Learn about the characteristics and temperament of the American Cocker Spaniel.
The American Cocker Spaniel is the heroine of the Disney movie "Doggy Story." It is characterized by its long, glossy hair that resembles silk thread, and its appearance gives the impression of being noble, but what kind of dog is it?
Here, we will introduce you to the temperament, characteristics, and how to care for the American Cocker Spaniel.
Contents
1 Characteristic of the American Cocker Spaniel
1.1 History
1.2 Size and weight
1.3 Hair Color
1.4 life expectancy
1.5 average price
2 American Cocker Spaniel Personality
2.1 What is the personality of a puppy?
2.2 Difference between male and female
3 How to keep an American Cocker Spaniel
3.1 Diet
3.2 Exercise
4 American Cocker Spaniel Training
5 Diseases to watch out for in American Cocker Spaniels
5.1 Rage
5.2 Glaucoma/Cataract
5.3 Seborrheic dermatitis
5.4 Otitis externa
6 Points to Note in Owning an American Cocker Spaniel
6.1 Keeping indoors
6.2 Beware of summer walks
7 Caring for your American Cocker Spaniel
7.1 Brushing
7.2 Shampoo
7.3 Trimming
8 Summary
Characteristics of the American Cocker Spaniel
History
As the name suggests, the American Cocker Spaniel originated in the United States.
In 1620, the Mayflower sailing from England to America was accompanied by two dogs, one of which is said to have been a cocker Hspaniel.
It was improved in the United States and changed to the current petite, round head, and short muzzle. Therefore, the American Cocker Spaniel was named to distinguish it from the original Cocker Spaniel.
Ssize/Weight
Body weight 11-13kg
Height 36-38cm
The American Cocker Spaniel is classified as a medium-sized dog but relatively small among medium-sized dogs. Originally active as a hunting dog, it has a muscular and solid body. It has a round head, a short muzzle, floppy ears, and thick, long hair.
Hair color
The American Cocker Spaniel has a double coat with a large amount of hair and a long coat, so you can enjoy various cut styles such as the "full coat style," "boot style," and "cut down style" unique to the American Cocker Spaniel.
The American Cocker Spaniel can be divided into black variety, Ascob variety (single color other than black), and party color variety. Each of these three types has variations, so there is a wide variety of coat colors.
Average life
The American Cocker Spaniel has an average life expectancy of 12-15 years.
Large dogs tend to have a shorter lifespan, with average life expectancies of 10 to 13 years for large dogs, 11 to 15 years for medium dogs, and 12 to 15 years for small dogs.
The American Cocker Spaniel is one of the longest-lived dog breeds for a medium-sized dog.
average price
If you buy an American Cocker Spaniel puppy at a pet store, the average price is $1750 to $3150.
The price of a dog varies depending on its age, coat color, whether the parents are champion dogs, etc. In the case of American Cocker Spaniels, rare coat colors such as sable tend to be expensive.
Children who are cheaper than the average price may have health problems or other drawbacks, so please be careful.
American cocker spaniel personality
The American Cocker Spaniel is friendly and cheerful. He is friendly and pleasant to people he meets for the first time and often plays with children.
In addition, because it is a highly sensitive and intelligent dog breed, it can read its owner's emotions and facial expressions and listen to what you say. As a result, it is an ideal family dog that is cheerful, optimistic, warm-hearted, active, and obedient.
What is your puppy's personality?
Although the American Cocker Spaniel is a gentle breed, it is very active and mischievous during puppyhood. When they are puppies, everything around them is new, and they learn through a lot of play. Owners should let their dogs play while watching over them so they do not get hurt.
Difference between male and female
It is said that males are full of curiosity and have spoiled children, while females are more gentle than males. Male dogs tend to be more childish, so if you want to play a lot with a male dog, we recommend a female dog if you prefer a gentle and less barking child.
However, personality is not determined by males and females, but there are individual differences, so it is important to check what kind of personality the child has.
Owning an American Cocker Spaniel
meal
Because the American Cocker Spaniel was originally bred as a hunting dog, it can quickly become obese if it doesn't get enough exercise. Obesity can cause various diseases, so owners should adjust the amount of food according to the amount of exercise.
It is a good idea to give the guideline listed on the dog food package, and if you become overweight, reduce the number of meals and snacks or switch to diet dog food.
Your dog's daily diet is important for its health, so make sure you choose high-quality, well-balanced dog food.
Motion
The American Cocker Spaniel was originally used as a hunting dog and had stamina. If you do not secure enough time for exercise every day, stress will accumulate, so try to exercise for about 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.
They may not be satisfied with just walking, so try to play ball in the park or take in exercises that require a lot of training.
To avoid joint diseases such as patellar luxation, avoid activities that strain the joints, such as jumping from a high place.
American cocker spaniel training
When training an American Cocker Spaniel, be aware of "praising and stretching." It motivates dogs to be praised and happy by their favorite owner.
If they behave unfavorably, scold them firmly and ignore them more than necessary.
Although there are individual differences, there are many smart American Cocker Spaniels, so you can quickly understand that if you do this, you will be praised, and if you do this, you will not be bothered.
However, they are also timid, so if you scare them by yelling or giving them corporal punishment, they will shrink and lose their attention, making it difficult to train them, so be careful.
Diseases to watch out for in American Cocker Spaniels
Rage
The American Cocker Spaniel is prone to developing a genetic disorder called Rage Syndrome.
Abnormalities characterize it in the transmitters in the brain, and it suddenly becomes aggressive with barking and biting. In some cases, the symptoms can be alleviated with medication, so if you suspect a rage disorder, see a veterinarian.
Glaucoma/cataract
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve in the back of the eye, and cataract is a disease that causes the lens to become cloudy. In both cases, vision deteriorates, and in the worst case, it leads to blindness.
Owners should take care of their eyes daily and check for any abnormalities.
seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a disease in which the balance of sebum secretion is disrupted due to abnormally rapid skin metabolism. American Cocker Spaniels are prone to seborrheic dermatitis due to their oily skin.
For prevention, shampoo regularly and dry with a hair dryer.
otitis externa
Otitis externa is an inflammation caused by mites and Malassezia bacteria in the ears, so it is said that American Cocker Spaniels with floppy ears and long hair are susceptible to otitis externa.
Keeping the inside of the ear clean is the best preventive measure, so take care of it frequently.
Related article: How long do American Cocker Spaniels live? Introduce diseases to watch out for
Tips for owning an American Cocker Spaniel
The American Cocker Spaniel is considered one of the easiest dog breeds to keep as it is intelligent and does not bark. When breeding, please be careful of the following.
keep indoors
Dogs are recommended to be kept indoors, as there is a risk of traffic accidents and infectious diseases when dogs are kept outdoors.
The American Cocker Spaniel is also a lonely person, so in that sense, it is suitable for breeding indoors, where you can communicate with the owner at any time.
In addition, it has a lot of hair and is not good at heat, so it is better to keep it indoors to prevent heat stroke.
The risk of heatstroke is not zero, even indoors. Use an air conditioner to maintain a constant temperature and humidity, provide clean water, and keep your dog cool to regulate its body temperature. Try to devise such as preparing a feeling mat etc.
Take care when walking in the summer
American Cocker Spaniels need a lot of exercises and need daily walks.
However, as mentioned earlier, the American Cocker Spaniel is very sensitive to heat, so care should be taken when walking in the summer. If you take your dog for a walk during the day, there is a risk of heatstroke, so avoid hot weather and take a walk early in the morning or after sunset.
How to Care for an American Cocker Spaniel
Brushing
The American Cocker Spaniel has a lot of hair, so if you don't take care of it properly, the skin will be damp, and the risk of developing seborrhea will increase. Try to brush at least once and several times a day during the shedding season.
Shampoo
American Cocker Spaniels tend to produce a lot of sebum, so ideally, they should be shampooed once every two weeks. Drying your hair thoroughly after shampooing will also help prevent skin diseases.
Frequent shampooing can prevent illness and keep the coat beautiful. Please shampoo while taking a lot of skinship.
Children who don't like shampoo start gradually getting used to it instead of shampooing suddenly.
Trimming
The American Cocker Spaniel's fur will continue to grow if it is not cut, so monthly trimming is essential to prevent tangling and pilling.
There are various cut styles, so please enjoy the style that suits your dog.
summary
The American Cocker Spaniel is friendly and will treat people you meet for the first time. It is very brave to see the expression and feelings of the owner who loves it and tries to meet the expectations.
It's a little difficult to care for to keep its beautiful fur, but it's easy to learn and train, so it's recommended for people who have never owned a dog.
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