The American Cocker Spaniel was bred from the English Cocker Spaniel and is smaller than its English cousin. A Cocker Spaniel will average about 14 ? to 15 ? inches in height and 15 to 40 pounds in weight and will live 12 to 15 years. Cocker Spaniels have long silky coats that need to be brushed almost daily, but are considered average shedders. Cocker Spaniels like to run through the grass and woods and their coats will become tangled and matted. If this is not taken care of immediately by brushing the dirt and debris out, it could lead to some uncomfortable skin infections. Trimming the coat regularly is necessary and some owners prefer to keep the coat at a medium length.
Often called a 'sweet' dog, Cocker Spaniels make excellent family pets, due to their good nature. They love being with children and their family and often require minimal obedience training. In fact, formal obedience classes are not necessary with this dog as long as a few simple commands are taught and the master is consistent with using the training. However, training should not be skipped, as Cocker Spaniels can sometimes be stubborn. Cocker Spaniels are also described as 'sensitive,' so care should be exercised when correcting their behavior.
Cocker Spaniels can live in an apartment, provided they are exercised at least once a day. The Cocker Spaniel has long, floppy ears that require regular care and cleaning, preferably daily. These ears block air circulation, leaving the inner ears moist and prone to develop bacteria that can lead to infections. If the ears do become infected, it can be quite uncomfortable to the Cocker Spaniel, causing it to shake its head violently, which could cause small blood vessels to burst, resulting in a hematoma. While some owners pluck the hair out of the Cocker Spaniel?s ears, this is not advised as serum from the follicle could leak into the ear causing additional problems. The eyes also need regular cleaning to prevent infection.
Cocker Spaniels are prone to medical problems. Cocker Spaniels can develop progressive retinal atrophy, a genetic eye disease that causes blindness, heart problems, epilepsy, cataracts, glaucoma, hemophilia, and patellar luxation. Other concerns include hip dysplasia, ectropion, entropion, PRA, allergies, seborrhea, lip fold pyoderma, otitis externa, liver disease, urolithiasis, prolapse of nictitans gland, CHF, phosphofructokinase deficiency, cardiomyopathy, gastric torsion, elbow dysplasia and, IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia).
