Breed Guide: Cocker Spaniel
Though 12,000 fewer were registered in the UK in 2013 than Labradors, Cocker Spaniels have proven themselves to be a very popular breed of dog, with just shy of 23,000 being registered. This makes the Cocker Spaniel the second most popular dog in the Gundog breed category, and it holds the position quite comfortably considering that trailing behind in third place is the English Springer Spaniel with 11,316. The Cocker Spaniel’s popularity seems to have held throughout 2014 also, with over 17,000 being registered between January 2014 and September 2014.
Key Facts
Size
Medium
Exercise Requirements
1 hour
Coat Length
Medium
Lifespan
10 – 12 years
Personality & Training
As any owner will be able to tell you, every cocker spaniel has its very own unique personality and temperament, but most do share common traits. As a rule, cocker spaniels are intelligent, cheerful, and sociable, preferring to be around other creatures than left on their own. These dogs are often seen with their tails wagging excitedly behind them, which has earned them a reputation for being a generally happy and easy-to-please breed of dog.
If taught from an early enough age, a cocker spaniel will readily get along with children and other household pets, but they will always form the closest bond with whoever it is that feeds them (told you these dogs were smart).
Cocker Spaniels are easily trained and once their training is complete they’ll be loyal to a fault. Bear in mind however that unlike many other dogs, they do not respond well to an overly firm hand, so whenever possible we’d suggest choosing the carrot over the stick. Obviously, you will still need to prove your dominance to them as pack leader, but loud noises and scare tactics work a little too well with cocker spaniels and will quickly cause them to become nervous and stressed.
Exercise & Living Conditions
Cocker spaniels do not require too much exercise compared to most other medium-sized breeds of dog, in fact, most days an hour is more than enough to suffice. Every other week, or whenever possible, it would be a good idea to take them for a more rigorous exercise to keep their fitness up, but nothing too exhausting.
Though an hour of exercise a day should be enough to keep your dog fit, you should never discourage your cocker spaniel from wanting a game of fetch or having a play around with you if they fancy it. Don’t worry about tiring them out; when they’re tired they will let you know and you’ll both feel better for it.
When given the appropriate outlet for their energy, these dogs will be more than content with whatever living space they have to make use of. They are not renowned for being fussy eaters by any stretch, nor are they more prone to specific dietary requirements than any other breed of dog. Generally speaking, so long as you feed and treat them well these dogs will lead a rich and healthy life.
Grooming
Perhaps unsurprisingly, cocker spaniels do require regular grooming from their owners. A good brush once a day would be ideal, but we do not suggest you let it go without for more than two days unless you want it to shed its hair all over your home. We also suggest that once a week you give it a thorough comb to keep its coat in good condition and remove any alien objects that may have become entangled in its fur (it happens with surprising frequency).
You should trim your dog’s hair every 2-3 months and always bathe it straight after to help remove any loose hair from its body. Bathing a cocker spaniel cannot happen often enough, so whenever you feel it’s necessary to bathe them feel free to do so. When bathing them, make sure you pay particular attention to their ears, back, and stomach.
Breed Guide: Staffordshire Bull Terrier
The most popular breed of terrier in the UK after the Border Terrier, over 5,750 Staffordshire Bull Terriers were registered in the UK in 2013, which is 2,500 more than the third most popular dog belonging to the terrier breed group: the West Highland White Terrier. Making up around 21% of terriers registered in 2013, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s popularity continued into 2014, with the first three quarters seeing around 3,725 being registered.
Key Facts
Size
Medium
Exercise Requirements
1 hour +
Coat Length
Short
Lifespan
13 years approx
Personality & Training
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s popularity is undoubtedly due to its typically friendly, outgoing, and loyal behavior, not to mention the willingness it shows to interact with humans and the ease with which they can be trained as puppies.
Their stocky, muscular look can give the intimidating initial impression that these dogs are vicious and violent, but as it turns out their temperament makes them wholly unsuitable for life as guard dogs or attack dogs. Their muscularity does however make them eager to engage in play and exercise, meaning that they are perhaps not the ideal dog for people who lead a slow, easy-going pace of life.
When it comes to training a Staffordshire Bull Terrier you must have a very firm hand, as must every other member of the family. It is not enough for one or two members of the family to place themselves in a position of dominance, because for these dogs to learn they need to see all humans as pack masters, not just their family. Once this has been established, however, they will be the ideal pet and will socialize readily with new people.
Exercise & Living Conditions
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was originally bred as a mix between bulldogs and terriers for bull baiting. This is the reason for their stout build and their surprising reserves of stamina, which if left untapped for too long can cause them to behave erratically. The best way to drain their well of energy is to take them on daily walks, with the occasional jog thrown it.
Though an hour’s walk every day will help, now and again you may find that the walk alone is not enough to stem their hyperactivity. In these instances, you will probably want to consider taking them for a run or playing with them in a park or another large open area (especially if you value your home’s furniture and décor).
So long as you wear them out before their hyperactivity reaches its peak, these dogs can get along quite well in your average-sized apartment and will truly thrive in anything bigger. Staffordshire Bull Terriers have a lifespan of approximately 13 years, but when looked after it is not unheard of for them to reach ages approaching 20 years old.
Grooming Staffordshire Bull Terrier
These dogs require very little grooming thanks to their smooth, short-haired coat. You will want to give them a brush every day, or every other day at least, to keep your home from becoming covered in a veneer of hair, but other than that you will not need to give them a bath or anything unless they become dirty or it has been a good month or two since their last one.
If you’re ever expecting company and you fancy giving yours a quick spruce, their short-haired coat can be buffed to a shine with little more than the rub of a towel.
Breed Guide: Border Terrier
Though almost drawing with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the Border Terrier has the honor of being crowned the most popular dog out of all ‘Terrier’ breeds in the UK, according to the official Kennel Club statistics. The popularity of the Border Terrier is clear simply from the number of them registered in the last year, which almost exceeded 6400; whereas 21 out of the remaining 25 didn’t even break into the thousands.
Key Facts
Size
Small
Exercise Requirements
1 hour (approx.)
Coat Length
Short
Lifespan
12 + years
Personality & Training
Despite originally being bred for hunting foxes, weasels, mice, and other vermin, Border terriers are incredibly friendly and will seldom act aggressively. On top of this, they are incredibly intelligent and independent, happily taking on challenges and thinking up inventive ways of solving problems. Their inquisitive, kind-hearted nature makes them ideal pets for families with young children.
Regarding their training, Border Terriers ought to be taught explicit commands from a very young age. If you have other medium-sized pets around the house, such as cats, they can be taught to tolerate their company and will eventually come to enjoy it. Unfamiliar cats on the other hand, or small animals such as rats, squirrels, guinea pigs, etc. will serve as something of a temptation and they may act aggressively toward them; which considering their breeding should not come as a surprise.
Exercise & Living conditions
Border Terriers, though small, are avid fans of running and possess amazing stamina, with an inherent excitability to match. This does not mean that you need to be an athlete to wear them out, as they will quite happily wear themselves out, before sitting down to enjoy a well-deserved rest. It is not uncommon for them to take a moment, during their walks, to just be still and watch the world go by.
Bred to work, Border Terriers are a remarkably sturdy dog, which can easily adapt to change, be it long-term or short. As stated they are more than capable of getting along with all family members, including house cats, but it is best to keep smaller pets in cages well out of reach; just to be safe.
Grooming Border Terrier
Though their coat is short, it is very densely packed, so cleaning it can be a bit of an issue. Fortunately, they do not possess a penchant for getting mucky, and will not require a thorough bath all that often.
Boarder Terriers are a non-shedding dog so they will require stripping from time to time, roughly once every 6 months, to remove the dead hair that has accumulated. Weekly brushing can help make the bi-yearly stripping less of a big job and will help to keep it looking dapper.