American Cocker Spaniel Complete Profile

Key Facts:

Size: Small
Height: 35 – 38 cm (14 – 15 inches)
Weight: 10 – 13 kg (22 – 28 lb)
Life Span: 13 years
Grooming: Extensive
Exercise: Medium
Feeding: Reasonable
Temperament: Cheerful & intelligent
Country of Origin: United States
AKC Group: Sporting
Other Names: Cocker Spaniel

Temperament:
The American Cocker Spaniel is cheerful, lively and active. American Cocker Spaniels make great family dogs and are good with strangers, children and other dogs. They are eager to please and respond well to correct training. Although American Cocker Spaniels are friendly to everyone, they should be well socialized when young to prevent a tendency for timidity.

Grooming:
American Cocker Spaniels require regular brushing and combing to keep them knot-free. Professional trimming is required every two to three months to keep the coat well groomed. The excess hair inside the ears and between the pads if the feet needs to be trimmed.

Exercise:
American Cocker Spaniels like to play and frolic and they are easily adaptable to country or city life. They have an average demand for exercise.

History:
The spaniel family can be traced back to the mid 14th century in Spain where “spaynells” were used for either water or land retrieving and “cocking” spaniels for their proficiency with woodcock. It was approximately 1880 that the Cocker Spaniel arrived in America from Britain and from those dogs the Americans developed their new strain, giving us the American Cocker Spaniel that we know today.

Physical Characteristics:

General Appearance: Small, long-coated and well-balanced.
Colour: Parti-colours (two or more colours appearing in clearly defined markings), black or ASCOB (i.e. Any Solid Colour Other than Black) – with or without tan markings.
Coat: Silky, flat or slightly wavy. It is short and fine on the head and longer on the body with feathering on the legs and abdomen.
Tail: Commonly docked.
Ears: Set low, well feathered with long silky hair.
Body: Compact body with short, strong back slightly sloping to the tail and wide muscular quarters.

Additional Comments:

American Cocker Spaniels make excellent family pets however they are high maintenance when it comes to grooming. The owner needs to be prepared to pay for regular professional grooming when choosing an American Cocker Spaniel.

Related Information of Interest:

Boxer's and Heartworms
It is surprising how many people are still confused about heartworms and the effects that a heartworm can have on
your Boxer.

First lets look at what heartworms are and how your dog can become infected.

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes into the dog’s blood stream. The immature heartworms called microfilaria
travel through the blood stream.

The microfilaria settle into the heart chambers and major pulmonary blood vessels. This causes a blockage of the
blood flow and pathological changes to the surrounding tissues.

This blockage happens when the larvae grow into adult worms. An adult female heartworm can grow up to fourteen
inches and can live as long as five years.

A female heartworm can produce thousands of microfilariae, which is transmitted into a mosquito when it bites an
infected dog, and subsequently injected into the next dog that that mosquito dines on.

What Are The Signs That A Dog May Have Heartworms?

Usually the first system is weight loss. The dogs’ hair may become dull and brittle.

The infected dog also may tier easily.

A persistent coughs and or labored breathing.

In more progressed cases victims may vomit blood from ruptured lungs.

If the disease is not prevented or caught in time the result will be a slow painful death from congestive heart
failure.

What Do I Do If My Boxer Is Infected?

Treatment is available but it can cost hundreds of dollars, and may be ineffective depending on the degree of
infestation.

The best defense against heartworms is routine checkups with your vet. Giving your dog heartworm medication once
a month easily prevents heartworms.

Warning: You Must Have Your Dog Tested For Heartworms Before Starting Heartworm Medication!

About the Author

je Dunn has published several books on dogs and has free information all about dog training, health, and care at: www.boxerdogs-1.com/Boxer_Dogs.html Boxer Health Tips

7 Simple ways to safe Guard your dog this summer!
If you have a hard time in summer imagine how it must feel under a fur coat! here are some simple tips to help your dog beat the heat.

1) Bob The Hair:
If you have a shaggy dog like a pomeranian, Pekinese or any such variation then listen up. Your dog needs a hair cut. The hair should be cut with scissors and not shaved. Do not cut around the whiskers but you can carefully trim around the eyes.The less hair on your dog the cooler he will keep. If you have a short haired dog no need for a trim.

2) Play it cool: Food can be lighter and given before it gets hot in the morning and after it cools down in the evening.Depending on the dogs normal diet, reduce or entirely eliminate meat. Replace with soya, mashed or cooked with meat flavour. When a dog is panting give ice to lick.

3) walk on the mild side:
Walks should be taken early and then again after sundown. Don't encourage chasing, fetching games too much.

4) Cool it: If you enjoy airconditioning so does your dog.If you have a cooled space share it with your pooch.

5) No closed encounters: Never leave dogs in a completely closed space. If your dog is home, Leave on the fan. In a car, leave the window partially open.

6) Let it all hang out: Dogs sweat from their tongues so never tie or muzzle the mouth in the summer. Whilst giving medical treatment see if you can hold the head rather than tying the mouth. If you have to tie the mouth be sure to release as quickly as possible.

7) Do not bathe your dog more than once a month. Soap/ Cleansers strip their skin of natural oils and lead to skin irritation. when dirty you can simply towel dry with a damp towel.

About the Author

Venkata Ramana is a Dog Lover since childhood. Visit his www.dogs-now.com/go/Boxer Dog website and discover how you can make boxer dog the happiest, loving dog alive, Running healthily with you.

6 Simple Tips To Help Potty Train Your Puppy
Potty training also known as toilet or house training is the art of teaching your puppy where you want him to relieve himself. Sound simple! Not exactly, at least to me and many dog owners out there. Potty training my puppy gives me the most problems and headaches when I start to house train my first puppy years ago.

It seems that my puppy is always either in the wrong place at the right time, or the right place at the wrong time! Nevertheless, over the years, after much experiments and reading up, I’ve manage to come out with 6 simple tips to help potty train your dog.

1. Try to feed your puppy on a regular schedule and remove his water supply before bed time. His potty timing would be more predictable and consistent.

2. Puppy usually instinctively wants to relieve itself after feeding, sleeping, playing and confinement. Bring him to your designated area for his potty business after such activities.

3. Do not let your puppy wander off without supervision, potty training aside, it is dangerous for a young puppy to wander around by itself. Confined it in an area where you can see to prevent accidents and reward desired behaviors.

4. Be vigilance and always be on the look out. When you see your puppy sniffing and running around in circles, bring him to your designated spot immediately.

5. Give a command to help your dog associate the potty action with. For example, “Do it now” or “Go Potty”.

6. When he is doing his potty business, praise and reward. Praise and reward again after he’s finished.

Following these tips should help you considerably in potty training your puppy.

About the Author

Moses Chia is a dog lover and owner of DogsObedienceTraining.com – The dog training resource site for a happier and healthier dog. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.