When looking for a perfect family dog, most people come across the blue roan English Cocker Spaniel. A few dog lovers think a Blue Roan is a different English Cocker Spaniel type. The truth is that this dog is still a Cocker Spaniel breed. It has the same characteristics, including body appearance, gait, behavior, temperament, health issues, life expectancy, etc.
Nonetheless, one specific thing differentiates a Blue Roan Cocker from the other Cocker Spaniels. That is the blue coat. The Blue Roan is the most popular of all English Spaniels with roan patterning. Let us learn everything about it next.
A Brief Overview of Blue Roan English Cocker Spaniel
The iconic blue roan English Cocker Spaniel has a uniquely flat and silky blue coat that distinguishes it from any other spaniel dog. The coat has relatively long feathers on the back of the rear and front legs, ears, chest, and tummy.
Roan is a color pattern rather than the dog’s base color. Usually, the base coat colors include black, brown, and buff. Any other is an additional color layer. In the case of the blue-roan English cocker, the base color is black or White.
The additional color layers consisting of black and white hairs give the coat its blue effects. A blue roan Cocker has a perfectly developed skull with a moderate texture. It has a square muzzle and an adequately wide nose for following scents. The blue roan Spaniel’s upper jaw teeth closely overlap the bottom.
The dog’s jaws are sturdy, but the cheeks lack prominence. Its slightly globular eyes sparkle with expressions of delight, intelligence, and alertness. The blue roan English Cocker Spaniel maintains the long droopy ears of a typical spaniel. Its neck is moderately long and muscular, while the body is compact and sturdy. Nobody knows if a Cocker puppy will be a blue roan until after a year.
History and Origins of the English Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel is a popular breed, thought to have existed first in Spain. Those who support this view relate the words “Spaniel” and “Spain” to establish its origin. These dogs excelled in bird hunting way before innovators developed riffles. They would flush and fetch woodcocks in nets.
Some people relate the name “Cocker” with wood cockers. The original breed existed as a land Spaniel or a water Spaniel. Later, a formal grouping emerged. It organized the dogs as Cockers, Toys, and Springers. These English dogs differed in size, making the English Cocker Springer the largest.
Later, the breed reached the USA when the American Cocker Spaniel emerged. The English breed was a taller dog with a longer head, while its American brother had more hair and a dome head shape. In around 1945, the American Kennel Club accepted these dogs. The English Kennel Club approved these dogs around 1940.
Characteristics of the Blue Roan English Cocker Spaniel
Coat Color and Texture
A blue roan English Cocker Spaniel puppy usually has a black or white base coat. Its blue roan effects emerge from an extra color. It can be white or black. Some dogs have lighter or darker flecks and patches. Blue roans possess the same flat and fine coat that the Cocker Spaniel breed has.
Distinctive Features
The most distinctive feature of the blue roan English Cocker Spaniel is its coat coloring. Like other roan coats, including red and orange, the blue roan is a subtle blend of 2 bold and conspicuous coat colors. The distinct roan contrast occurs when these two hues grow one on top of the other.
Health and Longevity
A blue roan English Cocker Spaniel is prone to an eye issue called Progressive Retinal Atrophy. It can also develop ear infections, hip and elbow dysplasia, and dental problems. This lovely dog can live for ten to thirteen years, similar to any Spaniel, if you care for it well.
Suitability for Families
These English Cocker Spaniels are suitable family dogs. However, they are not ideal for a family whose members are allergic to dog fur. They are not hypoallergenic like the Irish Water Spaniel. Get a blue roan English Cocker Spaniel if you can handle their heavy shedding and high coat maintenance.
Size and Build
Blue roan Cockers can attain different heights and weights depending on whether they are females or males. Females reach a height of about thirty-eight to thirty-nine centimeters. On the other hand, males can attain thirty-nine to forty-one centimeters of height. Blue Roan Spaniels are generally 13 to 14.5 kilograms heavy.
Exercise Requirements
A blue roan English Cocker Spaniel requires at least thirty minutes of exercise daily. It tends to do well in homes with a large, fenced yard. You can let it run around and play there safely. This breed can be destructive and noisy without mental stimulation and exercise.
Grooming Needs
The blue roan English Cocker Spaniel is a high-maintenance pet. Its unique, wooly coat is prone to matting, tangling, and shedding. You must brush it at least three times a week. If you take it out in the bush, brush it daily. Bathe it every four to six weeks.
Temperament and Personality
Blue roan Spaniels are loyal, intelligent, affectionate, and friendly. They love to please their owners. These dogs are natural hunters who love to follow scents with their wide noses. They express their delight by wagging their tails. Although obedient, these dogs suffer from food aggression. They can also be excessively shy.
How to Take Care of a Blue Roan English Cocker Spaniel
Grooming care
A blue roan English Cocker Spaniel has high grooming needs. First, you need to brush its coat regularly depending on how you use it. Dogs that go out frequently need daily brushing. Brush its teeth daily to prevent dental and gum issues. Lastly, bathe them every four to six weeks.
Diet and Nutrition
Blue roans are highly active and energetic dogs. They are also prone to more than average health problems. Feeding them a balanced diet daily is the chief way to boost their immunity and enhance their quality of life. Like other Cocker Spaniels, they should eat adequate portions of a wholesome diet daily.
Activity
Blue roan English Cocker Spaniel dogs are active because they are hunters and retrievers by nature. They may not do well in apartments because they love to roam while smelling things. As they are super intelligent, they hate mental boredom. Give them dog toys for mental stimulation in your absence.
Exercise
A blue roan spaniel should not miss daily workouts. If you ignore this, the dog might bark aimlessly and start destroying things. You should be an active person if you want to keep a Cocker Spaniel of any kind as a pet. Accompany your dog in a physical activity for half an hour each day.
Health Care
The blue roan English Cocker Spaniel is prone to many diseases of the eyes, ears, mouth, and joints. If you want it to achieve its maximum longevity of fourteen years, take care of its health well. Visit a veterinarian for regular dog checkups to know when a disease is emerging.
Pros and Cons of Owning a Blue Roan English Cocker Spaniel
Although it would thrive in a family home with a fenced garden, the highly adaptive blue roan will also live in an apartment. It is intelligent and easy to train because it can understand your first command eighty-five percent of the time.
A blue roan English Cocker Spaniel does well with kids and pets. If nobody is allergic to dog fur, this friendly dog makes a perfect family dog. Unfortunately, it can display aggression when protecting its resources, like food. A blue roan Cocker demands a high degree of grooming and medical care. Some people can find it expensive to keep.
Popularity and Demand of Blue Roan English Cocker Spaniels
The blue roan English Cocker Spaniel is among the most sought-after purebred puppies. Their unique coat coloring makes up sixty percent of the English Cocker Spaniel population. Their high intelligence level attracts many dog lovers. This dog receives training more easily because of its unrivaled intelligence and loyalty.
It can participate in the American Kennel Club Obedience trials with adequate training. Most breeders sell tiny puppies as blue roan spaniels to make a quick buck. However, you should be aware of their deception. That is because Cocker puppies do not display the roan effect before they are around one year old.
Conclusion
A blue roan English Cocker Spaniel can make a perfect family pet. Do not let its name deceive you. A blue roan is the same Cocker Spaniel you know in terms of personality and physical features. The only distinctive feature is the blue coloring and patterning of the coat.
Some people believe that the bluish coat happens due to genetics while others view it as an outcome of high-standard dog breeding practices. A blue roan spaniel is a non-hypoallergenic dog, making it an unsuitable choice for those with fur allergies. This pet is energetic and demands consistent mental stimulation and exercise.
FAQ
Are Blue Roan English Cocker Spaniels more prone to health issues?
These dogs are prone to the same health issues that a typical Cocker Spaniel suffers. It is among the reasons the blue roan English Cocker Spaniel is more expensive to keep. You should keep the pet clean, active, and well-fed to protect it from diseases. Additionally, go with it for regular veterinary checkups to diagnose the diseases it is prone to early.
What is the temperament of a Blue Roan English Cocker Spaniel?
This dog has a merry temperament. It loves to wag its tail and please its owner. Its temperament, high intelligence, and good behavior allow it to receive training quickly.
Do Blue Roan English Cocker Spaniels have any special grooming needs?
These cocker spaniels have special grooming needs because of their wooly and bushy coats. To prevent the coat from matting and tangling that can lead to excessive shedding, groom your pet regularly. If you live in the countryside where bushes and weeds grow, give your dog daily brushing and occasional baths.
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