, a:
- A “land” type
- And a “water” type.
The “English” Cocker Spaniel…
Belongs to the land-type of “Spaniels”. These “types” of Spaniels are generally larger than their “water” brethren and “tended” to be better at flushing out birds on land.
And because…
Hunting birds on land was a very popular in England in late 1800’s and early 1900’s, these dogs because quite popular as well, all throughout England.
At this time however…
There wasn’t an “official” designation between the Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel, because at this point in time, there really wasn’t all that much of a difference between the two breeds other than their size.
This all changed however…
When the English Cocker Spaniel was brought to America, where American breeders began customizing him to their needs which generally meant making him smaller and more compact.
Changes which…
Didn’t sit well with English Cocker Spaniel breeders and enthusiasts who ultimately went on to create an English Cocker Spaniel Club of American in an effort to discourage folks from interbreeding the larger English Cocker Spaniel with the smaller “American” version.
Eventually…
The two breeds were “officially” recognized as being different by the American Kennel Club (AKC) at which point, they both went their separate ways, with the “American” version becoming much more popular in the United States, and the English version remaining much more popular in England.
Now which…
Version you prefer is entirely up to you, we here at IndulgeYourPet feel that either way you can’t go wrong because both of these breeds make for wonderful pets.
English Cocker Spaniel Characteristics
English Cocker Spaniels are compactly built sporting dogs that have a soft contoured head, large dark eyes and lush yet close-lying ears.
And while…
They may appear to be a rather “relaxed” dog breed, you can bet your bottom dollar, that these guys are pretty much always on alert ready to spring into action and flush out any small game in their path!
For all of our “purists” out there…
You’ll be interested in knowing what the breed standards are for this breed which have been set as:
- The male English Cocker Spaniels are between 16-17 inches tall and weigh between 28-34 pounds
- Female English Cocker Spaniels are between 15-16 inches tall and weigh between 26-32 pounds
Also…
English Cocker Spaniel can come in in various accepted colors including: black, lemon and white, orange roan, sable, blue roan, orange and white, liver and white, ash, black and tan, liver roan, liver, golden, tri color, etc.
What won’t vary…
Is their medium-length coat which will “feel” very silky and soft when touch and brushed.
Personality and Temperament of the English Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed
The English Cocker Spaniel dog breed is a very happy and affectionate dog breed. These guys are typically very friendly toward most people and generally do well with other dogs and house hold pets.
And while…
They may be a “bit” reserved around “strangers”, isn’t this really what you want in a good dog? Especially a good watchdog? Which these guys just happen to be.
In fact…
They seem to have an “uncanny” ability to differentiate between “good guys” and “bad guys” and have just enough “girth” to them to make an intruder to think twice about entering your English Cocker Spaniels space.
While all the time…
Remaining small enough not to have to worry about him knocking you or your child over when he or she gets excited! Which is why, this is one of our top 10 dog breeds that we’ll often recommend to folks who have children or plan on having children in the future.
But remember…
These guys are really smart. Which means that their going to be pretty easy to train but also a menace if not given plenty of exercise and attention. Because if you leave a really smart left alone for too long, it’s just natural that they are going to become bored.
And a bored…
Intelligent dog, is likely to come up with his or her own ideas on what to do. And many of those “ideas” are likely not agree with what you would like him or her to do with their spare time.
So…
If you value your possessions, and the security deposit on the apartment that your renting, you’ll want to be sure that you enroll your English Cocker Spaniel in a good obedience class when they are a puppy and be sure to spend plenty of time playing with him or her when you get home from work!
English Cocker Spaniel’s Health Concerns
English Cocker Spaniels are a healthy breed. However, they aren’t immune to specific genetic health problems.
Let’s take a look.
- Eye problems: The English Cocker Spaniels are prone to getting eye health problems such as Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) which is a degenerative disease that affects the retinal visual cells and causes blindness as well as keratoconjunctivitis sicca or dry eye and entropion.
- Hip Dysplasia: A lot of factors including environment, diet, and genetics contribute to the weakening and deformity of the dog’s hip joint. The affected dogs can live healthy and normal lives but, may need surgery.
- Congenital Sensorineural Deafness: The condition is found in parti-colored English Cockers, and it is present at birth. The hearing of the affected pups degenerates progressively and can cause deafness when the pup is about four weeks of age.
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy: The disease affects the heart muscles if the dog and they become overly distended. This affects solid-colored English Cockers and symptoms include abdominal distention, weakness, coughing, a rapid heartbeat, and fainting.
Which brings us to…
The last topic that we wanted to mention in our article about the English Cocker Spaniel dog breed which is the importance of purchasing a pet insurance policy on your pet.
This way…
If your little buddy does get sick, you won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of his or her medical bills.
For more information about who we “feel” currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies out there be sure to check out our Top 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
