4 Games To Have Fun With Your English Cocker Spaniel
Regardless of age, an English Cocker Spaniel will always want to play. Surely as a puppy he will have more energy, but even as an adult he will enjoy all the recreational moments that you dedicate to him.
Read on for some tips on how to play with your English Cocker Spaniel. You will make him very happy!
Behavior of the English Cocker Spaniel
The English Cocker Spaniel is a dog native to Wales, but with Spanish ancestors as well. He was born to chase chickens and became famous among the English aristocrats, so much so that he even appeared in the works of Shakespeare!
It is a guard dog, intelligent, athletic, resistant and docile with children. This dog has a very strong bond with family members (especially those who usually take care of his meals and walks) and does not like to be alone. In fact, if not in company, he can bark and cry for hours.
To reduce the nervous sides of his character, you can intervene by making him do specific sports activities for dogs, such as canicross , flyball , rally-obedience , bikejoring or the famous agility .
How to play with an English Cocker Spaniel
Although he is a very active dog, he can easily gain weight from overeating or eating too hard. Consequently, it is important to let him play and walk every day.
When trained from an early age, the English Cocker Spaniel proves to be an obedient, balanced and cheerful dog, delighted to be outdoors playing with his master.
This breed loves to play with the ball, hide to be found or chase each other. With these activities he is able to discharge his energies and sleep the whole night like a “baby”. Other interesting games to play with your English Cocker Spaniel are:
1. Game of glasses
According to Stanley Coren, the English Cocker Spaniel ranks 18th among the smartest dogs, out of a ranking of over 80 dog breeds. Consequently, it can be understood how this breed is particularly intelligent, and suitable for carrying out various playful activities to exploit its abilities.
The game of glasses is simple; you will need two glasses and some candy. Hide the prize in one of the glasses and mix them to make your dog guess under which glass the candy is hiding.
Thanks to the sense of smell, the English Cocker Spaniel will easily pass the test. Once practiced, you can progressively increase the number of glasses to play with.
2. Cardboard box
It’s not just cats who have fun with cardboard boxes; even dogs, and especially English Cocker Spaniels. The idea is for the dog to crawl inside the box to hide or to search for items such as toys, dry food or candy.
The crate doesn’t have to be large, but if you use a large one you can use it yourself to hide and wait for your four-legged friend to find you.
3. Hide and seek
The English Cocker Spaniel has a great sense of smell, and it is no coincidence that it has been used as a hound for centuries. This olfactory ability can be stimulated by looking for hidden toys or candies around the house. Change your hiding place from time to time to make things a little more difficult for him!
4. Frisbee
The frisbee is a favorite game by Cocker. Ideal for when you play with him outdoors. In addition, the Frisbee is perfect for making him consume energy and, once back in the house, he will only think about resting.
If you are away from home all day and your four-legged friend is forced to stay alone for several hours, play with him at least 15 minutes before going out. That way he won’t feel sad about being forced home for too long, as he’ll spend all morning sleeping!
Finally, it is important for the English Cocker Spaniel to have toys available for when they are alone in the house. We recommend biting toys to prevent them from gnawing on your shoes or any object they find around the house.
