– a domestic breed, originally bred for hunting birds. Lately, especially in major cities, they began to be kept simply as pets because of their friendliness and flexible nature.

Like all mammals, this breed's health begins with early years. In order for the dog to grow up active and have good immunity, it is important to feed the Russian Spaniel puppy correctly, as well as take into account the recommendations of dog handlers for care and education.

The Russian Spaniel is calm within four walls, but outside it is extremely active. A genetically determined feature of the breed is the need for long walks, especially in forest parks. The dog easily adapts to life in an apartment, but he needs to be walked for a long time.

IMPORTANT! This breed loves water and is an excellent swimmer. But if swimming is not included in the plans, then it is better to choose places for walking that are located away from bodies of water.

Despite their medium size, they are excellent watchdogs. Their pronounced intuition allows them to distinguish a person with good intentions from a villain. When the last one appears, the spaniel will defend its owners to the last.

Russian spaniels also get along well with children and other pets. They are wonderful members of large animal-loving families. In addition, they are easy to train, but they choose their owner themselves. It is this person who will become the center of the dog’s universe.

Choosing a place and dishes for the puppy

Before moving your pet to new home It is important to take care in choosing a place and dishes for the baby. The first must remain unchanged. It is necessary that the allocated space is not in a crowded place, far from drafts. Also, dark corners are completely unsuitable for spaniels.

It should be placed on a wooden stand, this will protect the animal from the cold. Experts advise using a sturdy basket or wooden box. You must first make sure that there are no sharp edges or burrs that could harm the puppy.

A mattress or bed, purchased in a store or, is suitable as bedding. It is important that the dog can comfortably lounge on the “bed” while remaining on the bedding. Clean sleeping place recommended daily.

Also installed in one place. The owner chooses the room, but traditionally dogs are fed in the kitchen or in the hallway if the former is too cramped. For water, you need to buy heavy dishes that the puppy will not tip over while playing. It should also be easy to clean.

Spaniels love to carry everything they can pick up in their teeth, so for food you need to buy a massive bowl that the dog will not turn over and drag away.

Important! Old plates with damage and cracks are not suitable as feeding utensils. The sharp edges can injure the animal's tongue.

Spaniels are not particularly neat, so coasters and rugs for dishes are a necessity, not a luxury, when keeping this breed. Without them, leftover food will be scattered all over the floor.

Read also: Darling dog food

What to feed a Russian spaniel puppy

You should choose the type of food based on the purpose of the dog. If you plan to participate in hiking, hunting, fishing and leading an active lifestyle, then the best option will become ready-made feed. For less active pets natural will do food consisting of meat and cereals.

When choosing what to feed your Russian Spaniel puppy, you should rely on the recommendations of experienced dog handlers. Some people advise giving preference to food prepared by the owner for at least the first months. This allows you to strengthen the digestive tract and improve the condition of the dental system. However, the final choice is always up to the owner, provided that there are no medical indications for a specific diet.

Natural diet

Having chosen a natural diet, you need to prepare for the purchase suitable products. This will allow you to carefully monitor the quality of your baby’s nutrition, but at the same time you will have to learn how to correctly calculate daily norms and the ratio of meat, cereals, vegetables and dairy products.

Main types of food for a Russian Spaniel puppy:

• Meat. Beef or chicken are recommended. Before feeding, you need to thoroughly boil the food and remove the bones. The norm is 50 g per 1 kg of weight. Finely chopped pieces should be placed in a bowl, but minced meat should be excluded; the dog’s stomach cannot digest it.

• Offal. Allowed from 3 months. Given once a week, replacing meat. The portion should be increased by a third.

• Fish. 3 feedings per week are acceptable. Only sea food is allowed, in the form of carefully cooked fillet.

• Dairy industry products. It is necessary to include kefir, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese with the addition of eggshells. The latter is given up to 10 months. Fermented milk products are one complete feeding.

• Porridge and bread. For puppies, they are boiled in water or milk with the addition of vegetables. It is better to choose rolled oats, buckwheat and rice. You can soak some bread in this brew. They diversify the diet, but do not belong to its foundation.

• Eggs. An omelet is made from one piece or it is boiled soft-boiled. Give with meat or cereals once a week.

• Vegetables and fruits. Contain fiber that improves intestinal motility. Fresh salads with vegetable oil or sour cream are prepared for the spaniel. The main ingredients are carrots, pumpkin, cucumbers, zucchini, turnips. Fruits are a delicacy; you can’t feed them often because high content Sahara. Watermelon, pears, apples, strawberries and raspberries are healthy.

• Green. Parsley and dill are an addition to any dish and contain a storehouse of vitamins.

• Chalk. During the period of intensive development, it is extremely necessary for the puppy. It is recommended to place the bowl with pieces in a place where the baby can get it at a convenient time.

Important! Milk can be offered to a puppy up to 2 months. As the pet grows up, it stops assimilating it.

Ready-made feed

Ready-made food is convenient for busy owners and useful if you buy high-quality granules. A good industrial feed contains not only the ideal balance of nutrients, but also supplements with vitamins and minerals, so there is no need to feed them separately.

Read also: Stereotypes in the field of dog ownership

The main disadvantage of dry food is the price. It is impossible to feed a puppy low-quality kibble, as this will cause significant harm to his body, first of all, creating a total protein deficiency due to the low percentage of meat content.

If you decide to feed your Russian Spaniel puppy dry food, then you need to consider the superpremium and holistic levels. In the first class there are age ranges, so it is easy to find puppy kibble that contains 50% meat, as well as vegetables and grains. Holistic treatments are often developed without taking into account age and are suitable for all pets. 75% comes from animal proteins, the rest is vegetables, berries and herbs.

Mixed diet

Mixed food will affect the puppy’s health more significantly than buying quality products will affect your wallet. Such dubious savings will ultimately result in lengthy and expensive treatment.

Sample menu by age

Since dog experts recommend feeding the puppy for at least the first months natural products, it is important to get an idea of ​​the sample menu by age. In addition, as they grow older, the amount of one serving increases, but the number of feedings decreases.

Up to a month

Purebred puppies remain under the care of their mother in the breeder's home for up to a month. For 4 weeks they feed on mother’s milk, and for the first 3 weeks it completely constitutes the baby’s diet.

The first complementary feeding begins at 21 days and consists of warm milk with a small amount of bread crumb. A small portion is given 2-3 times a day, the rest the puppies get from breast milk.

1-2 month

As soon as the puppy turns 10, its weaning from its mother begins. Gradually, calcined cottage cheese, semolina with milk, and boiled meat, finely chopped, are introduced into the menu. Number of feedings – 6, every 3 hours. Food volume – from 200 to 400 g.

At 2 months, the baby’s daily menu should include:

• fermented milk products;
• meat, diced, raw, boiled and stewed;
• carrot;
• eggshell;
• fish;
• a little vegetable oil;
• rice and buckwheat.

Important! Every new product is introduced gradually. It is strictly forbidden to include several varieties unfamiliar to a puppy’s stomach in the diet on the same day.

3 months

It is allowed to diversify the porridge with oatmeal. Greens are also introduced. The daily norm should be from 500 to 700 g of all products.

In this article I will look at what to feed a cocker spaniel. The energy and cheerfulness of these primordial hunting dogs largely depends on the quality of maintenance and nutrition. I will list foods that are contraindicated for spaniels. I will consider approximate feeding rations for puppies and adult animals of this breed.

What to feed Cocker Spaniel puppies

From the first days of a Cocker Spaniel puppy's stay in a new home, it must be taught the correct diet and regimen, and it does not matter whether it is a member of the Cocker breed or another.

First month

As a rule, the puppies are under the care of the breeder for the first 4-6 weeks, and the first 4 weeks are nursed by the bitch. For the first two weeks, puppies feed exclusively on their mother's milk. From 14 days you can start feeding babies a special formula from a bottle.

As complementary foods, you can use a mixture of natural cow's or goat's milk and dried egg yolk. Babies are fed this mixture up to 3 times a day.

From the 21st day of life, puppies are taught to independently consume warm milk, to which a small amount of bread pulp can be added.

After a week, you can add semolina porridge with milk, finely chopped lean meat, and calcined cottage cheese to your meal plan.

Second

At the age of 1.5–2 months, the baby enters a new home and experiences stress.

If the puppy was purchased from a breeder, during the first months of its stay in the new home, you should stick to the original diet of the breeder. Otherwise, the puppy may lose appetite or develop digestive problems.

In the second month, it is recommended to gradually introduce new foods into your pet’s diet. Small amounts are gradually added to the feeding plan raw meat, soft meat bones (very carefully), raw vegetables, a small amount of mashed potatoes.

Up to 1 year

The daily consumption of natural food for spaniel puppies up to 6 months of age is calculated based on the weight of the animal. It should be 6-7% of the actual weight of the animal, and at the age of 7-12 months - 3-3.5%.

A grown puppy should consume at least 50g of fresh meat per kilogram of animal weight. Lean meats, such as beef, turkey, and horse meat, can be used as the main source of protein.

From an early age, your pet must be taught to eat vegetables, such as pumpkin, raw potatoes (small amounts), carrots, and beets. It is better to do this in combination with cereals, such as rolled oats, buckwheat and rice.

It is undesirable to feed the animal boiled potatoes and millet, as this can lead to intestinal volvulus.

Among fermented milk products, preference should be given to calcined cottage cheese and kefir. Twice a week the animal can be given 2-3 chicken eggs, but no more.

Regardless of the type of food, the animal must have access to clean drinking water around the clock.

What to look for when choosing a diet

The choice of diet and type of food must be taken responsibly. There are currently two options for feeding dogs:

• natural feed;
• ready dry and canned food.

There are two advantages to feeding your pet with ready-made dry and canned food:

• high-quality industrial feed completely balanced by content nutrients, vital micro- and macroelements, as well as vitamins;
• significant time savings on preparing food for your pet.

There is nothing wrong with feeding your dog prepared food. Currently, there is a large number of high-quality premium foods (Royal Canin, Hill’s, Pro Plan) and super premium foods (Eukanuba, Advance, 1st choice). Among them you can choose.

Consumption rates for dry food by age are indicated on the packaging. There is no need to carry out any additional calculations.

The second type of natural food feeding requires time spent preparing fresh portions of food daily. Also, the owner needs to supplement the natural diet with special mineral and vitamin complexes.

Also, a caring owner should ensure that the pet does not have an allergic reaction to a certain product.

Of course, most owners try to feed their pets natural food.

How many times a day should you feed a Cocker Spaniel?

The frequency of feeding spaniel puppies and adults depends on their age. The daily amount of food consumed is often determined by the owner of the animal.

Under no circumstances should you overfeed an animal or feed your dog more than normal. In the intervals between feedings, you should not give the animal food from the table, but pampering your pet with a treat during training as a reward is simply necessary.

Up to two months, puppies need to be fed 6 times a day every 3.5 hours. From 3 to 4 months, the frequency is reduced to 5 times a day, from 4 to 6 months - to 4 times a day, from 6 to 10 months - to 3 times a day.

At the age of 10 months and older, the frequency of feeding is reduced to 2-3 times a day. Adult dogs consume food twice a day (morning and evening).

Diet options

When feeding a spaniel with dry food, you need to consider physical activity pet. The daily intake may vary depending on the type of feed. The packaging of any industrial feed will indicate daily norm consumption for dogs depending on the weight of the animal.

With an average weight of an adult animal weighing from 12 to 14 kg, the daily consumption of high-quality industrial feed will be approximately:

• at low activity 158-177 grams;
• at average(normal) activity 183-205 grams;
• at high activity 208-233 grams.

A slight excess of the norm is not critical.

If you are feeding your spaniel naturally, you can stick to the following diets.

For puppies (2-3 months):

• frequency of feeding – 4 times a day,
• fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir) - 150 gr.,
• boiled egg – 1 pc.,
• lean meat (raw, scalded with boiling water or boiled) - 200-300g.,
• any cereal – 100-150 gr.,
• vegetables -100-200 gr.,
• vegetable oil– 1 tsp,
• milk - 350-400 ml.

Adult Spaniel:

• frequency of feeding – 2 times a day,
• lean meat or boiled offal -400-500 gr.,
• cereal – 500 gr.,
• bread – 100 gr.,
• potatoes – 150 gr.,
• carrots – 50 gr.,
• animal fat -20 gr.,
• table salt 20 gr.

The diet of an adult spaniel may vary depending on the period of puberty, mating period, pregnancy or feeding of the bitches.

What is forbidden to give

Adults and puppies are strictly prohibited from feeding the following categories of foods:

• tubular bones (chicken and rabbit)
• pasta and baked goods
• pork
• smoked meats
• fried, spicy, pickled food
• river fish
• onions, garlic (large quantities)
• millet cereal
• mushrooms
• unheated white cabbage.

In addition to the products described above, dogs are strictly prohibited from eating avocados and raw fish.

In this article we looked at feeding options for a spaniel. When choosing a feeding diet, you need to take into account many factors that influence the daily energy expenditure of a puppy and an adult dog. Proper and balanced nutrition is the key to a healthy, active and cheerful pet.

Cocker spaniels are favorites of children and adults, captivating with their cheerful disposition and sweetest face. These are lovers of active games and delicious food. Moreover, they are absolutely indiscriminate in food: the cocker will eat everything edible and inedible that it finds. This breed is prone to obesity. Cocker spaniels quickly get fat, and an overfed pet is a lethargic, sick dog with an unwillingness to play and communicate with the owner. How to create the correct diet for a pet from puppyhood and what to feed a spaniel is discussed in this article.

First you need to understand the types of feeding for small cockers. The breed responds positively to all three standard feeding methods:

• ready-made dry mixtures;
• natural products;
• mixed type: dry food is supplemented with wet food, meat, cereals.

There are adherents of each type of food; it all depends on the choice of the owner. However, the fundamental factor when choosing the type of feeding should be the character of the animal and the purposes for which the owner got the pet. For example:

1. Sports dogs that are trained to participate in hunting, fishing, hiking, and sports should choose dry food. He must be high quality. Such foods contain a lot of protein for muscle development, support of ligaments and the skeletal system, as well as carbohydrates, which provide energy. In addition, it is convenient to take dry food with you to feed your pet during training or fishing.
2. “Sofa” pets can be given natural products - meat, soups, cereals. However, a veterinarian’s consultation is necessary here: perhaps the individual needs of the pet’s body require a more competently selected menu.
3. It is recommended to give puppies natural foods. During growth, their digestive system must become stronger and learn to process hard fibers, and their teeth are renewed from careful chewing before switching to dry food.

As a rule, most dog breeders choose convenient feeding dry food. They are trying to get away from the mixed type for several reasons: it is uneconomical and problems arise in creating a complete diet. In addition, the dog’s body may not accept mixed food - to digest dry and natural food, different enzymes and absorption periods are needed.

What to feed a Cocker Spaniel puppy?

The diet of a small cocker must certainly include:

From the age of two months, you should give your baby vitamins for puppies, as well as dried seaweed. They will become a source of natural iodine and other minerals necessary for proper development. And from 3 to 7 months the puppy begins to change teeth: during this period you need to give him 2-3 tablets of calcium gluconate daily. If he does not want to eat the tablets, you need to crush them and sprinkle them into food.

How many times a day should you feed your cocker spaniel?

Cockers are very voracious, so owners need to carefully monitor portion sizes and feeding frequency. A pet that has just arrived in the family (usually puppies are bought at one and a half months of age) should be given no more than 4-5 tablespoons of food per meal. As the dog grows, the volume of food increases to 1.5-2 glasses.

Cocker Spaniels are big snack eaters.

Taking into account age-related changes, the number of feedings per day looks like this:

• up to two months the pet eats 5-6 times daily;
• from two to four months, puppies are suitable for four meals a day;
• from four to six months – meals 3-4 times a day;
• from six months to a year - a gradual transition to two meals a day, but it is acceptable to feed three times a day;
• from one year onwards – switch to eating 1-2 times a day.

Some experts advise one meal, as most suitable for mature Cocker Spaniels. The owner chooses the meal time that is most convenient for himself, since the most important thing for the dog is to receive food every day at the same hours.

Important! If your pet’s weight begins to exceed the established norm, you need to give him one fasting day a week.

How and what to feed a small English cocker?

The owner needs to monitor the puppy’s behavior during and after meals in order to make feeding the most harmonious. The possible behavior of your pet can be checked against the table.

Table 1. Variants of cocker behavior and its reaction to food

It is best to purchase a low feeding stand for your puppy that can be adjusted and grows with your baby. The dog needs to reach for the bowl, not lean towards it. And with a plate on a stand, the long ears of cocker spaniels will not get into the food, but will hang over the edges. Ideal option there will be a bowl narrow at the top with an extension downwards, fixed on an iron hoop with legs.

Properly selected tableware is an important part of food culture

The puppy needs to buy two smooth bowls - for food and water, so that he does not get hurt by licking them. There should always be water in the plate, and food only during meals. The food that the puppy has not eaten is transferred to a container and sent to the refrigerator until another meal. Before serving, the food must be heated to approximately 40 degrees.

Diet

It is important to follow the cocker's feeding schedule. The pet must eat at strictly designated hours; no treats should be allowed between feedings. Otherwise, the slender toy will grow into a beggar, fat and with poor health.

If the puppy refuses the prepared food, there is no need to replace it with another. It’s worth removing it and giving it to your pet next time. Otherwise, the puppy will quickly realize that if he “shows off”, they will immediately bring him something tasty. It is forbidden to force the dog to eat the entire portion if he does not want to. Cockers occasionally create fasting days, following instinct.

The digestive tract and glands involved in digesting food quickly adapt to the established regime and type of food. Therefore, a sudden change in the type of food or meal time leads to digestive disorders.

Important tips for feeding your puppy:

1. For several days (4-5) after the puppy appears in the house, you need to feed it only with foods to which it is accustomed. You need to ask the breeder about the feeding regime and diet and gradually add new products to the usual food.
2. You cannot give your pet food from the owner’s table and adapt it to the human diet: people and animals have significantly different needs for the volume of food, its quality and quantity.
3. You should feed your puppy only after going outside for a walk. The first pro: the baby will quickly understand that active games will end with a delicious lunch, and without persuasion he will rush home after the command. The second “pro”: when walking, a well-fed dog will bend its spine under the weight of a full belly; also, due to activity on a full stomach, intestinal volvulus is possible.
4. You can calculate the amount of food that is enough for a pet per day using a simple arithmetic operation: up to 6 months - 6-7% of body weight, over six months - 3-4%.

A small cocker spaniel should have its own dining area. It is necessary to allocate a small area for him where he will not be disturbed from eating. household appliances or furniture. This should be a dry, clean and regularly ventilated place. For food to be digested properly, your pet should eat slowly and in a quiet environment.

Table 2. Approximate daily menu for puppies of different ages

	1-2 months	3-4 months	5-8 months	9-11 months
Puppy weight, normal	3-4 kg.	5-8 kg.	8-12 kg.	12-14 kg.
Total food volume	0.2-0.4 l.	0.5-0.7 l.	0.7-1 l.	1.5 l.
Number of feedings, interval	6 times a day, every 3 hours	5 times, 3-4 hours	4 times, 5 hours	3 times, every 6-7 hours
Sample menu	07:00 – cottage cheese with eggshells/yogurt/natural yogurt; 10:00 – finely chopped cubes of raw meat + boiled carrots; 13:00 – a little milk + egg; 16:00 – buckwheat with rice + stewed meat/fish; 19:00 – cheese/curd mixture with eggshells; 22:00 – fresh meat/scalded with boiling water with boiled carrots and butter.	08:00 – kefir/ryazhenka; 11:00 – cottage cheese/yogurt + greens; 14:00 – oatmeal + sea meat/fish; 18:00 – raw vegetables + curd mass; 22:00 – porridge + fish/meat.	08:00 – cottage cheese or kefir with raw egg; 13:00 – fresh/stewed meat + buckwheat or rice/fresh vegetables with butter; 17:00 – curd mass/boiled offal + buckwheat with rice; 22:00 – raw meat + stewed vegetables/porridge	08:00 – kefir/porridge with herbs; 15:00 – oatmeal porridge + boiled fish/offal; 22:00 – fresh/boiled vegetables with butter + cottage cheese.

Experts recommend cooking more often vegetable salads with the addition of protein products - eggs, fish, meat. You need to add vegetable oil to vegetables so that they are better absorbed. Cockers accept this dish with appetite if they have been accustomed to vegetables since infancy. These are just approximate diets that the dog owner can change at his own discretion. The main thing is to choose the products that will be suitable for your baby. greatest benefit and will contain all the required microelements. This also applies to industrial feed. In the first year of life, it should be included in the puppy’s diet.

Premium dry food for puppies contains all the necessary elements

What should you not feed English Cocker Spaniels?

Some foods that are not intended for a dog's stomach can cause body disorders and even death of the pet. Therefore, you need to make sure that you don’t get into the cocker’s mouth:

1. Corn, beans, pasta, potatoes, wheat bread. The cocker's stomach is unable to digest these foods; they contribute to indigestion.
2. Spices and seasonings, especially hot ones. Since a dog’s sense of smell is hundreds of times sharper than a human’s, what is a pleasant tang for the owner can cause a loss of smell in the pet.
3. Pork, fatty lamb, raw chicken.
4. Barley and millet porridge.

Your pet should not be fed very cold or very hot food; food should be at room temperature or slightly warmer (about 40 degrees). All fatty, spicy, smoked, sweet and salty foods are prohibited.

Strictly prohibited products

• river and untreated thermally sea ​​fish(leads to infection with worms);
• seafood;
• tubular bones and ribs (split into long sharp particles that can leave cuts in the gastrointestinal tract and lead to the death of the dog);
• sugar, chocolates, pastries, cakes (reduce appetite and spoil digestion, destroy teeth, cause tearing);
• sausages, sausages (severely damage the liver, the animal can die in adolescence);
• broccoli or uncooked white cabbage;
• spoiled and rotten foods (lead to indigestion).

Feeding cocker spaniels: important nuances

To ensure that food does not harm your pet, it does not overeat and does not remain hungry, it is important to take into account the following nuances:

After the puppy has eaten a small amount of a new product, 12 hours should pass. If after this time there is no negative reaction, you can introduce a new product to the menu.

Video - Proper feeding and endurance training in a cocker spaniel

Features of caring for an English Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel is an infinitely beautiful and graceful breed. The main pride of pets is their long, shiny coat with small curls. And for the owner, it is the dog’s most obvious drawback, because the coat of active toy spaniels requires special care. If you don't take care of the coat enough, the dog will lose all its beauty and presentable appearance.

A well-groomed cocker spaniel is a true eye magnet.

Care Tips:

1. Spaniels (unlike dogs of other breeds) shed constantly. Pets' fur needs to be combed daily and dead hairs removed to prevent tangles from forming. It is also important to trim the coat occasionally.
2. The dog is brushed regularly with a special brush with teeth of different lengths. The procedure will remove sticks tangled in the fur, and also produces a massage effect that is useful and pleasant for your pet. At the same time, bathing should not be overused, as water procedures will make the coat dull and contribute to the formation of dandruff.
3. After every winter or spring walk, your pet’s paws should be inspected and the reagent removed from them. Otherwise, the development of inflammation is possible.
4. Cocker spaniels also need to have their eyes washed regularly as they are prone to dirt and tearing. The procedure is carried out three times a week using weak brewed dark tea or liquid purchased at a veterinary pharmacy.

English Cocker Spaniels have quite good health, they are able to live up to 12-15 years. However, eye diseases are common in animals of this breed; they may develop cataracts or glaucoma.

Important! The pet must be adapted to hygiene procedures from puppyhood. Over time, they will get used to it, and each procedure will become automatic.

Ear washing

The long ears of Cocker Spaniels require close and constant attention. When eating, they need to be tied up to prevent food from getting in there, or buy a special, comfortable bowl for your pet.

After a daily walk, the external and inner surface auricle. If the ears become dirty, they need to be cleaned with a special solution that can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy. You also need to check if there are mites or inflammations in the ear; if there are, see a veterinarian.

Cocker Spaniel ears are business card breeds

Discharge from the ears that may appear in cockers can be easily removed with a cotton pad. If there are excess hairs in the ear, it is recommended to remove them.

Important! The first sign that your pet has ear problems is shaking its head and constantly scratching its ears. You urgently need to examine your pet; if there are no visual changes, make an appointment with a veterinarian.

Nail trimming

A necessary procedure that cockers need to be accustomed to with childhood– trimming nails. It has the following algorithm:

1. Buying a hair clipper. A sharp veterinary pruner will do.
2. Inspection of claws. It is necessary to find the pulp where they are concentrated blood vessels so as not to accidentally damage it.
3. Haircut. You need to cut about 2 mm from the tip of the claw at an acute angle.

Only dogs that do not wear them down while walking need to have their nails trimmed. Spaniels who walk on asphalt surfaces do not need this - their nails are constantly being sharpened. But those who like to walk in parks and squares should get used to cutting hair without waiting for strong growth and ingrown claws. You also need to remove hairs that grow between the pads on your pet's paws.

Important! If the procedure was unsuccessful, the claw was cut too short and bleeding began, it can be stopped with a special powder or a veterinary pencil. As a last resort, you can stop the bleeding by dusting the wound with flour or bandaging it. If there is severe bleeding that does not stop within five minutes, you need to urgently take your pet to the veterinarian.

Important! To keep your cocker spaniel healthy, physical activity and long walks in the fresh air are required.

Feeding an adult spaniel

It is enough to feed an adult cocker spaniel twice a day, the total volume of food is 1.5-2 liters. Your pet should always have access to fresh water, especially if it eats dry food. If the water sits in the bowl for several days, you need to pour it out and pour a new one.

When developing a feeding plan for an adult dog, you should adhere to the following rules:

The spaniel must eat the entire portion to the end. If he doesn’t leave the bowl clean, then the portion is too large and needs to be reduced urgently. A sedentary dog ​​can be given a smaller portion - in feeding a cocker spaniel prone to obesity main principle“It’s better to underfeed than to overfeed.”

How to prepare food for your pet?

So, the owner who has decided to switch his dog to natural feeding should adhere to the following principles:

• You cannot fry food for feeding spaniels: they only give it boiled and stewed in water;
• meat for dogs must be fresh: chilled meat is purchased for young spaniels, adults can be frozen;
• Spaniels do not like liquid soups; they need to be given food with the consistency of porridge at room temperature;
• the simpler the better: no salt or seasonings, nothing spicy.

An adult spaniel needs to be fed morning and evening: at about 8 am and before bed, at 21:00-22:00. Here is an approximate menu for a cocker over 11 months old and weighing 15-17 kilograms, which can be alternated to diversify your pet’s diet.

Table 3. Daily menu options for an adult cocker spaniel

Nutritional features of a pregnant dog

If your dog was overweight before pregnancy, most cereals and bread should be removed from the diet. Calories are compensated by adding greens, fresh vegetables, and cottage cheese.

Usually in the final week of pregnancy, dogs refuse to eat, so they should be given food in small portions. To whet your appetite, you can add your favorite treat: a small cube of cheese, boiled liver or cottage cheese.

Important! With the onset of pregnancy, the bitch needs 35 g of calcium and 25 g of phosphorus per 1 kg. body weight per day. Deficiencies of these minerals can be easily corrected with calcium gluconate. It is fed to the pregnant woman along with phytin: 1 tablet of phytin + 2 tablets of calcium gluconate. Also, the expectant mother should receive tetravit or trivit according to the doctor’s dosage, vitamins A and D.

Dry food for cocker spaniel

Many owners increasingly prefer dry food: they do not need to be pre-prepared, and manufacturers assure that dry food contains all the elements necessary for the development and full life of a dog. The owner only needs to choose the right food, taking into account the activity, weight, needs, age and condition of the pet.

Before making a decision regarding any type of food, you should definitely consult your veterinarian. After all, some dry mixtures contain elements that will only harm the individual characteristics of the dog: even the most best manufacturers feed cannot create a mixture that takes into account all the variations in the personal and breed needs of the dog.

For example, you need to choose dry food for an English Cocker Spaniel. You need to pay attention to:

• size of the dog – English Cocker Spaniels are considered a small breed;
• activity – these are active dogs;
• coat length – longhaired.

It turns out that you need to buy puppy food for active long-haired dogs of small breeds. But most manufacturers’ lines do not offer such narrowly targeted food. Therefore, it is recommended to take one characteristic as a basis - for example, take food for small breeds. And the missing elements can be supplemented with mineral supplements - for example, vitamins for active animals or healthy coats.

The main rule is that dry food for cocker spaniels must be of high quality, premium or super-premium categories. It should contain everything necessary for the pet’s health and not lead to allergies or digestive disorders. In order not to search for the right food while experimenting on the health of the animal, you should contact a veterinarian for advice on feeding.

Important! Usually, when using dry food, it is not necessary to supplement your pet’s diet with any mineral mixtures, since industrial feed already contains all the necessary substances. However, this rule applies only to those foods that fully comply with the description of the breed.

Balanced food is the key to your pet’s health and energy for many years

Conclusion

Experts do not insist that a Cocker Spaniel puppy’s diet must be varied. If your pet has smooth fur, he plays and frolics, and looks absolutely healthy, you can feed him the same foods. Of course, provided that the owner is confident in the nutritional value and correctness. Under no circumstances should you feed your puppy meat alone: ​​it makes up 2/3 of the diet, the rest includes vegetables. You can replace meat with cheese, fish, cottage cheese. And remember: an adult cocker spaniel will happily eat only what it has been accustomed to since infancy.

To properly feed a Cocker Spaniel puppy, you need to study the characteristics of the breed. Next, you need to decide what to feed your Cocker Spaniel puppy, that is, choose between ready-made food, natural and mixed diet. The next step is to create a sample menu by age. Don't forget about vitamins and supplements, the role of water in your cocker spaniel's diet, and the dangers of prohibited foods.

The Cocker Spaniel is a fairly ancient breed of dog bred for gun work. There are about 20 types of spaniels in the world, but only two of them are “cockers”:

• American Cocker Spaniel.
• English cocker spaniel.

What are the characteristics of the breeds, similarities and differences? Cocker spaniels are medium-sized dogs, weighing between 10 and 14 kg. Adult animals develop dense, water-repellent fur. Both cockers readily fetch, are active and curious even into old age.

• Dogs differ in temperament, American spaniels are more sofa-like. They have longer and softer fur.
• English spaniels are stronger, stockier, more resilient, and physically stronger.

Choosing a place and dishes for feeding a Cocker Spaniel puppy

Before moving the puppy to a new home, you need to take care key points, which will reduce stress and increase the comfort of the new pet. If the dog is not acquired spontaneously, take care of:

• Equipment for rest areas.
• Purchasing toys.
• Choosing and purchasing care accessories.
• Choosing a place and utensils for eating.

To maintain cleanliness in the eating area, it is recommended to use a special rubberized mat. The accessory helps protect the puppy from falling, even if the floor is wet. The mat is easy to wash and disinfect. Instead of special mats, you can use a structural, dense film.

Important! In order for a Cocker Spaniel puppy to develop its bone structure correctly, it must be taught to eat from a stand. Special stands are height adjustable. Bowls need to be narrowed so that the dog’s ears do not get dirty while eating.

What to feed a Cocker Spaniel puppy - choosing the type of diet

When choosing what to feed your Cocker Spaniel puppy, you need to decide on a key area – the type of diet:

• Natural.
• Industrial.
• Mixed.

All three types have advantages and disadvantages. Let's look a little more closely.

Natural diet

The more natural diet for a Cocker Spaniel puppy has always been and remains natural products. A natural diet for a Cocker Spaniel puppy includes:

• Feeding raw and cooked foods.
• Feeding meat porridge.
• Feeding exclusively raw foods is a raw food diet.

Benefits of a natural diet for a Cocker Spaniel puppy:

• High-quality natural products can be given to your puppy from a very early age.
• A natural diet is cheaper than high-quality industrial feed.
• You can always control the quality and freshness of products.
• The natural diet can be adjusted at any time.
• Taste variety.

Disadvantages of a natural diet for a Cocker Spaniel puppy:

• You need to spend time preparing food for your dog.
• Porridge and other natural products should not be left in a bowl for the dog to eat during the day.
• The puppy may develop an allergy, although cocker spaniels are not prone to this disease.

A cocker spaniel puppy can be switched to natural products from the age of one month. If the puppy is orphaned, it can be fed with special formulas based on milk, glucose, eggs (and other options) or homemade goat milk.

Ready-made feed

Ready-made food for a Cocker Spaniel puppy is an excellent and sometimes the only alternative for working owners. Having opted for an industrial diet, you need to understand the nuances. Ready-made food for Cocker Spaniel puppy is divided into types:

• Dry (granules).
• Semi-moist (pieces with gravy).
• Moist (pate or paste).
• Treats.

Naturally, the main indicator that you need to focus on when choosing food is quality. Industrial food for Cocker Spaniel puppy is divided into classes:

• Economy
• Premium
• Super premium.
• Holistic.

If your dog has individual characteristics, you need to choose specialized food lines.

According to their intended purpose, ready-made feeds are divided into:

• Everyday.
• Supportive.
• Preventive.
• Medicinal.
• For exhausted animals.
• Hygienic (usually treats).

Advantages of ready-made feeds:

• No need to cook.
• They are stored for a long time.
• Easy to dose.
• High-quality feed contains enough proteins, vitamins and minerals.

Disadvantages of ready-made feeds:

• Good food is more expensive than natural feeding.
• Holistic class food is almost never sold in retail.
• Expensive food is often counterfeited.
• A Cocker Spaniel puppy should not be switched to dry food until its teeth change.
• The dog should not be fed only dry or only wet food.

A Cocker Spaniel puppy can be adopted from 1–1.5 months of age. To feed puppies from birth, a substitute for bitch's milk is used - ready-made food in the form of a powder, which is diluted with water.

Mixed diet

A mixed diet is the simultaneous feeding of prepared and natural products. Within the framework of mixed feeding there are:

• Mixing food - dry or soaked dry food and natural products.
• Separate feeding - for example, dry food in the morning, porridge in the evening.

Benefits of a mixed diet:

• Owner convenience.
• Quick satiation of the pet.

Flaws:

• The threat of vitamin deficiency when using low-grade feed.
• The threat of excess vitamins and proteins when using high-quality feed.
• Dysbacteriosis, indigestion.

Important! A Cocker Spaniel puppy can be switched to mixed feeding no earlier than 4–5 months of age. However, veterinarians and feed manufacturers do not recommend a mixed diet.

Sample menu by age for a Cocker Spaniel puppy

In theory, everything looks a little more complicated than in practice. By creating an approximate menu for a Cocker Spaniel puppy by age, you can soberly assess your capabilities and benefits for your pet.

Menu for a Cocker Spaniel puppy up to a month old

Until the age of one month, a Cocker Spaniel puppy feeds only on its mother's milk. If, for some reason, the puppy is left without a mother, he is fed artificially:

• Natural menu for a Cocker Spaniel puppy up to a month old – homemade milk, diluted with water; special milk mixtures.
• Industrial menu for a Cocker Spaniel puppy up to a month old - bitch's milk substitute, infant formula without additives.

The serving size for a Cocker Spaniel puppy under one month of age depends on the size and individual characteristics. Number of feedings for a Cocker Spaniel puppy under one month of age:

• From birth to 2 weeks, Cocker Spaniel puppies eat every 2 hours.
• From 2 to 4 weeks of age, Cocker Spaniel puppies eat every 2–3 hours, with a nighttime break lasting 4–6 hours.

Serving size and number of meals may vary depending on the fat content and nutritional content of the mother's milk. Naturally, the more puppies in the litter, the more often they eat.

At 1 month of age

Spaniels are ready for complementary feeding. As soon as the babies open their eyes and begin to leave the nest, they are offered natural or industrial complementary foods.

Natural menu for a 1 month old Cocker Spaniel puppy:

• Mother's milk.
• Whole goat or cow's milk.
• Low-fat broth.
• Boiled minced meat mixed with broth.

Industrial menu for a 1 month old Cocker Spaniel puppy:

• Bitch milk substitute.
• In case of growth retardation - pate for emaciated puppies.

Serving size depends on growth rate. Usually, per day, puppies eat as many grams of food as they weigh.

The number of feedings (complementary feeding) is 5–6 times a day, excluding mother’s milk.

At 2 months

The Cocker Spaniel actively eats complementary foods because it has a full row of baby teeth. The more nutritious and high-quality complementary foods, the less mother’s milk babies eat.

Natural menu for a 2 month old Cocker Spaniel puppy:

• Mother's milk.
• Whole cow's or goat's milk.
• Calcined cottage cheese.
• Fermented milk products.
• Bouillon.
• Boiled minced meat.
• Ground, raw, boiled meat.

Industrial menu:

• Bitch milk substitute.

Serving size directly depends on body weight.

The number of feedings varies from 4 to 6 times a day, excluding mother's milk consumed.

At 3 months

The Cocker Spaniel is actively expanding. Immediately after the move, the type and schedule of feeding do not change for 10–14 days, after which the diet is expanded according to the usual scheme.

Natural menu for a 3 month old Cocker Spaniel puppy:

• Mother's milk (if the puppy is still with its mother).
• Whole milk, fermented milk products, cottage cheese.
• Boiled minced meat, raw, chopped meat.
• Bouillon, vegetable soup in meat broth.
• Raw quail eggs. Chicken eggs: yolk only, boiled or in the form of an omelet.
• Rice, buckwheat.

Industrial menu:

• Bitch milk substitute.
• Canned food for medium breed puppies.

The portion size at 3 months of age is constantly increasing.

Number of feedings: 4–5 times a day.

At 4–6 months

At 4–6 months of age, Cocker Spaniel puppies are very active and require a calorie-rich diet. In addition, during this period, baby teeth begin to change to molars, so vitamin supplements are introduced into the diet, if this has not been done previously.

Natural menu:

• Whole milk, fermented milk products, cottage cheese - in large quantities.
• Boiled and raw meat without fat and bones - beef, veal, rabbit, turkey, quail.
• Beef by-products, boiled, chopped. You can use peeled, washed tripe in its raw form.
• Chicken and quail eggs – raw, boiled, omelet.
• Vegetables – boiled with porridge, raw with meat or cottage cheese.

Industrial menu:

• Pates for medium breed puppies.
• Semi-moist food for medium breed puppies.
• Soaked dry food for medium breed dogs.

The size depends on the individual characteristics and taste preferences of the dog. Number of feedings: 3-4 full meals and 2-3 snacks.

From 6 months to 1 year

At the age of 6 months to 1 year, the diet of a Cocker Spaniel puppy expands as much as possible. You will notice that your dog now has favorite foods; they need to be included in the diet.

Natural menu:

• Meat – beef, poultry, rabbit.
• Meat by-products – beef, poultry.
• Milk (unless lactose intolerant).
• Fermented milk products - any, preferably homemade.
• Fish – low-fat, oceanic, peeled, boiled.
• Fish and meat broths.
• Chicken and quail eggs.
• Cereals – buckwheat, rice, barley, wheat and barley.
• Vegetables except boiled potatoes and raw cabbage.
• Fruits, except juicy and very sweet.
• Greens, grass, bran.

Industrial menu:

• Until the complete change of teeth (7–8 months) – wet and semi-moist food for medium breed puppies, soaked dry food.
• After a complete change of teeth - 75% dry and 25% wet or semi-moist food for medium breed dogs.

The serving size gradually increases, then, from the age of 8–9 months, it decreases. The number of feedings is gradually reduced to 2–3 times.

Important! The final serving size for a Cocker Spaniel puppy is determined individually, depending on the dog’s metabolic rate and lifestyle.

Vitamins and supplements in the diet of a Cocker Spaniel puppy

From a very early age, vitamins and supplements are introduced into the Cocker Spaniel puppy's diet. This measure is not relevant if the dog regularly eats high-quality, industrial food. If your pet's diet is natural, no matter how high-quality it is, you need additional sources useful substances.

Natural vitamin supplements for Cocker Spaniel puppy:

• Clean, dried, crushed egg shells.
• Bran.
• Fish, chicken, beef liver.
• Greens, vegetables, fruits.
• Sunflower oil, olive oil.
• Brewer's yeast.

Pharmacy vitamin supplements for a Cocker Spaniel puppy can and should be used as complex sources of nutrients:

• Fish oil.
• Feed tricalcium phosphate.
• Omega-3, Omega-6.
• B vitamins.
• Undevit and analogues.

When feeding natural food, veterinarians recommend giving your Cocker Spaniel puppy special, industrial vitamin complexes. Complexes need to be changed and alternated according to needs.

Water in a puppy's diet

Water plays an extremely important role in the diet of a Cocker Spaniel puppy. If your puppy receives wet food, he may be reluctant to drink water. However, if you plan to transition your pet to drying, he must have constant access to a drinking bowl with fresh water.

Prohibited Products

It is important to exclude prohibited foods from your Cocker Spaniel puppy’s diet:

• Bones, pure fat, skin, especially poultry.
• Palm oil.
• Grapes, raisins.
• Mushrooms.
• Corn and semolina.
• Raw freshwater fish.
• Dry, salted fish.
• Products containing sugar or sugar substitutes.
• Products containing xylitol (chewing gum, some sweets).
• Products containing flour or yeast.
• Products containing caffeine, cocoa, any stimulants (sweets, tea, coffee, chocolate).
• Products containing marinades, salt, spices.
• Smoked products, including sausages, balyki, fish.
• Expired products.
• Leftovers from the table.

Controversial foods in a puppy's diet are:

• Lean raw pork.
• Raw ocean fish.
• Whole milk.
• Chicken eggs.
• Raw and boiled chicken liver in large quantities.

Controversial products can and should be given to a Cocker Spaniel puppy if an allergic or other acute reaction does not occur after taking them.

For an English Cocker Spaniel puppy, the basic feeding principles apply as for all other dogs. It is generally accepted that empty porridges and stews do not provide required quantity vitamins and microelements for the dog.

What to feed the puppy?

The basis of the diet for any dog ​​should be protein foods:
meat, offal, liver, fish, eggs
Fermented milk products:
Low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk or yogurt (without sugar and fruit).

The meat consumed by dogs should not be fatty - beef, turkey, kangaroo, horse meat, rabbit.
Suitable fish include flounder, halibut, haddock, cod, hake. White fish just like meat, it contains protein that is not inferior in quality to meat. True, a dog will prefer meat to any fish, but no one will ask it.
You can give meat to your dog either raw or scalded with boiling water, or you can cook it for a few minutes, but heat treat offal, liver and fish.

Feeding an English Cocker Spaniel puppy:
Approximate diet

Approximate norms for feeding a puppy up to 1 year old are 50 grams of meat or meat products per kilogram of animal weight (food volume is 80-120 g). In an adult dog, these norms are reduced to 60 grams of meat per kg of weight. It is not recommended to give bones (chicken bones are generally prohibited), with the exception of soft cartilage and chicken necks. A cocker puppy's diet should also include vegetables. If your puppy does not really like to eat vegetables separately, then they need to be chopped and mixed with meat.

The total volume of food for all feedings of the puppy per day is calculated using the formula: up to 6 months. 6-7% and older than 6 months. 3-3.5% of the animal’s body weight.
You can (the page will open in a new window) and the amount of nutrients and microelements according to this table.

Among dairy products, you need to pay attention to cottage cheese, enriched with calcium. It is especially useful for puppies. Give eggs (preferably quail) raw or boiled soft-boiled. You shouldn’t overuse eggs; just 2-3 eggs a week is enough. Don't neglect cereals, which are also healthy.

Suitable for Cocker:

Hercules
rice
buckwheat

Contraindicated millet, it can cause volvulus.

All cereals, except rolled oats (rolled oats can be simply steamed), need to be boiled, preferably in milk, and vegetables, carrots, pumpkin, beets should be added to them (after beets, the puppy’s urine may turn red - don’t be alarmed, this is normal), bell pepper, cauliflower, brocali. An adult dog should be regularly given small amounts of bran or rye bread crackers (homemade).
Contraindicated: garlic, chocolate, sugar.

English Cocker Spaniel puppies should not be fed before a walk.

Firstly:

Your puppy will instantly learn that after a walk and beyond. water procedures he will be fed, and on the command “home” he will fly headlong towards the entrance (you will not need to run and catch him to drive him home)

Secondly:

When walking a well-fed puppy, his back may sag due to a full and heavy belly, and you will subsequently have a “bent” dog. Do you need it?

Here is a menu option for feeding a puppy

Age 1 – 2 months, puppy weight 2 – 4 kg

Total food volume 0.2 – 0.4 l

Feed 6 times a day at intervals of approximately 3 hours.

1. (7 hours) - Calcined cottage cheese (kefir, fermented baked milk - no added sugar)

2. (10 hours) - Finely chopped raw meat with boiled carrots and vegetable oil

3. (13 hours) - A glass of milk with a raw egg

4. (16 hours) - Finely chopped boiled meat (fish) with porridge

5. (19 hours) - Calcined cottage cheese (cheese)

6. (22 hours) - Finely chopped raw meat with boiled carrots and vegetable oil

Age 3 – 4 months, puppy weight – 5 – 8 kg

Total food volume 0.5 – 0.7 l

Option #1

1. Morning (8 hours) – cottage cheese (kefir, fermented baked milk)

2. Day (11 hours) – raw meat cut into pieces with boiled carrots and vegetable oil

3. Lunch (14 hours) – a glass of milk with a raw egg

4. Evening (18 o’clock) – boiled meat with porridge

5. Before bedtime (22 hours) – raw chopped meat with boiled carrots and vegetable oil

Option No. 2

1. Morning (8 hours) – porridge, kefir (yogurt)

2. Day (11 hours) – kefir (yogurt), cottage cheese, greens

3. Lunch (14 hours) – rolled oats, meat (fish)

4. Evening (18 hours) – cottage cheese, kefir, vegetables

5. Before bedtime (22 hours) – rolled oats, meat (fish)

Age 5 – 8 months, puppy weight 8 – 12 kg

Total food volume 0.7 – 1l

Option #1

1. Morning (8 hours) – cottage cheese (kefir, fermented baked milk) with boiled (raw) egg or just cottage cheese (without egg)

2. Day (13 hours) – raw (boiled) meat with porridge (vegetables with vegetable oil)

3. Evening (5 p.m.) – cottage cheese (meat) with porridge

4. Before bedtime (22 hours) – raw (boiled) meat with vegetables (porridge)

Option No. 2

1. Morning (8 hours) – porridge, kefir (yogurt), greens

2. Day (13 hours) – porridge, meat (fish)

3. Evening (5 p.m.) – cottage cheese (kefir), vegetables

4. Before bedtime (22 hours) – porridge, meat (fish)

Age 9 – 10 months, puppy weight 12 – 15 kg

Total food volume 1.5 l

Option #1

1. Morning (8 o’clock) – porridge (kefir, yogurt), greens.

2. Day (15 hours) – rolled oats, meat (fish).

3. Before bed (22 hours) - cottage cheese, vegetables.

Option No. 2

1. Morning (8 hours) – cottage cheese with boiled or raw egg

2. Day (15 hours) – raw or boiled meat with vegetables or porridge