Owning dogs, especially providing care for the english cocker spaniel, is a specialty of people across the world. Some experts believe dogs were first domesticated between twelve thousand and twenty five thousand years ago—and that all canines evolved from the wolf. Since those days, we have selectively bred more than four hundred different breeds, which range in size from 4-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of the tallest canine. However, the most preferred pooches are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The english cocker spaniel is also a popular pick with dog owners. Many owners are misinformed, however, of some important english cocker spaniel care tips.
Cost of care for the english cocker spaniel
The annual budget for caring for your english cocker spaniel—to include meals and treats, to doctor bills, toys and license—could vary between four hundred twenty and $780. This is not even accounting for capital costs for sterilization surgery, dog collar and leash, dog carrier and a doggie crate. Tip: Be positive you have all of your items before you bring your english cocker spaniel home for the first time.
General english cocker spaniel Care
How To Feed the english cocker spaniel
- english cocker spaniel pups between 8 and twelve weeks old need 4 bowls of food per day.
- Feed english cocker spaniel pups 3 to 6 months old 3 meals in a twenty-four hour period.
- Feed puppies six months to 1 year old 2 times every 24 hours.
- By the time your english cocker spaniel makes his 1st birthday, one bowl in a day is adequate.
- Some adult english cocker spaniels, however, do better with 2 smaller bowls. It’s your job to adapt to your english cocker spaniel’s eating schedule.
High-quality dry dogfood provides a balanced diet for adult english cocker spaniels and can mix with water, broth, or canned food. Your english cocker spaniel may be fond of cooked eggs, cottage cheese, and fruits and vegetables, but these dishes should be less than 10 pct of his daily food intake. english cocker spaniel pups must be fed a high-quality, name brand puppy food. Try to limit “table food”, though, since it can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies, bone and teeth problems, and might result in some extremely finicky food choices as well as obesity. Clean, potable water should be made at all times, and make sure to clean water and food bowls very often.
english cocker spaniel Care Tips: Make sure your english cocker spaniel does plenty of daily exercise
english cocker spaniels need physical activity in order to stay healthy, recharge their brains, and maintain good health. Exercise also really helps english cocker spaniels avoid boredom, which often has the potential to lead to to difficult behavior. Getting out of the house will quench most of your english cocker spaniel’s desires to chase, retrieve, chew, dig and herd. Exercise needs will depend on your english cocker spaniel’s level of health and his or her age—but 10 minutes outside and a couple of walks around the block every day probably won’t suffice. If your english cocker spaniel is a six to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will probably be relatively higher.
english cocker spaniel Grooming Tips
Regular brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your english cocker spaniel clean. Check for ticks and fleas every day during the summer or other warm weather. Most english cocker spaniels don’t need to be bathed more than a few times per year. Prior to giving him or her a bath, cut out or comb any and all mats from the english cocker spaniel’s hair. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap.
english cocker spaniel Handling
Puppies, as opposed to adults, are clearly the easiest to handle. While carrying the english cocker spaniel pup, take 1 hand and place it under the dog’s chest, either with the forearm or other hand supporting the back legs and rear. Never try to lift or grab your puppy by his or her front legs, tail or back of the neck. If you must pick up a larger, adult english cocker spaniel, pick it up from underneath, bracing her chest with 1 of your arms and rump with the other arm.
Housing your english cocker spaniel
Your english cocker spaniel needs a comfy peaceful location in order to sleep away from all breezes and off the ground or floor. You might wish to purchase a doggie bed, or consider making one from a wood box. Place a clean comforter, blanket, or pillow in the bed as cushion. Wash the english cocker spaniel’s bed covering often. If the english cocker spaniel will be outdoors much, be sure she has plenty of cool water and shade in hot weather, and a covered, warm, dry area in winter.
english cocker spaniel Licensing and Identification
Make certain to follow your city’s licensing regulations. You should affix the license to your english cocker spaniel’s collar. This, together with an identification tattoo, will most likely help you recover your english cocker spaniel should she go missing.
english cocker spaniel Behavior Info
Thoughts on Training Your english cocker spaniel
Well-behaved, companion english cocker spaniels are truly a blessing to have. But untrained, your english cocker spaniel could be nothing but trouble. Training your english cocker spaniel on the standards—”Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Leave it”—will improve your relationship both with your english cocker spaniel as well as the visitors. If you have a puppy, begin training him on the right responses quickly! Use meals as an incentive and a reward. Puppies should begin obedience class when they are sufficiently vaccinated. Call the local humane society or SPCA for details on obedience course recommendations. Always walk your english cocker spaniel leashed when, even as a puppy. Just be certain your doggie will come to you if you call her. An aggressive or disobedient english cocker spaniel can’t play with people.
Your english cocker spaniel’s Health
Your english cocker spaniel should visit the veterinarian for a full check-up, immunizations and heartworm exam each year, and immediately when he is ill or hurt.
english cocker spaniel Oral Health
While many of us may simply dislike our english cocker spaniel’s halitosis, it’s important to be aware of what it might indicate. Foul breath is a sign that your english cocker spaniel needs an oral check up. Plaque , which is caused by unhealthy bacteria causes a foul smell that requires treatment by a professional. Once you have given your english cocker spaniel a professional dental cleaning, the gums and teeth can be be preserved in a healthy state by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. Your veterinarian can supply you with additional tips on eliminating periodontal problems and bad breath. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your english cocker spaniel’s teeth. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, sometimes affects english cocker spaniels. This dreadful disease will sometimes initiate loss of teeth as well as cause disease to her body. The vet will most likely clean your dog’s teeth at a typical checkup.
Halitosis (bad breath) in english cocker spaniels
Although periodontal disease alone is not a serious threat if it is caught early, the foul odors may be indicative of more serious, persistent causes for concern. Diseases of the liver or intestines sometimes cause unpleasant breath, and a fruity, sweet smell may frequently be a sign of diabetes. If your english cocker spaniel’s breath smells of urine or ammonia, kidney disease is a possible cause. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your english cocker spaniel has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
english cocker spaniel Tick and Flea Issues
During the summer, it’s important for you to perform daily, regular inspections of your english cocker spaniel for fleas and ticks. Use a flea comb to remove and find fleas. There are several new technologies of tick and flea reduction. Speak with your veterinarian about his or her options.
Heartworm problems in english cocker spaniels
The heartworm is a parasite that resides in the heart and is passed from an infested dog to your english cocker spaniel by way of mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be fatal. It is wise to make sure your english cocker spaniel submits to a blood test for heartworms every spring—this is important for stopping infestations from the earlier year. A monthly tablet given throughout the course of the warm, wet time of the year will help to protect your english cocker spaniel. Should you ever travel in a warmer-than-usual climate with your english cocker spaniel in the winter, he ought to be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some areas, usually the regions with warmer climates, where vets advise parasite medication be used all throughout the year.
Medications and Poisons
If you’re considering giving your english cocker spaniel medication that was not prescribed for him by his veterinarian, don’t even think about it. For example, did you know that one ibuprofen pill causes ulcers in some dogs Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your english cocker spaniel. If you have reason to think your dog has consumed a toxin, immediately call your doctor or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 twenty-four hours a day for instructions.
Spaying and Neutering english cocker spaniels
It is recommended that female english cocker spaniels be spayed—the removal of the uterus and ovaries—and males neutered—extraction of the testes—by six months of age. Spaying before maturity greatly diminishes the risk of breast cancer, which is a common and frequently fatal ailment for older female english cocker spaniels. The risk of a diseased uterus, which is another serious disease that impacts older females, can be removed by spaying when young. Prostate diseases, testicular cancer, some hernias and certain aggressive behavior are all preventable by neutering males.
english cocker spaniel Innoculating
- The combo vaccine (also called the “five-in-one shot”) ought to be given to your english cocker spaniel at two, 3, and four months of age and again once per year. This innoculation immunizes your pup from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. Your english cocker spaniel must be immunized for at least the first 4 months of her life.
- If your english cocker spaniel has not been vaccinated and is older than four months, he will need 2 immunizations immediately, two or 3 weeks apart. After that you must innoculate yearly.
- Your english cocker spaniel puppy’s innoculations should coincide with her socialization program. Most doctors recommend that new owners bring their english cocker spaniel puppies to socialization courses, beginning at eight or 9 weeks of age. At this age, they should have already received their first vaccinations.
Because statutes vary around the country, contact your local doctor to get instructions for rabies innoculation. For instance, New York City statutes declare that pets older than three months must be vaccinated for rabies. The first rabies immunization must be followed by a subsequent shot the following year, and then every three years after that. There are a variety of innoculations, many of which are appropriate for your english cocker spaniel. There are others that are not, however. Your veterinarian can tell youmore about them. By the way, if your english cocker spaniel gets ill because he is not innoculated, do not administer the immunization until the dog has made a full recovery.
Tapeworms in english cocker spaniels
english cocker spaniels are commonly exposed to worms—in all areas, both urban and rural. Tiny eggs created by hookworms are transmitted through an infected english cocker spaniel’s stool. Even the healthiest of english cocker spaniel puppies carry roundworms or hookworms. An accurate, early detection is the key to effective treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed treatment will be successful against your dog’s worms. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your vet can best figure out the culprit—and prescribe the right medicine.
english cocker spaniel Care Tips: Additional Info
Checklist of english cocker spaniel Supplies
- Top-quality dog food and snacks designed for english cocker spaniels and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb and brush for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Leash
- Carrier (for pups)
- Training crate
- Dog box or bed with warm comforter or towel
- Doggie toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to english cocker spaniels:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Caffeinated foods, like coffee, tea or chocolate
- Grapes or raisins
- Moldy or spoiled food of any kind
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit or stems
- Yeast dough
The scoop on poop
Retain your english cocker spaniel on a leash whenever you are outdoors, unless you are in a secured, fenced-in location. And please, when your english cocker spaniel defecates on your neighbor’s grass, remove and dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about english cocker spaniels
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