Thinking about getting a Cocker Spaniel , or already sharing your sofa with one? This guide is for you. It's written from a cocker owner's point of view, not copied from an encyclopedia: what kind of dog the cocker really is, how much exercise it needs, how to care for its coat and ears, what to feed it and which health issues to watch for. Cocker Spaniel at a glance Origin: United Kingdom Height: about 38–41 cm (15–16 in) at the withers Weight: around 13–15 kg (29–33 lb) Life expectancy: usually 12–15 years Coat: silky, medium length, wavy on the ears, chest and legs Colours: solid (black, red/golden, chocolate), parti-colour and roan (blue, orange) Temperament: happy, affectionate, sociable, with a gundog's energy Best for: families, including those with children, and active people who spend time at home Where the Cocker Spaniel comes from Spaniels are an old family of hunting dogs, and the name "cocker" comes from th...

Just brought home a Cocker Spaniel puppy, or want to make sure your adult dog is protected? Vaccines are the foundation of their health. Below you'll find the usual schedule, which vaccines are required and what you need to know if you want to travel with your dog. Which diseases vaccines prevent Parvovirus: highly contagious and often fatal in puppies. Distemper. Infectious canine hepatitis. Leptospirosis: spread through water and rodent urine. It can also infect people. Parainfluenza and kennel cough (respiratory diseases). Rabies: fatal and transmissible to humans. The vaccine is required by law in many countries, including Romania, and for travel within the EU. Puppy vaccination schedule The exact schedule depends on the vaccine used and on your vet. A typical schedule looks like this: Age What's done 6–8 weeks First vaccine (usually parvovirus + distemper) 9–12 weeks Combination vaccine (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, leptospiros...

Deworming is one of the simplest ways to care for your dog, and also one of the easiest to forget. Cockers love grass, bushes and puddles, so they often pick up fleas, ticks and worms. Here's how often to treat your cocker and what to watch out for. Internal vs. external parasite control Internal (deworming) fights intestinal worms such as roundworms and tapeworms. Usually given as a tablet. External protects against fleas, ticks and, depending on the product, mosquitoes and sand flies. Comes as a spot-on, a collar or a tablet. Your dog needs both . One does not replace the other. How often: deworming General recommendations (European ESCCAP guidelines), which your vet will adapt to your dog: Puppies: from 2 weeks of age, every 2 weeks until 8 weeks, then monthly until 6 months. Adults: at least every 3 months , so 4 times a year. Monthly if your dog spends a lot of time with small children, eats things off the ground, hunts or is fed raw meat. How often: f...

If you own a Cocker Spaniel, you already know their ears are the best thing about them. Long, soft, wavy. Unfortunately, they are also their weak spot: cockers are one of the breeds with the most ear problems. The good news is that most of them can be prevented with a few minutes of care each week. Why do cockers have ear problems? A cocker's ear is long, heavy and completely covers the ear canal. Air barely circulates, so the inside stays warm and damp. That is the perfect environment for bacteria and yeast. Add to that: thick hair on the inside of the ear, which traps dirt and moisture; water that gets in during baths or swimming and never dries out; allergies (food or environmental), common in the breed, which often show up first in the ears. The result can be otitis externa , an inflammation of the ear canal. Left untreated, it becomes painful, keeps coming back and, in severe cases, may need surgery. Signs that something is wrong See your vet if you notice an...