Showing posts with label Spaniel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spaniel. Show all posts

Monday, May 28, 2018

CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL - Information Guide

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Photo: Pixabay
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is very popular throughout the world and now ranks as one of the most sought-after toy breeds. A closely related breed is the 'King Charles Spaniel'. The most obvious difference is a more compact facial shape, but it also has a clearly domed skull when compared with the Cavalier. The 'Cavalier King Charles' was bred to be a slightly larger size and the face shape is the main feature distinguishing the separate breeds today.

Cavaliers have a friendly personality and delights in the human company of any age. They are wonderful with children and make a loving companion for anyone at times when just wanting to sit and relax. They are not very athletic compared with larger spaniels but have a playful side to their nature, especially if they are introduced to games and play from an early age. They will also enjoy a short daily walk as their exercise routine.

Cavaliers have a life expectancy of 10-12 years however the breed also has a tendency to put on weight as they can be greedy and prone to obesity. In turn, this may predispose them to diabetes and heart problems to which they are susceptible, so it is important not to let your Cavalier become overweight as this may worsen especially later in life. Whilst training your Cavalier alternatively you can use healthy options like pieces of carrot or apple instead of other food treats.

Regular grooming is needed for Cavaliers to keep their flowing silky coats in good condition. A slicker brush and comb will remove any tangles through the coat. They tend to get matting or knots around and behind the ears, so this will need to be trimmed or snipped away. As Cavaliers have long ears it's important to make sure their ears are kept clean from moisture and mites. So during bathing them, you need to hold their ear down or put cotton wool in each ear to avoid getting water in the ears. The ears can be cleaned with medicated ear powder and stray hairs to be plucked away from the inside of ears. The eyes can be wiped with cotton wool that has been moistened with eye stain remover. This will also help remove stains around or under the eyes. The tips of toenails can be cut ensuring not to cut the quick.

Grooming your Cavalier King Charles needs to be done every 6-8 weeks. The ears need to be checked weekly and cleaned if necessary and toenails should be checked and cut during the full grooming session.


The colorings of a Cavalier King Charles are Chestnut Red and White known as 'Blenheim', known to be the original strain developed at Blenheim Palace in the 1700's. Other colors are Black and Tan, Red (known as Ruby) and also the Tri-Colour - (Black, White, and Tan).

They will generally grow to about 30.5cms (12inches) height at the shoulder and an average weight of 5.5 - 8kgs (12-18lbs) when fully grown.

The Cavalier King Charles makes a great family pet or a loyal loving companion to be by your side and is one of the best breeds you could ever share your life with.


https://pixabay.com/de/hund-cavalier-king-charles-spaniel-2442253/

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

CLUMBER SPANIEL DOG Breed Description and History

Clumber Spaniel - Photo: Wikimedia
Description: The Clumber Spaniel is low to the ground with heavy bones and short legs. The head is large and broad, with a deep muzzle, combined with a heavy brow. The nose is large and comes in various shades of brown. The teeth meet in a scissor bite. The eyes are amber in colour and deep-set. The chest is wide and deep, with the front legs being straight.

The Clumber Spaniel ears are triangular in shape, set low and hang downwards. The neck is muscular and heavy, and the fur is feathered at the throat. The tail is docked, in countries that permit this, and is feathered. The coat is dense, flat and straight, being soft to the touch. This coat is mainly white, with orange or lemon markings. Their weight is 55 to 85 pounds and their height is 41 to 51 inches. Their life expectancy is ten to twelve years.

History: The dogs contributed to making this breed were, the Basset hound, St Bernard, and Alpine Spaniel. There is no proof, but it is believed this breed was created in 18th century France by one of the Dukes of Noailles. Threatened by the French Revolution, the Duke transferred his dogs to England, to his closest family, the Duke of Newcastle. Here the breed was in favour of royalty and the name possibly derives from the Duke of Newcastle's estate called Cumber Park.



This is the heaviest of the Spaniel's and is a slow, quiet hunter. This dog is able to work independently or within a pack showing good endurance to do particularly well in dense undergrowth, and they have a fine sense of smell. This breed has been trained to retrieve and track. In 1848, the breed arrived in Canada, and from there made its way to the United States. The Clumber Spaniel was first recognized by the AKC in 1884.




Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Meet the Ancestor of Modern Spaniel: The ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL

Millie playing outside
Photo  by anneh632 
Besides the Clumber, the Springer Spaniel breed was originally bred in the 19th century in England. The Springer Spaniel breed is considered the ancestor of present spaniels, especially the Cocker Spaniel and the Springer Spaniel. Earlier before guns were used for hunting, the Springer used to scare the birds being hunted by the hunters into the open air especially the air and water fowls; which would be later caught and given to the hunters by trained falcons or hawks. Hence, the original main purpose was hunting. They were the gun dogs breed of the hunting pack which hunted and retrieved game. In present times, they are more commonly seen as house pets.

A well bred and trained Springer Spaniel breed has a strong scent be it dry or wet; which works in all types of weather. The breed, English Springer is the swiftest of all spaniels as they have long legs. People like to own this breed as it has a cheerful and playful personality. They shall play and chew anything they find like shoes, socks, towels etc. This breed is of two types; the show-bred and the field-bred types depending on their coats.

If Springer Spaniel breed is used to the presence of children, they pull on well with them. However, they ought to be supervised when children are around as they are very active and full of energy and may cause injury unknowingly. Though each dog is unique, the general view is that the Springer Spaniel breed requires plenty of attention, activities, mental stimulation, and exercise with a large area for running and playing around, They seem to tolerate other pets, but shall attack the bird's pets due to their inbuilt bird hunting instinct.

The Springer Spaniel breed is very alert and attentive as hunting dogs while is lovable, affectionate, caring, and gentle as household pets. They are also energetic, smart and make all efforts to keep their owners happy. They are very close to their owners and need to be kept busy.


Both the field-bred and the show-bred breeds have a common diet which can be one can to a maximum of one and a half can of meat product; or three cups of dog food (dry). The male show-bred type height varies between eighteen inches to a maximum of twenty inches, while their weight is fifty pounds to a maximum of fifty-five pounds.

The field-bred coats are shorter, tougher and rougher as compared to the show-bred ones. Their coat shed normally except in summer and spring seasons where there is much more shedding. Their coat color is usually of these combinations; white and black, white and liver with some tan color. The selection of field-bred ones is based on their scent, hunting skills, and the ease of their training. Their appearance of field-bred ones does not have much weight.

The show-bred one's fur is longer than the field ones. They are also heavier and have thicker bones than the field ones.

    Submitted by: Jeff Nenadic - Permanent Link: Isnare


Monday, March 12, 2018

The "Other" Cocker Spaniel - The ENGLISH COCKER

Lady The Golden Cocker Spaniel
Photo  by Russell Lee Photography 
Spaniels, a member of the hunting group, date back to the 1300s, and quite possibly existed undocumented even before that. Spaniels vary greatly in size, temperament, and official use. Bred for hunting, different spaniels were initially divided into two groups based on their hunting proficiency: land and water. The water spaniels remained one group, while the land spaniels were eventually divided into two additional groups: setting spaniels and springer spaniels. The Cocker Spaniel falls into the Springer Spaniel group and is the smaller than any other spaniel in its category.

The Springer Spaniel category did not always have clarification for the difference between Cocker Spaniels and their groupmates, the English Springer Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel. There was no documented differentiation until the late 1800s when England finally acknowledged that the Cocker Spaniel was a separate breed altogether.

While there was deliberation in England about the breaking up of the Springer Spaniel group into smaller, more specific breeds, the Cocker had already been imported to the United States and was becoming a much sought-after breed of its own. This explains why the American and English Cocker Spaniels began to differ in various characteristics of the breed.

Even though the Cocker Spaniel's primary use in England was as a hunting dog, Americans appreciated the dog for entirely different reasons. Their glamorous coats made the American Cocker Spaniel very appealing, and thus breeders worked hard to accentuate their aesthetic traits as opposed to their working ability. The traits between English and American Cocker Spaniels continued to differ until there were distinct and obvious lines between each breed. In the 1940s, English Cocker enthusiasts took action. They forced the AKC to recognize the English Cockers as a different breed, unassociated with the American Cocker.



The primary differentiation between the English and American Cockers is their coats. Having been bred for beauty, the American Cocker's coat is much longer, shinier, and thicker than their English counterparts. The American Cocker has also been bred somewhat smaller, also resulting in different facial features, such as a shorter snout and more forward-facing eyes. Despite the differences, both breeds are absolutely lovely.




Friday, October 6, 2017

Fact Sheet: CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

(Original Title: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Breed Profile)

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at the  Palo Alto Baylands
Photo by donjd2
Description: 
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is considered a toy dog. This dog stands 13 to 18 inches at the withers and weighs between 10 and 18 pounds. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a long, silky coat with feathering on the legs, tail, and ears. The coat comes in four colors: Blenheim, ruby, tricolor, and black and tan. Although the tail of the Cavalier is usually left its natural length, it is sometimes docked by one third. This dog can have a life span of 9 to fourteen years. It is also called the Ruby Spaniel or the Blenheim Spaniel.

History: 
King Charles II of England is most closely associated with the Spaniel that bears his name. Even as a child, he was surrounded by this breed of dog. After he attained the throne, he promoted the breed and allowed the little dogs the run of the palace. It is said that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel even whelped on the royal bed. This small dog is present in art from the 16th to 18th centuries and was used to help attract fleas as well as its duties as a comforter dog. Breeding with the Pug produced a shorter faced dog, the King Charles Spaniel. However, an American fancier Roswell Eldridge, bred the breed back to the more original dog and recreated the Cavalier.

Temperament: 
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is exclusively a companion dog, despite its old Spaniel hunting instincts. It is a very affectionate and happy little dog that thrives when given attention by its human friends. This is a very playful dog that wants to please those around it. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an excellent companion for anyone and is trustworthy and gentle with children. It loves to cuddle and bonds strongly to its family.

Health Issues: 
Although the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a fairly healthy toy breed, it can suffer from a variety of inherited health problems. One of the most serious problems is mitral valve heart disease, which begins as a heart murmur and can become worse as time goes on. Another serious condition is syringomyelia, in which cysts will form on the spinal column. This can be a painful condition for the dog. The potential owner of this engaging little dog would be well advised to make sure the dog is purchased from a reputable breeder who has followed intelligent breeding practices.





Grooming: 
Since the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has such a long coat, it is important to keep it well groomed. The dog should be brushed every day to prevent matting and the hair on the feet should be kept trimmed, especially around the toe and foot pads. The long ears should be checked regularly and kept clean and dry to prevent infections. Pay some attention to the eyes, too, to make sure they remain infection free.

Living Conditions: 
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a house dog. It cannot live in an outside situation, either physically or mentally. This little dog needs to be around people as much of the time as possible. The dog will adapt its exercise needs to its owner, so it is suitable for both active and inactive lifestyles. Regardless of the owner's exercise needs, however, the dog does need a walk every day. It is very suitable for living in an apartment.




Thursday, August 17, 2017

Information About The ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL

The majority of us know various facts about the cocker spaniel, but not all of us know the English cocker spaniel; in fact, many individuals are unaware that there are two types of cocker spaniels at all. This distinction between American and English cocker spaniels came about in the middle of the 20th century and was brought about by their great difference in appearance. This article will provide information on the English cocker spaniel discussing its appearance, health considerations, and overall personality.

An English Cocker Spaniel at a dog show
An English Cocker Spaniel at a dog show
(Photo credit: 
Wikipedia)

The Appearance

Since the mid 20th century, the English spaniel has diversified even further making an obvious distinction between the traditional and English breeds. Whereas the American Spaniel has longer fur with a slight wave, the English canine has a very short coat. Another defining feature is that the English breed has a much deeper chest and stands closer to the ground having rather short legs; whereas, the American spaniel is taller with a wider chest.

The Health Factors

All purebred dogs are at risk of having genetic health problems and the English cocker spaniel can present with highly detrimental conditions. One common condition among this breed is progressive retinal atrophy which can leave the dog blind or with visual impairments. Juvenile-onset renal failure is another condition which can cause muscle weakness and failing kidneys. Finally, English cocker spaniels can suffer from progressive ear infections that could lead to hearing loss, particularly in multicolored canines. To ensure that your pet is not at risk to any of these problems, it is essential that the breeder provide you with a health guarantee on the pups.

The Personality

While he may not have a similar appearance to other spaniels, the English cocker spaniel has the same pleasant disposition. This animal is highly affectionate, cheerful, and very devoted to his owners. This spaniel is an excellent option for a family pet as the breed is very calm and enjoys playing with children. This breed is also an excellent watchdog due to his alert nature and needs to defend his family.



Final Words On The Matter

It has been noted that dog ownership can be very beneficial to all families; children can learn responsibility by caring for and exercising the animal and older individuals will find comfort in the animal's presence. Using the information above you can make an informed decision as to whether or not this breed is suited to your specific needs.