How to feed a cocker with natural food. How to feed a Cocker Spaniel and a puppy, and an adult, and an English, and an American
For normal life russian spaniel hunting dog proteins, fats, carbohydrates, mineral salts and vitamins are needed. Sources of protein - meat and fish products. No less valuable are dairy products (buttermilk, reverse). Carbohydrates contain flour products, potatoes. Use animal fats, fish oil and margarine. Mineral salts (sodium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, etc.), necessary for the body to form bone and muscle tissues and digestion, are part of all feeds. Vitamins are found in vegetables, herbs, fruits.
The daily diet of a dog in a state of factory condition includes (per 1 kg of its weight): 4-5 g of proteins, 12-15 g of carbohydrates, 1-2 g of fats (with aviary keeping in winter, the fat rate doubles).
The most nutritious food for spaniel dogs is meat products and meat waste. They are digested faster and easier. The liver, heart, kidneys, udder, spleen are highly nutritious, the lungs, mesentery, cuts from the intestines, and the stomach are somewhat less. The composition of meat products also includes raw bones (except tubular) and meat and bone meal. Once a week, it is useful to feed a half portion of meat products raw - to puppies in the form of minced meat, and starting from 7-8 months, when all permanent teeth appear, - in chopped pieces. Only fresh meat products can be given raw. When cooked, they lose up to 60% of vitamin B, chlorides and phosphates, changes in the protein occur. Meat waste from the intestines and stomach is fed only boiled because of the possibility of pathogenic bacteria in them.
Bones in large quantities are not only unnecessary, but also dangerous food. An excess of them in the dog's diet causes severe chronic constipation, and sometimes intestinal obstruction, which can be fatal. Chips of tubular bones severely injure the oral cavity and esophagus of the dog, sometimes causing intestinal perforation. But the ends of flat bones with cartilaginous endings, introduced into the feed in moderation, add variety to the food. They contain phosphorus, calcium and sulfur. Gnawing on the bones, the dog strengthens the teeth and satisfies the need for mineral salts.
In cynological literature, it would be more correct to write “meat products”, and not “meat”. Hunters, as a rule, do not feed adult dogs of Russian spaniels the meat that is eaten by humans, but mainly use meat waste (cuts, cartilage, captivity - meat cutting waste), some offal, bones, as well as animal and bird cutting waste - heads, legs, wings, lungs, spleen, intestines, stomach, mesentery. Pointing and search dogs are given meat waste from game birds only in boiled form, so that the dogs subsequently do not start tearing or crushing the birds they are importing. Meat products from the slaughter of livestock are replaced with the meat of marine animals, marine fish, and horse meat.
Once a week, it is useful to introduce raw ocean fish into the diet, which contains a lot of easily digestible proteins, phosphorus, vitamin A, iodine, and bone meal. Also, once a week, along with food, the dog is given a raw egg. Raw eggs are good for sick, convalescent dogs and pre-mating sires. Raw pork or minced pork, raw river or lake fish should not be introduced into the feed to exclude the possibility of infection of the animal with worms or tapeworm. In addition, raw pork fat is poorly digested and can cause gastrointestinal upset.
Vegetable food is an indispensable addition to meat and fish food, a source of additional energy for the body. Semi-liquid semolina, millet, rice, barley porridges are well digestible, but oatmeal is the best cereal - it is easily digested and helps strengthen muscles. Oat flakes (raw or lightly scalded with boiling water) are seasoned with soups or milk. Especially good in the composition of feed protein-rich soy. Peas, lentils, beans, even if they are crushed beforehand, are more difficult to digest and cause fermentation and the formation of gases in the intestines.
Vegetables, especially fresh ones, are an indispensable source of vitamins. Especially valuable are carrots, rich in vitamin A, which are best fed grated. Potatoes are given in limited quantities and only boiled. Dogs eat well boiled or steamed pumpkin added to food, which also has an anthelmintic effect. In moderation, give fresh fruits and berries. Vegetable food is also a good filler of the digestive tract, causing the dog to feel full.
Bread must be added to milk or liquid soup in a stale or slightly dried form - it is quickly saturated with saliva and gastric juice and, therefore, is better digested. Eating crackers (especially rye), the dog strengthens and at the same time cleans his teeth.
Milk is given fresh or fermented; sour milk causes indigestion. Long-term milk feeding of adult dogs leads to obesity and sluggish digestion.
An integral part of the diet russian spaniel dogs- salt. When preparing soup or porridge, do not forget to salt them half as much as for a person.
In the food of an adult spaniel dog, you can use canned food, leftover food. Soups are also cooked from them, adding fats, cereals, vegetables, and bread immediately before feeding. At the same time, remnants of hot spices, pepper, mustard, vinegar, and other spices that reduce the sense of smell and lead to kidney disease should not get into the feed.
In summer, food is cooked more liquid, in winter - thicker. Its temperature should not exceed 30 °C. Do not give sour, fermented or frozen food. Food should be fresh and varied, which is achieved by alternating meat, fish, dairy and vegetarian days. You cannot grow a full-fledged hunting dog only on bread and potatoes.
The amount of food fed should not be excessive. If a Russian Spaniel dog completely eats his portion and licks the bowl, this indicates that he has a good appetite. An average-sized hunting dog in captivity in a state of factory condition for one feeding (with two meals a day) eats 1-1.2 liters, with room content - 0.8-1 liters of complete food in the form of thick soups and semi-liquid cereals. The nutritional value and energy value of the feed is calculated based on the data in the table:
In a normally fed Russian Spaniel dog, the muscles are clearly defined and elastic, when the body is turned, the ribs are slightly marked. Overfeeding a dog, excessive giving of sweets, throwing up pieces of food outside the time of feeding quickly lead to metabolic disorders, obesity, shortness of breath, diseases of the heart, kidneys, and skin. The relatively short intestinal tract of a dog is not adapted to digesting large amounts of plant foods. Enhanced nutrition is given to the dog during hunting, during periods of seasonal molting, in case of diseases and aftercare, and to bitches also during pregnancy and feeding puppies.
Don't let your dog starve. With a lack of feed, she loses weight, becomes weak and easily susceptible to disease. For a stud dog, which will have no more than 5 matings in a season, the feed rate is not increased, but 3-4 weeks before mating, the diet is enriched with proteins and vitamins.
They feed the dog from a separate dish and, regardless of age, at a strictly defined time. Her digestive activity is carried out reflexively, and at the time set for eating, saliva and gastric juice are intensively secreted. Do not give dog food by throwing it on the floor. After feeding, the remnants of food are removed, and clean drinking water is poured into the washed bowl. The need for an adult dog in water is 1.5-2 liters per day.
Particular attention needs to be paid diet of russian spaniel puppies, the regularity of their feeding from the time of weaning from the mother and until reaching 11-12 months of age, when their growth is basically completed and the body is stronger. At 1.5-2 months they are fed 6 times a day every 3 hours, carefully making sure that the puppies do not overeat. With age, increase portions, reducing the frequency of feeding to 5 times a day at 2-3 months and 4 times at 4-5 months. At 6-7 months, they switch to 3 meals a day, and after 12-14 months, 2 meals a day.
A small puppy should eat fresh milk, kefir, cottage cheese, raw eggs, butter, ground beef, meat broth with pieces of dried white bread, liquid milk semolina, rice or oatmeal, grated carrots and finely chopped greens. Cheese is very helpful. A growing puppy's body is in dire need of mineral supplements. However, you should not give the puppy sugar, which can cause itching and partial hair loss.
Good feeding is the introduction into the diet of easily digestible feeds containing complete proteins, well-digestible fats, minerals and vitamins necessary for the puppy's body during this period of its growth. Feed your spaniel puppy moderate portions to keep him mobile and prone to play. The volume of his stomach, depending on age, is 0.3-0.5 liters, its overflow is unacceptable. The puppy should eat each serving of food, and lick the bowl. If he does not do this, then the amount of food is reduced. Leftover food is removed. In no case should you give your puppy sour or fermented food.
Approximate diets for Russian spaniel puppies: in the morning (7-8 hours) cottage cheese with milk; in the afternoon (11-12 hours) vegetable stew in meat broth or milk; in the afternoon (15-16 h) cereals or thick soups with milk or meat broth; in the evening (19-20 h) meat, cut into small pieces (occasionally minced meat), along with vegetables, soups or cereals; late in the evening (22-23 h) lightly sweetened kefir or curdled milk.
For normal development, the puppy needs phosphorus and calcium. To do this, he is given daily glycerophosphate and calcium gluconate at a rate determined by a veterinarian, a teaspoon of fish oil and finely chopped eggshells. From the age of 5 months, the amount of fish oil is increased to a tablespoon per day. Once a day, pharmacy sulfur is added to food at the tip of a sharp knife. A plate with pieces of chalk and dry beer or nutritional yeast is placed next to the food bowl. Yeast is an easily digestible form of vegetable protein rich in vitamins.
From 2 months of age, it is useful to periodically, but limitedly, give raw cartilage, and from 4-5 months - soft beef and calf bones. The puppy should not be allowed to feel thirsty - there should always be clean drinking water in his bowl.
With mother's milk, a Russian spaniel puppy received all the substances necessary for growth. After weaning from the mother and up to 6 months of age, until his body is strong, with a lack of calcium salts, phosphoric acid and vitamins A and O in the feed, he will inevitably develop rickets. To warn him, in addition to good conditions of detention, enhanced good nutrition is required. Both phosphorus and calcium, as well as vitamins (often multivitamins), are introduced into the puppy's food. It is necessary to add a teaspoon of meat or fish and bone meal to liquid food daily, periodically, like an adult dog, give raw chicken eggs and small amounts of raw liver cut into pieces.
So that the spaniel puppy does not experience a lack of vitamins, finely chopped greens are added to the food in the spring and summer - lettuce, cabbage, spinach, dill, sorrel, parsley, leaves of young nettles and dandelions. Nettles are preliminarily scalded with boiling water to destroy the pungency of its villi. In the autumn-winter period, one drop of three vitamins (A, B, E) is added daily to the puppy's food or replaced with fish oil. Activation of the action of vitamin E) is achieved due to ultraviolet rays, so the puppy needs to be walked under the sun more often.
The vital activity of a dog is associated with a constant metabolism and energy consumption, which is compensated for by the body with nutrients supplied with food. Energy expenditure is much higher in puppies and young dogs due to the growth of their bone and muscle tissues.
For the normal life of a spaniel, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, mineral salts and vitamins are necessary. Protein sources are meat and fish products. No less valuable are dairy products (buttermilk, reverse). Carbohydrates contain flour products, potatoes. Use animal fats, fish oil and margarine. Mineral salts (sodium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, etc.), necessary for the body to form bone and muscle tissues and digestion, are part of all feeds. Vitamins are found in vegetables, herbs, fruits.
The daily diet of a dog in a state of factory condition includes (per 1 kg of its weight): 4-5 g of proteins, 12-15 g of carbohydrates, 1-2 g of fats (with aviary keeping in winter, the fat rate doubles).
The most nutritious food for spaniel dogs is meat products and meat waste. They are digested faster and easier. The liver, heart, kidneys, udder, spleen are highly nutritious, the lungs, mesentery, cuts from the intestines, and the stomach are somewhat less. The composition of meat products also includes raw bones (except tubular) and meat and bone meal. Once a week, it is useful to feed a half portion of meat products in raw form - to puppies in the form of minced meat, and starting from 7-8 months, when all permanent teeth appear, - in chopped pieces. Only fresh meat products can be given raw. When cooked, they lose up to 60% of vitamin B, chlorides and phosphates, changes in the protein occur. Meat waste from the intestines and stomach is fed only boiled because of the possibility of pathogenic bacteria in them.
Bones in large quantities are not only unnecessary, but also dangerous food. An excess of them in the dog's diet causes severe chronic constipation, and sometimes intestinal obstruction, which can be fatal. Chips of tubular bones severely injure the oral cavity and esophagus of the dog, sometimes causing intestinal perforation. But the ends of flat bones with cartilaginous endings, introduced into the feed in moderation, add variety to the food. They contain phosphorus, calcium and sulfur. Gnawing on the bones, the dog strengthens the teeth and satisfies the need for mineral salts.
In cynological literature, it would be more correct to write “meat products”, and not “meat”. Hunters, as a rule, do not feed adult Russian Spaniel dogs the meat that is eaten by humans, but mainly use meat waste (cuts, cartilage, captivity - meat cutting waste), some offal, bones, as well as animal and bird cutting waste - heads, legs, wings, lungs, spleen, intestines, stomach, mesentery. Pointing and search dogs are given meat waste from game birds only in boiled form, so that the dogs subsequently do not start tearing or crushing the birds they are importing. Meat products from the slaughter of livestock are replaced with the meat of marine animals, marine fish, and horse meat.
Once a week, it is useful to introduce raw ocean fish into the diet, which contains a lot of easily digestible proteins, phosphorus, vitamin A, iodine, and bone meal. Also, once a week, along with food, the dog is given a raw egg. Raw eggs are good for sick, convalescent dogs and pre-mating sires. Raw pork or minced pork, raw river or lake fish should not be introduced into the feed to exclude the possibility of infection of the animal with worms or tapeworm. In addition, raw pork fat is poorly digested and can cause gastrointestinal upset.
Vegetable food is an indispensable addition to meat and fish food, a source of additional energy for the body. Semi-liquid semolina, millet, rice, barley porridges are well digestible, but oatmeal is the best cereal - it is easily digested and helps to strengthen the muscles. Oat flakes (raw or lightly scalded with boiling water) are seasoned with soups or milk. Especially good in the composition of feed protein-rich soy. Peas, lentils, beans, even if they are crushed beforehand, are more difficult to digest and cause fermentation and the formation of gases in the intestines.
Vegetables, especially fresh ones, are an indispensable source of vitamins. Especially valuable are carrots, rich in vitamin A, which are best fed grated. Potatoes are given in limited quantities and only boiled. Dogs eat well boiled or steamed pumpkin added to food, which also has an anthelmintic effect. In moderation, give fresh fruits and berries. Vegetable food is also a good filler of the digestive tract, causing the dog to feel full.
Bread must be added to milk or liquid soup in a stale or slightly dried form - it is quickly saturated with saliva and gastric juice and, therefore, is better digested. Eating crackers (especially rye), the dog strengthens and at the same time cleans his teeth.
Milk is given fresh or fermented; sour milk causes indigestion. Long-term milk feeding of adult dogs leads to obesity and sluggish digestion.
An integral part of the diet of the Russian Spaniel dog is table salt. When preparing soup or porridge, do not forget to salt them half as much as for a person.
In the food of an adult spaniel dog, you can use canned food, leftover food. Soups are also cooked from them, adding fats, cereals, vegetables, and bread immediately before feeding. At the same time, remnants of hot spices, pepper, mustard, vinegar, and other spices that reduce the sense of smell and lead to kidney disease should not get into the feed.
In summer, food is cooked more liquid, in winter - thicker. Its temperature should not exceed 30 °C. Do not give sour, fermented or frozen food. Food should be fresh and varied, which is achieved by alternating meat, fish, dairy and vegetarian days. You cannot grow a full-fledged hunting dog only on bread and potatoes.
The amount of food fed should not be excessive. If a Russian Spaniel dog completely eats his portion and licks the bowl, this indicates that he has a good appetite. An average-sized hunting dog in captivity in a state of factory condition for one feeding (with two meals a day) eats 1-1.2 liters, with room content - 0.8-1 liter of complete food in the form of thick soups and semi-liquid cereals. The nutritional value and energy value of the feed is calculated based on the data in the table:
In a normally fed Russian Spaniel dog, the muscles are clearly defined and elastic, when the body is turned, the ribs are slightly marked. Overfeeding a dog, excessive giving of sweets, throwing up pieces of food outside the time of feeding quickly lead to metabolic disorders, obesity, shortness of breath, diseases of the heart, kidneys, and skin. The relatively short intestinal tract of a dog is not adapted to digesting large amounts of plant foods. Enhanced nutrition is given to the dog during hunting, during periods of seasonal molting, in case of diseases and aftercare, and to bitches also during pregnancy and feeding puppies.
Don't let your dog starve. With a lack of feed, she loses weight, becomes weak and easily susceptible to disease. For a stud dog, which will have no more than 5 matings in a season, the feed rate is not increased, but 3-4 weeks before mating, the diet is enriched with proteins and vitamins.
They feed the dog from a separate dish and, regardless of age, at a strictly defined time. Her digestive activity is carried out reflexively, and at the time set for eating, saliva and gastric juice are intensively secreted. Do not give dog food by throwing it on the floor. After feeding, the remnants of food are removed, and clean drinking water is poured into the washed bowl. The need for an adult dog in water is 1.5-2 liters per day.
Particular attention should be paid to the diet of Russian Spaniel puppies, the regularity of their feeding from the time of weaning to the age of 11-12 months, when their growth is basically completed and the body is strong. At 1.5-2 months they are fed 6 times a day every 3 hours, carefully making sure that the puppies do not overeat. With age, increase portions, reducing the frequency of feeding to 5 times a day at 2-3 months and 4 times at 4-5 months. At 6-7 months, they switch to 3 meals a day, and after 12-14 months, 2 meals a day.
A small puppy should eat fresh milk, kefir, cottage cheese, raw eggs, butter, ground beef, meat broth with pieces of dried white bread, liquid milk semolina, rice or oatmeal, grated carrots and finely chopped greens. Cheese is very helpful. A growing puppy's body is in dire need of mineral supplements. However, you should not give the puppy sugar, which can cause itching and partial hair loss.
Good feeding is the introduction into the diet of easily digestible feeds containing complete proteins, well-digestible fats, minerals and vitamins necessary for the puppy's body during this period of its growth. Feed your spaniel puppy moderate portions to keep him mobile and prone to play. The volume of his stomach, depending on age, is 0.3-0.5 liters, its overflow is unacceptable. The puppy should eat each serving of food, and lick the bowl. If he does not do this, then the amount of food is reduced. Leftover food is removed. In no case should you give your puppy sour or fermented food.
Approximate diets for Russian spaniel puppies: in the morning (7-8 hours) cottage cheese with milk; in the afternoon (11-12 hours) vegetable stew in meat broth or milk; in the afternoon (15-16 h) cereals or thick soups with milk or meat broth; in the evening (19-20 h) meat, cut into small pieces (occasionally minced meat), along with vegetables, soups or cereals; late in the evening (22-23 hours) lightly sweetened kefir or curdled milk.
For normal development, the puppy needs phosphorus and calcium. To do this, he is given daily glycerophosphate and calcium gluconate at a rate determined by a veterinarian, a teaspoon of fish oil and finely chopped eggshells. From the age of 5 months, the amount of fish oil is increased to a tablespoon per day. Once a day, pharmacy sulfur is added to food at the tip of a sharp knife. A plate with pieces of chalk and dry beer or nutritional yeast is placed next to the food bowl. Yeast is an easily digestible form of vegetable protein rich in vitamins.
From the age of 2 months, it is useful to periodically, but limitedly, give raw cartilage, and from 4-5 months - soft beef and calf bones. The puppy should not be allowed to feel thirsty - there should always be clean drinking water in his bowl.
With mother's milk, a Russian spaniel puppy received all the substances necessary for growth. After weaning from the mother and up to 6 months of age, until his body is strong, with a lack of calcium salts, phosphoric acid and vitamins A and O in the feed, he will inevitably develop rickets. To warn him, in addition to good conditions of detention, enhanced good nutrition is required. Both phosphorus and calcium, as well as vitamins (often multivitamins), are introduced into the puppy's food. It is necessary to add a teaspoon of meat or fish and bone meal to liquid food daily, periodically, like an adult dog, give raw chicken eggs and small amounts of raw liver cut into pieces.
So that the spaniel puppy does not lack vitamins, in the spring and summer, finely chopped greens are added to the food - lettuce, cabbage, spinach, dill, sorrel, parsley, leaves of young nettles and dandelions. Nettles are preliminarily scalded with boiling water to destroy the pungency of its villi. In the autumn-winter period, one drop of three vitamins (A, B, E) is added daily to the puppy's food or replaced with fish oil. Activation of the action of vitamin E) is achieved due to ultraviolet rays, so the puppy needs to be walked under the sun more often.
The vital activity of a dog is associated with a constant metabolism and energy consumption, which is compensated for by the body with nutrients supplied with food. Energy expenditure is much higher in puppies and young dogs due to the growth of their bone and muscle tissues.
First, a little history. There are two types of Cocker Spaniels, the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel.
English was introduced to Great Britain in the nineteenth century. Breeders tried to get the perfect hunting dog.
They are loyal and affectionate, energetic, not afraid to climb into the most inaccessible place during the chase. But, they have an unbalanced psyche.
Ears need to be cleaned regularly. In addition, you need to take care of the claws and teeth of the pet.
For newly-minted owners, the question often arises: “What to feed a puppy?”.
The American Cocker Spaniel has an excellent appetite, which is why he quickly begins to overeat.
In such cases, the dog begins to rapidly gain weight, and extra pounds, just like other representatives of four-legged animals, are strictly contraindicated.
In this regard, it is important not to succumb to his plaintive look, and not to feed anything from your table.
It is necessary to strictly monitor the amount of feed and the frequency of feeding. For example, for a baby at the age of 2 months, the norm will be four large spoons of food at a time, and for an adult dog, two glasses.
How many times to feed
- Babies under the age of the second month, fed 6 times;
- from the second month to the fourth, 4 times;
- from the fourth to the sixth month, three, four times;
- from the sixth month to one year, three times;
Dogs over one year old are fed once or twice.
The feeding hours of the American Cocker are determined by the owner himself, focusing on his daily routine.
The choice of diet depends on how you plan to use the dog.
For health, a dog from the very first month of life needs a nutritious and balanced diet.
Which will ensure the supply of the body with all the components necessary for proper growth.
What to choose, dry or natural food? It is difficult to unambiguously answer this question. Both cases have their positive and negative sides.
Dry food
The use of dry food is very popular these days. They are balanced, do not require long preparation.
For any owner of an American Cocker Spaniel, they make caring for the pet much easier. The composition of high-quality, dry food contains all the components that are important for the full growth and development of the puppy.
All the owner needs to do is to choose the most suitable food for his pet, according to the age category and physical activity.
Remember that when choosing one or another store-bought, dry food, you should consult with your veterinarian.
Natural products
No matter how good and convenient dry food is, owners have to deal with feeding the baby with natural food. This is especially true for breeders, since during the milk period, there is a need for complementary foods.
Which of the natural products can be used:
Dairy products: It is better to feed with kefir, curd mass, homemade yogurt. If feeding the American Cocker with fresh, whole milk, egg yolk should be added to it.
Meat: Veins and cartilage, feed very tiny puppies with these products in the form of chips, at an older age, feed them in pieces; chicken or turkey, meat is pitted; lamb; fish fillet.
Cereals: Cooked with milk or meat base. It is recommended to feed with rice porridge, buckwheat, oatmeal.
Vegetables: Representatives of any breed of dog should not be fed potatoes. Carrots are given raw, mashed. Some puppies prefer to chew on whole carrots. Other vegetables are added to the puppy's food exclusively boiled.
Potatoes, beans, corn. Not digested in the stomach of dogs.
Spicy condiments. The sense of smell in dogs is much more developed than in humans, strong odors and spicy food can damage the sense of smell.
Goodies from the table. Well, to what they to a dog! In addition, they can cause metabolic disorders.
Video
An experienced dog breeder will tell you how to properly feed your pet. What needs to be added to your pet's food, and will also show what commands you need to work out before eating.
As the title suggests, the topic of today's article will be feeding the dog. At first I wanted to write an article about what to feed the American Cocker Spaniel, but then I decided to combine this topic with another one - the nutrition of the English Cocker Spaniel. In the end, though, their physiology is very similar.
How to Organize Dog Food
If you have an American Cocker Spaniel, meals should be well organized. The point is not only what he will eat, but also how, under what conditions. If you have an English Cocker Spaniel, feeding it should also be organized according to the same rules.
Allocate a small area for the spaniel (1 by 1 m is possible), where he can eat without interference in the form of household items, decor elements, furniture, etc.
The place where the dog eats should be ventilated, always dry and clean (no food leftovers!).
Put three bowls for your pet - one for water (change daily), the second for liquid food (kefir, milk, soup), the third for solid food.
When choosing a container, it should be borne in mind that the Cocker Spaniel has rather long ears, which will hang directly into the bowl during feeding. There are two ways out of this situation. First - get a special bowl for the spaniel (high and narrowed towards the top). The second - braid the hair on the ears into hairpins or fasten the ears behind the head with a soft elastic band, hairpins. Also, the bowl must be placed on a special stand so that the food is at the level of the dog's chest.
In general, the spaniel is quite unpretentious in food, however, it is voracious, which should be taken into account when compiling a diet. Also, you should always remember that the needs of the "couch" and the hunting dog are different.
A well-balanced diet and regular feeding is the key to not only a healthy, but also a beautiful Cocker Spaniel!
Cocker spaniels are famous not only for their friendly character, but also for their appearance. The curly coat and large ears make this dog recognizable. They can also cause a lot of trouble for the owner of the dog, so when choosing a cocker, be prepared for the fact that it will often have to be washed and combed out. Consider what else to look for when looking closely at this breed, as well as what to feed a Cocker Spaniel.
Appearance and character
Cocker Spaniels are very active and agile dogs. This breed was artificially bred in the 19th century to obtain a compact dog capable of hunting small game. Hence the name of the breed: in English, woodcock is a woodcock.
The average height of a Cocker Spaniel is about 40 centimeters. Weight, depending on gender, varies from 12 to 15 kilograms. Dogs of this breed live up to 15 years, and sometimes more. Until old age, they are distinguished by a playful character and mobility.
Cocker spaniels are ideal hunters. They have a great sense of smell, extraordinary stamina, obedient nature and excellent physique. This breed has a very strict standard, so purebred spaniels are rightfully considered one of the best.
But all this means that high demands are made on the owner of the spaniel. Quiet walks are not suitable for this dog: she needs constant games, activities and activities.
What to feed a Cocker Spaniel
The spaniel needs a high-energy food designed specifically for the breed - it is important to choose the right food for your Cocker Spaniel. Ideal from ROYAL CANIN ® , which can be given to a Cocker Spaniel up to a year. It contains a lot of fatty acids for the proper development of the puppy, prebiotics to protect the developing digestive system, as well as all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
Spaniels are sensitive to certain foods, so you can not feed the dog from the master's table, you need to give him special food for spaniels. For adult animals over the age of one year, ROYAL CANIN ® is suitable.
This food is high in protein, which allows you to keep the weight of an adult dog within the normal range. In addition, the special shape of the kibble helps prevent the formation of tartar, which develops over time in almost all dogs.
Cockers are very mobile, but the resource of their body is not unlimited, so an adult dog will need to take care of the heart. Special food for cocker spaniels takes this into account.
Breed features
The owner should pay attention to the appearance of his dog. The wavy coat of a spaniel needs to be brushed regularly - at least once a week -. A dog of this breed needs to be washed and groomed regularly. Special feeds help the Cocker's coat to always stay healthy and shiny.
The hallmark of the Cocker Spaniel is their long floppy ears. They are also one of the weak points of the breed. You need to regularly clean your pet's ears and do not forget about them when you wash your dog: the closed ear shell does not allow dirt to be removed by itself, so you will have to keep an eye on this.
Regular visits to the veterinarian are the best prevention of any disease. And, when getting a Cocker Spaniel, remember its hunting purpose: this kind and agile dog may require a change in life from the owner. For example, he will have to love long and moving walks.