Today a 12 weeks old cocker puppy has come into your possession whose breeding, and confirmation was carefully planned. It has also enjoyed loving care , good feeding and a happy rearing with enough space to let of steam.

What it now turns into is up to you and your handling

Balanced love and discipline are very important. A small cocker is like a seismigraph and catches every mood change at once. From the beginning it must be consistently handled . I know the big so innocent looking cocker eyes can pull at your heart and one feels like an ogre. However you do want a well brought up dog whom all will praise and who is not a nuisance to you and your surroundings.

Firstly- cleanliness.

Observe your dog carefully and you will soon recognise his pee times,in any case always after waking up and after feeding. At once outside with the little rascal even if he tries to head back to the house - as he always does at first because that is his favourite place. Especially in rainy weather the carpet is more comfortable than a wet lawn or road. He will not squat at once but run around in excited cirles looking for the best place and then.perform. Never forget to praise your young dog when he has been good and done it outside where he is supposed to.

Exaggerate freely ,he will love it, he wants to please you and he will remember. Praise backed up with a little biscuit will work wonders. He will do a lot for a biscuit. If the rascal misbehaves do what the packleader would do, grab him by the neck and shake him. He must realise that you are annoyed with him so speak loudly. If he scrawls offended into his bed ignore him, depending on the offence even up to 2 hours. He will take note

Between four and five months the first needle sharp baby teeth fall out and are replace by permanent teeth. Give the puppy the buffalo skin bones which are available in all pet shops. They can lie around without smelling, which real bones already do on the second day - your dog may appreciate the smell but you will not -  and he will always want to hide them when he has finished with them. One of our beloved dogs always hid his real bones under the pillow which was a proof of trust, but what a smell. Introduce him at once to the lead, either with collar or harness. In the beginning it will not be trouble free. The puppy  feels  as if it is in a corset and will fight it. With the harness you can control the whole dog but with the collar you stretch the neck. Young cockers are strong pullers. The cute little bundle you have on the end of the lead will grow within a year into a powerful dog , whichever sex. Take time at the beginning to  practice walking on the lead and at heal. Only let him run freely if there is no traffic around because spaniels have no traffic sense and on the trail of a good smell will run into the next car. Put him on the lead before you open the house door or the car door. He is so full of the joy of life he will always want to be first out. Later he will obey words like  " wait " , " no " or " stop ".

 Feeding

Most cockers are very greedy which is why you see so many fat spaniels whose hearts struggle to cope with their huge bodies, hence the next heading MENU. Up to 6 months old feed 3 times a day, totalling three quarters of a litre divided in 3 meals.  Two thirds meat, one third a mixture of oatmeal ,bran,linseed and soya groats - you can obtain the mixture from me.  In the morning and at middday soften 3 heaped tablespoonfuls in boiling water or unsalted broth. Rice or other cereal products can be used. For the evening meal  give semolina or oatmeal  in lowfat milk and you can add a tablespoon of cottage cheese or yoghurt, with honey. As a supplement I recommend Welpisal  from Asid.  DO NOT give daily bones. Every 14 days you can give a grisly veal bone and dry dog biscuit for teeth and gums. Only use beef ,( never pork ) lamb , fish, chicken ( only cooked because of salmonella danger ) without bones. For vegetables use grated apples, carrots, celeriac, all non gaseous vegetables and vegetable juices. The grown dog should be fed on one third of meat, one third of vegetable and one third cereals with the addition of one third olive oil (it helps to digest the fat soluble vitamins , E, D, K, A ) The dog also has a metabolism Twice a week give an egg yoke.  After five o clock do not feed, the night is long and the young dog can not hold forever

Care

Your puppy has been wormed by me before the sale. Between the fourth and fifth month he should be wormed again. Roundworms come from the mother's blood . Until the dog is a year old po samples should be tested every two months and three times a year a dose of Lobatol or Panacur. Every two weeks the ears should be cleaned with drops obtained from a vet.

Your puppy is vaccinated against Parvo, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Distemper. Rabies and kennel cough can be left until 6 months. The vaccination should be repeated yearly.. Up to 6 months old the puppy should not have too much exercise or be allowed to climb stairs.

At one year old the dog needs to have its puppy coat stripped out and be professionally trimmed to cocker standards, in any case without all the extra hair it is easier to look after him. Particularly in winter snow tends to ball in the ears and feet. Please do not go to beauty salons but make an appointment with me- maybe you would even like to learn how to do it yourself by watching me. In spring dogs molt loosing the warm underhair so more hair than usual comes out. The same happens in winter when the underhair starts growing. Buy a special cocker comb Spratt S73 and at least twice a week comb him thoroughly. This comb will remove all dead hair. Brushing is not necessary and bath him seldom as wellcared hair in a correctly fed cocker holds lanolin and any dirt is usually shed overnight.

I wish you much joy with your cocker and him a long cocker life.


Monika Bollinger