Archive for the ‘english cocker spaniel puppies’ tag
The World Famous Happy Dog, the English Cocker Spaniel
Surely, most people can distinguish the cocker spaniel from other breeds but everyone should know that there is an English Cocker Spaniel and an American Cocker Spaniel. These two cockers may be similar in form but they are officially separate breeds. However, both of these cockers are used for hunting and conformation shows.
There are two varieties of the English Cocker Spaniel and they are the field/working cocker and the show cocker. The working cocker is used as a hunting companion wherein it drives game towards the guns instead of retrieving it. The show cocker on the other hand joins dog sports in conformation shows.
One interesting fact about the English Cocker is that it is continuously wagging its tail as a sign of a merry disposition therefore many have called this breed “merry cocker”. This dog is also notorious for independent and stubborn disposition although it does not mean that it is difficult to train. The English Cocker is innately intelligent and alert and these characteristics show in its face all the time.
The English Cocker Spaniel is a sturdy, compact and well-balanced dog. It has dark eyes and floppy ears that should reach the nose tip when pulled forward. The tail is usually docked to give its body balance especially in hunting but docking is not allowed in other countries.
The coat colors of the English Cocker come in different varieties but some are acceptable only depending on the cocker’s variety. For the show cocker, there are only some colors that are allowed but for the working cocker, all colors and combinations are practically accepted. The color variety for this dog ranges from solid, tricolor and roan.
Solid colors may come as black, silver, tan, chocolate, blue, red, gold, copper red and white. Color combinations can be black and white, black and tan, blue tick, blue roan, chocolate and tan, lemon and white, orange and white, red and white, and more. Today, hunters prefer their field cockers to have a white color on their coats for visibility purposes.
The English Cocker is well-known for a domineering and stubborn disposition but it can also be extremely loyal, likes to be around people and loves to get close with just one member of the family. This dog is also known to be very affectionate, optimistic, flexible and intelligent. According to Stanley Cohen’s the Intelligence of Dog, the English Cocker ranks 18th in working and obedience intelligence.
Interestingly, studies by the University of Cambridge have shown that the temperament of the cocker has a relevance to its coat color. The studies conclude that solid-colored cockers are more likely to be aggressive compared to the others. Additionally, findings have shown that Red/Golden colored cockers are the most aggressive towards humans when it is being disciplined or sometimes when there is no reason at all.
