I adore Cocker Spaniels, don't you?
I love their long floppy ears, their soulful, brown eyes and their ever-cheerful curiosity.
For me, that's what makes the cocker spaniel so adorable and so irresistible. And, I'm not alone, judging by the number of visitors that arrive on my website every month!
My passion for Cocker Spaniels is why I created this site, and I'd like to share with you my love and extensive knowledge of this gorgeous breed.
The Cocker in the photo above is my faithful companion Max, and we'd like to welcome you to our comprehensive online guide to caring for Cocker Spaniels.
On this website, you'll find everything you need to help your Cocker Spaniel grow into a happy, healthy, well-mannered dog. I'll help you to care for your Cocker, from his early puppy days right through to his winter years!
I will guide you through those first few scary weeks of your puppy's life, giving you essential tips and advice on new puppy care and training.
Feel free to dip in and out as often as you need to!
If you haven't already, you're going to fall in love at first sight with your new cocker spaniel puppy!
However, puppies aren't always perfect.
They don't come pre-programmed to understand how to fit into our human world.
They will pee and poop whenever (and wherever) the need arises, and potty training doesn't always go to plan!
When it comes to chewing and biting, in their eyes, everything is fair game!
...And they won't listen to a word you say!
Your little darling will run circles around you, literally!
Not entirely what you expected, is it?
Don't worry, it's nothing we can't deal with. Your puppy just needs a bit of training in between all those lovely cuddles and sweet puppy-breath kisses.
This puppy guide will give you everything you need to get you off to a good start with training your little boy (or girl) to be the best-behaved puppy ever!
If the decision to get a puppy is a recent one, you may not have begun your search yet. Good news! There's lots of information on the Cocker Spaniel breed in this article, including their history, characteristics and temperament.
You'll also learn how to tell the difference between a good breeder and one that you should definitely avoid!
If you've not heard of puppy farms or puppy mills and why you should avoid them at all costs, you'll learn that too!
You'll even discover which signs to look for when you're choosing your Cocker puppy from the litter and also the tests you can do to make sure you choose a puppy with the ideal temperament for your family.
There's so much information about Cocker Spaniels here to help you get to know this gorgeous breed better.
You love your new pup, and you want him to be a well-mannered, obedient, happy little boy, right?
Right!
But it's not always that simple, is it?
An untrained puppy can (and usually does!) get up to all sorts of mischief.
If left to their own devices, they can develop some pretty unsociable behaviours!
An untrained puppy can (and usually does!) get up to all sorts of mischief.
So, the sooner you begin his training, the better.
Although puppy training is fun, it can sometimes also be frustrating, especially when it's obvious your puppy is struggling to understand what you want from him.
It's up to you to help your pup understand how you want him to behave right from the start. Your goal will be to teach him what type of behaviour is acceptable to you and what's not!
You'll find plenty of tips on training your puppy, including obedience training and potty training, to help you get the best from him. Trust me, getting his training right the first time will save you lots of time and heartache in the long run!
Your Spaniel's health is a priority, and as loving Cocker owners, we do our level best to make sure our dogs stay healthy. So, what do we need to look out for?
Cocker Spaniels have beautiful pendulous ears, but they're prone to infections, so it's vital to keep them clean to help keep bacteria to a minimum. I recommend you check them daily if you can.
And let's not forget dog fleas and ticks - just hearing those words makes me itch!
Watching out for the tell-tale signs (scratching) and giving your pet a regular flea treatment will go a long way to keeping your dog free from fleas, and, as a bonus, it will also help to keep your home flea-free zone!
Your Cocker Spaniel may suffer from disease or illness at some point in his life, and it's a good idea to understand what these may be. On the upside, there are many things we can do to help keep illness to an absolute minimum.
For example, a wholesome and nutritious diet can help boost your Cocker Spaniel's well-being.
Regular long walks, a few ball games, and good grooming habits will help too!
Learn more about your Cocker Spaniel's health needs.
Of course, you'll want your puppy's coat to look clean, healthy and in tip-top condition.
You'll want him to smell nice too, but dogs being dogs, they like to roll in unpleasant 'stuff' whenever they get the opportunity!
A good diet will help to keep your puppy's coat shining and healthy-looking, but brushing it regularly, with the occasional bath, will help too.
Professional dog groomers can work out quite expensive, so if money's tight, why not learn how to groom him yourself and save some hard-earned cash in the process?
This website will show you which grooming tools to use to help to keep your Spaniel's coat looking healthy and in tip-top condition.
If you can afford to use a professional groomer, you'll also learn how to choose a good one.
If you're on a budget, you'll find lots of helpful tips and advice on all aspects of grooming your dog here.
There's much more to this website than I can mention on this homepage.
If you'd like to explore further, click the navigation buttons at the top of each page.
If there's something you're looking for but can't seem to find, you can try running a site search using the search box at the top right-hand column of every page. It's that simple!
To see a list of links to all the web pages, you can browse the Site-Map.
I'm always adding new material, so please come back and visit often to find out what's new.
If you've any ideas for additions or improvements to this website, please use the contact me link at the bottom of the page. Alternatively, you can visit my Facebook page.
I hope you come in for a while and enjoy mooching through the pages!
Pauline
PS: One last thing I need you to know. I'm not a vet, a dog behaviour therapist, nor am I a breeder. I'm a fellow dog lover with an all-consuming passion for Cocker Spaniels. I have a great deal of knowledge and experience that I enjoy sharing with others.
If you have any urgent worries about your pet's health, I urge you to speak to your veterinary immediately.
Photo Credits:
1. Copyright of About Cocker Spaniels.com
2. Lilun at https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photography-puppy-image22226282
3. Chernetskaya at https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-puppy-cocker-spaniel-image18581268
4. Thearle at https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-puppy-cocker-spaniel-blue-roan-image7837238
5. Liliya Kulianionak at http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-couple-english-cocker-spaniel,-image23622081
6. Chernetskaya at https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-puppy-cocker-spaniel-image18581224
7. Cynoclub at https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-puppy-cocker-spaniel-image13830379
8. Willeecole at https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-cocker-spaniel-puppy-park-image9961159