Curiosities of the Cocker Spaniel.

The Cocker Spaniel or English Cocker Spaniel is a lovely dog, ideal for family life. He is easily recognized with his long ears and deep gaze. In this article we are going to know the curiosities of the cocker spaniel; a dog that brings a lot of joy in numerous homes.

Origin of the Cocker spaniel.

The first mentions that exist about this breed of dog, are found in the writings of the famous English literary Geofrey Chaucer, known for his “Canterbury Tales” during the fourteenth century. Later, Shakespeare also mentioned it in his sixteenth-century manuscripts. In the same way, we can observe this dog in numerous paintings of the medieval period, posing with its hunting owners. Or developing hunting tasks in the fields and forests.

For sure it is unknown what the real origin of the name cocker spaniel is. Some theories mention that Spaniel comes from the Old French “espaigneul” which meant “Spanish dog” since at that time it was believed that this dog is originally from Spain; specifically the area between the former border of France and Spain; place where they were known as “Spanyelly” or “Spaniell”. Other theories say that spaniels arrived in England from the hand of their Spanish owners who sold them to English hunters and aristocrats.

What is certain is that, in these early descriptions, spaniels were divided by hunters into two groups: land spaniels and water spaniels. The first group, the land spaniels was made up of the largest dogs; which were used to search for and lift birds that fell between the bushes and brambles. While in the second group, water spaniels; they were smaller dogs but with greater agility and dexterity; so they did not hesitate for a second to enter any mirror of water to recover their prey.

In addition, they were highly appreciated for their skills in hunting a bird called Woodcock, and probably for that reason, these dogs were called “cocking” or “cocker”.

But it was until the late nineteenth century, when this dog was recognized as a breed by the English Kennel Club.

Features of the cocker spaniel

Another of the curiosities of the cocker spaniel, is that it is a dog that usually measures between 35 and 40 centimeters in height. And its weight ranges between 10 and 14 kilos. They are dogs with very good proportions, they are usually as tall as they are long. Their coat can be long or medium long and of different colors. Although two categories stand out:

• Those of a single color: they can be black, brown, or golden.
• Those of various colors: blue; chocolate, orange and white
• Character of the Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel is a very cheerful dog and easy to carry on a day-to-day basis. He is usually affectionate, but somewhat nervous and will need to discharge a lot of energy to be happy. For that reason, it is important to offer you the possibility to exercise every day; go for a walk, play, or even practice a sport.

This breed is always on the lookout for the slightest noise or suspicious movement. He wants to take care of his own and will warn of any problem. That is why they usually bark a lot, which can bother in certain cases.

Despite its numerous qualities, the Cocker Spaniel has a small flaw. He can be a bit stubborn; when you have made a decision, it is difficult to make you change your mind. But nothing is impossible with a little education.

Cocker Spaniel Education

Another of the curiosities of the cocker spaniel, is a dog that knows what it wants. That is, it is an intelligent dog and that facilitates its education; however, the person who trains this dog, must have great patience, because it is a very playful dog with a lot of energy. Therefore, proper training, combined with positive reinforcement (e.g., your favorite treats) will be able to instill the right behaviors in you.

A very recurrent problem is the issue of pulls on the strap. The cocker spaniel is a hunting dog that is used to having total freedom. And walking on a leash is not natural for this dog; therefore, you will need a little learning and a period of adaptation.

The health of the Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel is in very good health and is not prone to developing problems due to characteristics of the breed. The life expectancy of a Cocker Spaniel is between 15 and 20 years. Despite being a resistant dog, you will have to pay attention to your eyes and ears, they must be cleaned regularly to avoid any infection. It should never be forgotten that every dog should have its complete vaccination schedule and go to the veterinarian on a regular basis.

Before adopting a Cocker Spaniel it is important to know that they can develop hereditary diseases:

• Familial nephropathy: a kidney condition that leads to a loss of organ volume
• Coxofemoral dysplasia: the hip joint develops an early osteoarthritis due to malformation
• Progressive retinal atrophy: an unusual wear of the retina leading to a loss of vision
• These were some of the curiosities of the cocker spaniel. If you are considering acquiring a dog, we highly recommend this breed. He has a lot of love to offer and knows how to take good care of his family.