| COCKER COLORS & GROOMING |
| COCKER COLORS & GROOMING |
-There are a number of acceptable, but very specific, color varieties within the Cocker breed APPROVED BY AKC: Black & Black / Tan, Parti-Color, and ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black- BUFF, SABLE, & BROWN). NOT ALL COLOR VARIETIES ARE ACCEPTED BY AKC OR CAN BE SHOWN IN AKC CONFORMATION OR BREED SHOWS. THE HISTORY OF THE COCKER SPANIEL The Spaniel family is a large one of considerable antiquity. As far back as the 14th century we have mention of the Spanyell, which came to be divided into water and land spaniels, with further divisions in land spaniels based on size. "Cockers" were the smaller of the two types of spaniels and are to this day the smallest in the Sporting Group, their name deriving, apparently, from especial proficiency on woodcock. Not until 1883 were classes provided for the breed at English bench shows, and not until 1892 was the breed given breed status in England's Kennel Clubs stud book. The Cocker has been exhibited in the US since the early 1880's. As developed here, however, the American Cocker has evolved somewhat differently in type, size, and coloring from the breed now recognized as the English Cocker Spaniel. Field trials for the breed in the US were started by the parent Field Trial Club in the 1920s, and the Cocker's inherent desire to hunt renders him a capable gun dog when judiciously trained. The Cocker covers all territory within gun range speedily, flushing game and retrieving only when under command, as a rule taking to water readily. From the moment it hit the show ring, however, the Cocker has engaged audiences and remains one of the most popular AKC breeds. courtesy of www.akc.org |
| TRIMMING 1. On the back, shave with the growth of the hair. Start at the point of the shoulder and follow the line down the side to the rump. 2. If you want to leave the top-knot (fluff of hair above eyebrows), scissor trim it to desired length. You want this to be about finger-thickness and look natural by blending. End the top-knot at the back of the ears as shown in figure 1. 3. For the ears, shave down to the front fold and the notch on the back of the ear (you can feel this on close inspection). Clean up the underside of the ear by shaving around the canal area. This will help keep debris from the ear and help keep it cleaner. 4. Shave the throat area close to the skin. You want to follow the same depth as the side and back shave. Clip from the chest, and go all the way to the tip of the lips. 5. Trim carefully around the eyes with scissors. You don't want the hair to be long enough to cover the eyes, and it should flow with the top-knot. 6. Shave the muzzle closely and carefully to give your cocker a clean look. This may take some patience with dogs that do not have this done often. The easiest way to get the patch of hair under the ears to the cheek is to lift up the ear and shave from the canal area to the end of the muzzle. 7. By trimming the feet and between the pads, you will find that they will not bring as much dirt or stickers into your home. I use a small set of trimmers to get between the pads. This is not something to skip as mats will build up between the pad and become painful. 8. When trimming the nails, you need to be careful as to not trim them too short but not leave them too long. You want to trim to the quick of the nail, which is the small groove towards the base of the nail. This is where the nerves and blood supply starts and can be very painful... |
Many people do not encourage owners to bathe their Cocker frequently,but I believe that if you use quality grooming supplies and bathe the dog correctly, a weekly bath (or every other week if your dog is short coated and not the outdoorsy type) is beneficial and helps keep the dog healthier. Not only will the dog benefit from regular baths, you will benefit because the dog will not be trailing dirt and dander around your house, on the furniture and in your bed (if Fido gets to sleep there!) No one wants to cuddle a dirty, smelly dog, so everyone will be much happier once bath time is over and you can get back to snuggling and cuddling on the couch! Be sure to keep bath time as pleasant and unhurried as possible. This can help prevent accidents in the slippery confines of the tub and bathroom and will help you avoid frightening the dog. In addition, try to keep the proceedings quiet and calm so the dog doesn't get overly excited. An excited or anxious dog may dance, jump around or struggle and this could also lead to the dog slipping and hurting himself. NEVER leave your dog alone in the tub. Make sure you have all of your supplies ready and within reach before you bring your dog into the bathroom. QUICK TIPS: If you don't give monthly haircuts to your Cocker, or pay someone else to do it, you no longer have a beautiful dog... you have a furry mess. There are plenty of short-haired dog breeds out there. If you're not up to the challenge of keeping your dog's coat trimmed and looking good at all times, get one of those breeds instead of a Cocker! If you're allergic to dog hair... this is not the breed for you!If you can't afford to pay a professional to give your Cocker a hair cut once a month, you'll need to fork over some money to buy your own electric hair clippers. While you can find budget-priced electric dog hair clippers at WalMart, you're far better off getting professional-quality equipment. It does a better job, and lasts a lot longer. The budget-priced stuff comes with a blade that can not be replaced. Unfortunately, the blade is the first thing to wear out Besides monthly hair cuts, it takes a lot of brushing to keep a Cocker's coat from getting tangled and matted. There are days when all Cocker owners find themselves thinking that owning a CAT would be a heck of a lot easier! |
| TRIMMING TOENAILS! Trimming your pup's toenails doesn't need to be a wrestling match. The problem today is that most pet owners do not handle their pup's feet and toes except when they plan to have a grooming. Daily handling mixed in with belly-rubbing sessions, verbal rewards and treats will make almost any puppy relaxed about having his feet touched, trimmed and tinkered with. By relating something you puppy enjoys with something they are not too sure about, you can improve your pups view of toenail trimming. BEFORE YOU TRIM Start off by gently stroking your pups legs and paws. Always start by stroking in an area he enjoys and is comfortable with. Then, every once and a while, run your hand down his leg to his paw. Provide a treat and verbal reward if this is helpful and doesn't cause him to become too excited and active. When he is relaxed add in some toe, nail, and pad touching, mixing plenty of rewarding words and regular stroking into the mix. Practice this for several, short sessions instead of one long one as many pups become fussy and irritable at too much of this sort of thing. Once your pup allows you to handle his feet with ease, take your nail clippers (ask your vet or groomer which type is right for your pup). If you do, you can buy blood stop powder or just use some cornstarch if that's all you have around the house. Be sure to praise, give your pup a tasty treat and put the clippers down for a short break. Go back to the regular petting. Repeat until the puppy shows no hesitation or tension about being touched by the clipper. If you handle the pups feet and toes daily as part of your everyday routine your puppy will lie with his feet happily in the air next pedicure time waiting to be pampered! TRIMMING YOUR PUP'S NAILS Nip the very end of the nail off. On white nails this is easier to see. If your puppy has dark nails or if you're worried about what to clip, ask your veterinarian or groomer. Try to stay relaxed, as your pup will pick up on any tension or nervousness. Keep your hands and your voice even. When you start to cut the nails, don't try to get them all cut at once. Snip one, belly rub a while then snip another. If it takes you two or three sittings to get all the puppy's nails trimmed it's okay. You can apply this same general technique to other grooming tasks such as ear care or brushing. Just follow the basics: start at a place your puppy enjoys and then slowly introduce the new procedure. Make it pleasant and full of rewards and fun and your pup will soon be accepting it with no fussy behaviors at all. This is well worth an investment in time and patience now because it will pay off with a lifetime of easy, no stress handling for both of you. |
| Dental Care The earlier you start the better, however, it's never too late to start training your puppy to have its teeth cleaned. Get a doggy toothbrush, the kind that fits on your finger works well and some doggy toothpaste. Follow the instructions given with the toothpaste and brush your puppy's teeth daily or weekly. This kind of care not only helps its teeth and breath but also teaches your puppy that having his mouth opened and inspected is not such a bad thing. It also makes your veterinarian's, groomer's and judge's job a lot easier and less stressful to the dog. |
| Grooming can be very challenging to the novice. I have learned how to brush, clip, bath, and fully groom cockers from experience. If you are going to be doing your own clipping, it would be wise and cost-effective to invest in quality clippers ($100-$200 as a starting price). Cheap clippers may work for the first five minutes, but it is just easier to buy the best. My personal favorites are Oster A-5, 2-speed clippers with detached blades. These start around $200 and can be found at Petsmart. |
| THERE ARE MANY REGISTRIES THAT RECOGNIZE THE AMERICAN COCKER SPANIEL. THESE REGISTRIES MAY NOT HAVE AS STRICT OF GUIDELINES AS AKC, BUT STILL MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE BREED. SOME "AKC ONLY" BREEDERS AND EXHIBITORS WILL CLASSIFY DOGS REGISTERED UNDER THESE REGISTRIES AS FERAL OR "MUST BE MUTTS" BUT MANY OF THESE DOGS REGISTERED IN OTHER REGISTRIES CARRY THE SAME IF NOT BETTER GENES AND QUALITIES. DO NOT MEASURE THE QUALITY OF THE DOG BY IT'S REGISTRATION, BUT BY ITS CONFORMATION AND OVERALL QUALITY. MANY BREEDERS CHOOSE OTHER REGISTRIES BECAUSE OF THEIR OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICES AND THEIR ABILITIES TO KEEP REGISTRATION COSTS AT A REASONABLE PRICE. MANY OF THE DOGS I OWN AND HAVE OWNED WERE AKC REGISTERABLE, BUT THE BREEDERS WERE UNHAPPY WITH THEIR SERVICES. I AM NOT KNOCKING ON ANY REGISTRY SERVICES, BUT MAKING IT CLEAR THAT AKC DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN THAT IT IS A QUALITY DOG. NOR DOES THE AMOUNT OF CHAMPIONS IN THE PEDIGREE. CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE INFO ON THESE REGISTRIES. WHEN YOU ARE CONSIDERING A PUPPY, FIND A QUALITY DOG THAT YOU CAN LIVE WITH AND LOVE, NOT ONE THAT JUST LOOKS GOOD ON PAPER. |
| THERE ARE ALSO MANY VARIETIES OF ROANS AND MERLES THAT ARE NOT SHOWN HERE..... (NOT ALL OF THESE COLORS ARE RECOGNIZED BY AKC AND SOME COLOR VARIETIES CAN PRODUCE BLUE EYES) |
| COCKER |
| COLORS |
| THERE ARE ABOUT 25 DIFFERENT COLOR VARIETIES WITH COCKERS |
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| BUFF VARIETIES ( ASCOB & PARTI VARIETY ) PICTURED ARE THE COLORS: RED PARTI, BUFF PARTI, SILVER, BUFF, AND RED BUFF COCKERS CAN RANGE FROM THE LIGHTEST SHADE OF TAN (ALMOST WHITE) TO APRICOT, AND TO THE DARK SHADES OF RED. |
| BLACK VARIETIES ( BLACK & PARTI VARIETY ) PICTURED ARE THE COLORS: BLUE ROAN/TAN, BLACK PARTI, BLACK TRI, BLACK, BLACK/TAN BLACK COCKERS CAN COME IN SOLID BLACK AND HAVING TAN POINTS. THE PARTI VARIETY ARE MARKED THE SAME BUT WITH WHITE. THERE ARE ALSO ROANS, BUT THEY ARE CALLED "BLUE" |
| FOR MORE INFO ON ROANS, GO TO WWW.AJKENNELS.COM |
| CHOCOLATE VARIETIES (ASCOB & PARTI VARIETY ) PICTURED ARE THE COLORS: CHOCOLATE PARTI, CHOC/TRI, CHOCOLATE & CHOC/TAN CHOCOLATE COCKERS CAN COME IN SOLID BROWN AND HAVING TAN POINTS. THE PARTI VARIETY ARE MARKED THE SAME BUT WITH WHITE. |
| SABLE VARIETIES (ASCOB & PARTI VARIETY ) PICTURED ARE THE COLORS: BLACK SABLE PARTI, BLACK SABLE, & CHOCOLATE SABLE SABLES COME IN TWO BASE COLORS- BLACK & CHOCOLATE. DEFINED BY THE COLORS OF THEIR NOSE AND PADS, THEY CAN BE LIGHT RED TO BLACK & HAVE UNDERTONES & TAN POINTS. |
| MERLE VARIETIES (ASCOB & PARTI VARIETY ) PICTURED ARE THE COLORS: SABLE MERLE, CHOCOLATE MERLE, AND BLUE (OR BLACK) MERLE MERLES COME IN A VARIETY OF COLORS AND PATTERNS AND SOME HAVE BLUE EYES. MERLES ARE VERY CONTROVERSIAL AND MANY BREEDERS CHOOSE NOT TO BREED THEM OR OWN THEM. YOU SHOULD NOT BREED A MERLE TO ANOTHER MERLE. |
| GROOMING |
| BATHING There is an array of shampoos out there. My personal favorites are BIO GROOM products. They have great shampoos, conditioners, powders, colognes, and cleaning wipes. You can find these products at Petsmart. Click on the BIO GROOM LINK to see all of their great products! |
| Grooming Grooming can be very challenging to the novice. I have learned how to brush, clip, bath, and fully groom cockers from experience. If you are going to be doing your own clipping, it would be wise and cost-effective to invest in quality clippers ($100-$200 as a starting price). Cheap clippers may work for the first five minutes, but it is just easier to buy the best. My personal favorites are Oster A-5, 2-speed clippers with detached blades. These start around $200 and can be found at Petsmart. |
