The American Cocker Spaniel is recognized as one of the smallest bird hunting dogs. But since cockers are not only excellent hunters, but also very affectionate and outgoing, they are increasingly being bred as ordinary pets.
History of the breed and its appearance
Cocker Spaniels were originally a purely English breed intended for gun hunting. But American dog breeders wanted to have their own breed, based on the English Cocker Spaniel. This is how the American Cocker Spaniel breed appeared, which is somewhat different from its English counterpart in appearance and character.
The American spaniel has a snub-nosed and deeper muzzle, a domed head, it is higher at the withers by a couple of centimeters and heavier by 3-4 kg. The dog itself is very compact, with elongated neck and legs, decorated with cute "pants". The coat of the dog is long, its color is black or black with white spots.
By nature, the American turned out to be more mobile and temperamental. Due to its restless energy and friendliness, the dog sometimes comes across as a little intrusive.
How to choose a puppy
The first question that needs to be resolved is the sex of the future pet. Here, each buyer must decide on his own. Unlike other breeds, cocker spaniels are equally loving towards their owner - both males and females.
After determining the gender, you need to decide where the puppy will be purchased. You can buy it "hand-held". But there is no guarantee that the animal will be healthy. Or you can contact a professional breeder or cattery owner.
In this case, the potential buyer will definitely be shown the nursery, the puppy's parents, their awards, documents of the "kid" himself, they will tell everything about the breed and give a lot of useful literature with them. In addition, a veterinarian, a canine "hairdresser" and advice on any issue that arose is always at the service of the club members. Puppies from the nursery are always vaccinated, proglystogenic and healthy.
The next step is choosing a puppy. The best time to examine your spaniel is on a table. The most important characteristic of the breed is a well balanced head. The skull should be rounded and the length of the muzzle should be half the length of the entire head. The eyes are almond-shaped. “Correct” cocker ears are similar to the lobes and reach the nose in length.
The dog's neck should blend smoothly into the withers and be strong. As for the body, when placing the dog in a stance, its figure must fit into the square. The paws of a healthy puppy are always long and strong: the front paws are without clubfoot, the hind paws are without hock joints close to each other. Particular attention should be paid to the dog's coat, which should be straight, silky, thick and close to the torso.
After examining the puppy, you can take it off the table, watch it, talk. The cockers are very friendly. A healthy puppy will not even have a hint of cowardice or nervousness, he will always be in a good mood.
