Known as one of the world’s most loved dog breeds, one cannot resist the big dreamy eyes of cocker spaniels.The breed was initially developed as hunting dogs but nowadays they serve as wholesome companions and are considered the perfect family pets. Their dark eyes, sweet expression, and long ears are a part of their unique characteristics and also serve as their charming points.Standing about 14-15 in (35.5-38 cm) tall, these cute dogs are known for their thick and long coats which require extra grooming in order to keep them clean and tidy.Cocker Spaniels shed a lot of hair and are extremely people-loving and these companion dogs love being around people or other animals, even the puppies bred in the best way and socialized at an early age tend to be really unhappy when they are left alone. In some, this sadness takes the form of extreme separation anxiety, with all the barking, crying, and destructive behavior that comes along with it. So, it’s very important that you make your dog comfortable with being left alone from time to time. However, if you are away from home most of the hours in a day and you expect your Cocker to be on his own then this water dog breed is probably not the right breed for you.A cocker spaniel’s long curly coat is composed of more than 90% protein so their diet needs to be taken care of in order to protect their shiny long hair, and their long floppy ears have to be cleaned regularly. Let’s learn more about these furry fairies and their tendency to shed in the article below. After you have read all about cocker spaniels and determined the answer to the question that are cocker spaniels hypoallergenic dogs, do read about how to stop dog shedding and is tea tree oil safe for dogs?What type of spaniels are hypoallergenic?Many pet owners wish to know before adopting a cocker spaniel if cocker spaniels are hypoallergenic dogs.A waterdog, like Irish water spaniels, is the only type of spaniels that are truly hypoallergenic dogs because most of the spaniels do shed moderately but the Irish water spaniels fall into the ‘no shedding dogs’ category. These dogs have curly and thick coats, are large in size and they love being in water which is why they are named water spaniels. A little bit of exercise making them sweat will result in allergens. Most of the spaniels aren’t hypoallergenic dogs except the above-mentioned one.Cocker Spaniel Coat TypeCocker spaniels have long-haired double coats and fur all over their body including their cute ears because of which they need regular brushing and grooming to prevent matting and tangles. English cocker spaniels have less fur on their bodies when compared to the American cocker spaniels. The thick fur of the cocker spaniel dog comes in different colors like brown, black, tan, tri-color. It is believed that the amount of shedding is based on the type of color but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. A little bit of exercise will generate too much heat and attract allergens.Based on what we discussed above, it is very clear that cocker spaniels are not heavy shedders. In fact, they shed moderately and it’s a seasonal affair. If your cocker is shedding heavily, it might be due to some skin disease or medical condition that needs an urgent vet’s attention. You can control the shedding at your home itself by giving your dog regular haircuts, bathing, brushing, and also by maintaining their diets.Cockers are more prone to autoimmune diseases than many other dog breeds, and the reasons for this aren’t yet discovered. Many cocker spaniels suffer from auto-immune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), in which the dog’s immune system attacks its own red blood cells to the point where the dog becomes anemic and really weak. While there is treatment, still many cocker spaniels die due to this disease.No matter what breeds the dog belongs to, every dog deserves a perfect and healthy life so, as dog owners, it is our duty to make sure they remain healthy and live a memorable life because once a dog trusts you; no matter what, it never loses that trust. They say that a dog is a man’s best friend so it is high time that we take good care of our best friend.Do cocker spaniels shed a lot of hair?The simple answer is, yes! They do shed their coats but in moderate amounts, because they possess long and thick double coats but don’t let that stress you out because the shedding can be easily managed with some extra care and grooming. Their adorable waggy tail will make you forget about their fur present on the couch. In addition to brushing and bathing, you can also trim or cut the hair of your cocker spaniel. Cocker spaniels have even specialized groomers for that purpose.Dog shedding is something that is and should be considered normal because we humans also shed a lot of hair and it’s only natural for the long-coated dogs to shed some tangled and weak rooted hair. Any responsible dog owner will know that no matter what, a dog is meant to shed its hair especially if the dog has a thick coat. Cocker spaniel is often considered in the terrier group of family-like giant schnauzer, a golden retriever, or a cockapoo, poodle due to thick coats of hair unlike other dogs having less hair. The family of thick hair is one of the reasons people are more allergic to dogs like a schnauzer, poodle. A family of companions like a poodle, cockapoo have thick hair that causes allergy and people around them to sneeze if they are sensitive to shedding. The allergy is avoidable but the allergy is not treatable. Hence if you are allergic to dogs, it’s better to stay away from a cockapoo or a poodle.The coat of the American cocker spaniel is very different from that of English cockers. Hence, maintenance for a cocker spaniel dog also varies a lot. Irrespective of which breed of cocker spaniel you own; you need to brush their hair frequently using the correct tools and brushes. The standard brushing frequency is two to three days a week but you might need to do it daily during Spring and Autumn seasons because that’s when they shed the most. This tendency of shedding during particular seasons is called ‘seasonal shedding’.Cocker spaniels generally have long, thick, silky, glossy, and shiny topcoats. It is the owner’s responsibility to maintain the silky feel by grooming. A healthy cocker spaniel will have shed moderately, and if your spaniel is shedding a lot then you need to make dietary changes and try to fix the issue by visiting a vet.Why do dogs shed?A dog’s fur basically protects its body from sunlight and other environmental conditions along with helping them control its body temperature. Based on this, there are a few reasons as to why dogs shed.Seasonal shedding occurs in double-coated dogs. They shed their undercoat during fall and spring. This is very normal for hypoallergenic breed dogs and can be controlled by regular brushing.Stress-induced shedding takes place when a dog experiences stressful events or anxiety due to the environment it stays in. This is not something to be considered normal and the dog should be taken to the vet as soon as possible.Shedding due to skin pet allergies and diseases caused by ringworms, mites, lice, ticks. Along with hair fall, the dog may have bald patches and rashes on its body so it’s better to visit a vet.Cocker spaniels aren’t hypoallergenic breed dogs because these low shedding dogs do produce some amount of allergic reactions and it’s completely fine because these allergies are mostly harmless and occur because of the dog saliva, dander, and not just the hair; so, any dog can be non-hypoallergenic breeds irrespective of the length of their coat. When we refer to a dog as hypoallergenic, it just means that they’re less likely to cause an allergic reaction when compared to the non-hypoallergenic breeds and cocker spaniels do cause some allergic reactions no matter whether they are the English cocker spaniel or the American ones.Grooming Your Cocker SpanielOne can visit a professional dog groomer or can groom their cockers at home by themselves. However, extra care has to be taken while grooming their long coat at home. Unfortunately, cocker spaniels have quite a reputation with groomers and veterinarians as well for being less cooperative. Their sensitive attitude usually arises from a lack of training to accept new routines. Positive lessons on how to act in the groomer’s place or at the veterinarian’s clinic are very much needed in the puppy stage itself.Start off with gently running your hands through their hair and detangle them. The next step is to use a slicker brush which will get rid of loose hair. While brushing, use a detangler spray to loosen up the tangles. Pay extra attention to their ears which also need brushing, and while brushing the hair on their ears be very gentle with how you handle the brush.While giving a bath to your spaniel use a chemical-free shampoo that doesn’t hurt their eyes and rinse thoroughly with water. Later, dry the hair with a high-velocity hairdryer as damp hair can cause skin infections to your spaniel. Cocker spaniels are known for their fancy and beautiful haircuts so, a groomer is the only person who can do this perfectly. Give your cocker spaniel a cute haircut or else just get the long hair trimmed; either way is fine as long as the hair remains healthy and also trim the long nails of your dog if it has any because the nails contain a lot of dirt and germs in them which can further cause allergies and infections.Hypoallergenic dogs are any normal dog that sheds very little or does not shed at all. All dogs are allergic to a certain extent. The shedding or absence of it is what makes a dog hypoallergenic. For example, a husky has a double coat and is a heavy shedder and this makes it highly allergenic, whereas a Maltese doesn’t shed at all, which makes it a highly hypoallergenic dog breeds.Shedding itself isn’t the primary problem. It’s what’s attached to the fur that causes the allergy. The allergy-causing substances of dogs are found in their urine, saliva, and skin. Even the most well-groomed dog will obviously get some urine on its fur, and dogs just like cats can only clean themselves with their tongues. So you’ve already got urine and saliva deposited on their fur. When that fur sheds, skin cells also shed along with it. So what you end up having is allergen fur flying all around your home. That fur then enters into your mouth, eyes, and nose; the places that are infamous for making your allergies get into overdrive.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are cocker spaniels hypoallergenic, then why not take a look at why do dogs shake off, or cocker spaniel facts?
Known as one of the world’s most loved dog breeds, one cannot resist the big dreamy eyes of cocker spaniels.
