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Breed Standards
for
Cocker Spanielswww.dogbreedinfo.com
Description | This is a beautiful
spaniel with very long hanging ears, a rounded head, and a profuse, silky, feathered, medium-length coat. The head is chiseled
with an abrupt stop. The muzzle is wide, deep and broad with a square jaw. The upper lip hangs down, covering the lower jaw
completely. The teeth are strong and should meet in a scissors bite. The nose is always black on black dogs, but may
be brown on other dogs. The eyes are round, set on so they look straightforward. The eye rims are slightly oval. The body
is compact, with a short back. The topline should slope gently downwards from front to back. The front legs are straight,
with good bone. Dewclaws on front and rear legs should be removed. The coat comes in buff, black, and other solid colors,
black-and-tan (like a Rottweiler or Doberman Pinscher), parti-color (white with black, white with buff or red, white with
black and tan points) Some requirements for correct markings are specified in the standard. The tail is docked to 2/5 it's
original length and is carried on a line with its back; it is constantly in motion. Field lines generally have shorter
coats which are better suited to work in brush. They also have better hunting instincts. Both types make good pets. | Temperament | Bold and keen to work, the American Cocker Spaniel is equally suited to life as a gundog or as
a household pet. Cheerful, sweet, and sensitive. The Cocker Spaniel is respectful of its master's authority without much
challenge. Merry and endearing. A happy tail-wagger. Gentle and trusting, with average intelligence. They are lively, playful
and devoted, but should be socialized well when they are young to avoid a tendency for shyness. Usually good with children.
Cockers love everyone and need people to be happy. They can be difficult to housebreak and some like to bark. However they
are mostly easy to train and get along well with other animals. | Height, Weight | Height:
Dogs 15 ½ inches (38cm.) Bitches 14 ½ inches (36.8cm.)
Weight: 15-30 pounds (7-14 kg.) | | Living Conditions | Cockers
will do okay in an apartment if they are adequately exercised, and are fairly active indoors. A small yard is sufficient. | Exercise | American Cockers have plenty of stamina and need regular exercise. They should be taken on daily,
long walks. When walking, avoid brushy thickets that can tangle the coat. | Life Expectancy | About 12-15 years. | Litter Size | 1 - 7 puppies - Average of
5 | Grooming | The eyes need regular cleaning. Some owners prefer to leave the coat long, brushing
daily and shampooing frequently with quarterly scissoring and clipping. Others prefer to clip the coat to medium length to
be more functional. Either way, the dog will need regular trimming. When brushing, be careful not to pull out the silky hair. This
breed is an average shedder. |
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