COCKER SPANIEL

The coat of a Cocker Spaniel varies. Thick, sometimes wavy short hair adorns this dog. The color is mostly monochromatic. It can be black and light cream, and sometimes even reddish brown. There are also spotted spaniels (two or more colors). Cocker Spaniels need intensive and systematic grooming. Most owners of these dogs prefer to resort to the help of professionals who can not only clean the coat, but cut it, buy a dog. It is best to carry out this procedure once every two months. Note that the cost of such services in different salons may be different.

Many Cocker Spaniel owners prefer to keep their pets short. This makes it easier to take care of your dog in general. But even in this case, you will have to cut the dog's hair and nails every two months, as well as thoroughly bathe the dog. Grooming in dogs of this breed should begin immediately upon reaching the coat of the appropriate size. It is best to accustom to a haircut and regular combing from an early age. This will teach your pet to the procedure from childhood. The same goes for trimming your nails and brushing your teeth. Try to accustom the dog to all hygiene procedures from the first days of the appearance of the puppy in the house. Unfortunately, Cocker Spaniels are distinguished by their negative attitude towards grooming. Therefore, it is best to get extensive advice on this issue from a veterinarian.

Nails should be trimmed every month, ears checked weekly. When examining the ears, look for irritation, inflammation, and any signs of infection, which may manifest as foul odor from the ears. This procedure is important, as Cocker Spaniels are prone to various ear diseases of an infectious nature. To prevent ear problems, treat your pet's ears with a special solution weekly. During feeding it is necessary to use narrowed bowls. This will prevent the ears from getting into the food while eating. The same applies to drinkers. Some Cocker owners even put their dogs on a leash while eating to prevent their ears from getting caught in the food.

English Cocker Spaniels are easy to train, but the training and education system should include rewards and praise. Cocker spaniels are very sensitive, so any rudeness and aggression should be completely excluded during training. Otherwise, your lessons will fail. The best in training - this is the reward and praise of the animal for any, even insignificant, success.

If a baby cocker is acquired as a family friend, then the best option as a training would be to take an OKD course, during which the dog learns the commands: “next”, “place”, “come to me”, “sit”, “no” and others . Moreover, the natural qualities of English spaniels (in the field of training) are so well developed that both a professional and a beginner can teach them the basics of training. Main - do not show excessive affection during classes. The Cocker Spaniel, having figured out that the owner is too soft, will either become stubborn, following commands, or try to ignore the words of the person. As a reward during training, a calm and friendly tone is used (usually they say to the dog: “Well done!”) And a treat. Punish the dog with a strict tone of voice. In rare cases, the animal can be lightly hit on the rump with a hand, twig, or newspaper without causing pain.

Since English Cocker Spaniels are hunters, after completing the OKD course at about 7-9 months they are trained (at the request of the owner). From childhood, these dogs are taken with them during outings into nature. From childhood, the spaniel will become accustomed to the area where game hunting will take place in the future. Typically, English Cockers are used as assistants in gun hunting for upland, swamp, field and waterfowl game. At first, the animal can be accustomed to the sound of a hunting horn (sometimes a whistle), for example, by giving food, accompanying the action with a signal. So the dog will not only not be afraid of the characteristic sound, but will also understand when to approach the owner. Also, from an early age, a pet is taught to develop instincts - they hide an object (a toy, a treat) first on the lower shelves of the closet, under the bed, for example. Gradually the task becomes more difficult - the thing you are looking for lies higher and higher, and the windows are open - this makes it harder for the dog to recognize exactly where the desired is. Gradually, the animal is taught to catch the great snipe (this bird flies low and allows periodic landings), ducks, pheasants, corostels, snipes, quails, partridges. To begin with, the dog should be allowed to smell the bird, and then move away from it, pointing in the right direction to its location. As a rule, these dogs quickly learn the basics of training, which allows them to become good hunters at a young age.