dog tail

By Alisha Corsi

With their ever-wagging tails and bubbly personalities, it’s no wonder that the American Cocker Spaniel has held the title of America’s most popular breed for a total of 18 years! Their love for people and animals has endeared them to several presidents, including Richard Nixon (who could forget his famous “Checkers Speech”), Rutherford B. Hayes, and Bill Clinton. Originally bred as hunting dogs, Cocker Spaniels are now generally bred as family pets, and make great companion animals.

Physical Traits

Size & Weight: The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Sporting Group of dogs, measuring around 13-15 inches at the shoulders (with females being at the shorter end of the scale). Cockers weigh in between 15-30 pounds, making them a medium-sized dog. Their distinctly shaped heads make them immediately recognizable.

Coat & Color: Cocker Spaniels have medium length silky fur on the body and ears, with feathering down the legs and bellies. Color can be any solid or multi-color variety.

Life Expectancy: 12-15 years

Temperament

Often referred to as the “Merry Cocker,” these are cheerful, gentle dogs that are equally well suited for life as a household pet or gundog. Known for their happy dispositions, Cockers are social butterflies who love everyone, and are extremely devoted to their pet parents. They are best suited for living indoors, where they can spend most of their time with the people they love.

Something to Bark About:The term “Cocker Spaniel” actually refers to two different breeds of dogs, the American Cocker and the English Cocker. Both are simply referred to as Cocker Spaniels in their home countries. While similar in stature, American Cockers generally have shorter backs and muzzles than their English cousins. Since their official recognition by the American Kennel Club in 1878, the American Cocker Spaniel has won Best in Show at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on four separate occasions.

Wags:

Cockers are great with adults, children, and other animals.
They are generally easy to train.
Fiercely loyal, Cockers remain faithful to their human families for life.

Yelps:

Cockers who are left to their own devices for too long can become bored and destructive, so if you’re out of the house most of the day, this may not be the dog for you.
Because of their popularity, Cockers have frequently been bred in puppy mills, leading to increased numbers of breed-related health problems in certain bloodlines. These include ear infections, eye problems, and heart conditions.
Because of their unique coats they require regular grooming.

Do you think the American Cocker Spaniel would be the perfect addition to your family? Check your local animal shelter or contact Florida Cocker Spaniel Rescue.

by Lauren R. Tharp

As the old Welsh term “cor gi” roughly translates to “dwarf dog,” is it any wonder that this lovely herding breed is known primarily for its squat stature? Popularized in modern times by Queen Elizabeth II and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1934, the Corgi has been making itself memorable over the years in books, movies, and even anime.
Physical Traits

Size & Weight: Both male and female Corgis measure around 10-12 inches at the shoulder, and weigh 20-30 pounds. This breed is “medium” in size. They’re low to the ground, but long of body.

Coat & Color: This breed sports a double coat: They have a medium-length, coarse, water-resistant overcoat with a shorter, plusher, undercoat. Welsh Corgis come in all colors, but the most common are tan, black, red, sable, or fawn—with or without white markings. And they have naturally short tails!

Other: While, as a whole, this breed is known simply as “Welsh Corgis,” there are actually two distinct breeds in the group: Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Both breeds originate from Wales and have only slight differences in coat texture and colors. As you may have guessed, the differences are so minimal that (for other than show dog breeders) they’ve been lumped together into the same group. However, this remains a fun fact to pull out at parties!

Life Expectancy: 12-15 years.

Temperament
A member of the Herding Group, the Welsh Corgi has been known to herd cattle, sheep, ponies, geese, and sometimes their owners! This breed is bold, confident, and loyal to the end. As the 11^th most intelligent purebred dog breed in existence, Corgis are quick to learn and highly obedient.

Wags

Suitable for first-time owners.

Great with children.

Responds well to obedience training.

Challenges

They bark. A lot.

While great with humans, they can sometimes be aggressive with other animals if not properly socialized with them early on. Some male Corgis will remain aggressive toward other males even after socialization.

They require a fair amount of exercise. You may find them nipping at your heels with a “go go go” attitude if not sufficiently worn out throughout the day.

Does the Welsh Corgi sound like your ideal mate? Contact the Florida Corgi Rescue to find an adoptable Corgi in our area.