No wonder the craze for Cocker Spaniels is tremendous all over the globe. Pet parents are highly preferring this regal breed for its alluring looks, gentle temperament and its medium size.
Naturally given the high demands, breeders have also started experimenting with the breeds, introducing cross breeding and what not to produce a unique Cocker Spaniel. One such is the Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel.
As their name suggests, Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels are Spaniels with a distinctive coat pattern, generally consisting of one or more coat colours that give a ‘blue effect’. These roan coats are typically a fine mix of variable colours and can be seen as whole large spots or as tiny flecks in darker areas.
Now that we know what makes a Cocker Spaniel have the blue roan appearance, here’s a further breakdown into their temperament, personality, and other essential aspects. But first, let’s understand the roan effect.
Table of Contents
- 1 What exactly gives the Roan effect?
- 2 Origin of the Blue Roans
- 3 How does a Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel look like?
- 4 What is the life expectancy of these pups?
- 5 Are Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels Hypoallergenic? How to groom them?
- 6 Are Blue Roan Spaniels good dogs?
- 7 What are their exercising needs?
- 8 Is the breed trainable?
- 9 How much does a Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel cost?
What exactly gives the Roan effect?
A roan coat in simple words is a subtle mix of two different coloured coats (mostly bold colours).
Earlier we read that Spaniel puppies shed their puppy coat during 4-6 months of age, which may present them with a different coloured adult coat. So, when their base coat (often black or white) gets covered by another coloured fur (predominantly a contrasting bold colour) it gives the roan effect.
For instance, if a Spaniel puppy has a white base coat and grows on to produce a black secondary coat on top of it, the base coat may not be as much visible as before. This in return creates a hazy effect, giving them a mesmerizing and cool appearance which is highly sought after by pet parents.
Origin of the Blue Roans
Although Blue Roans must have evolved naturally many decades ago, there isn’t any recorded data on their initial breeding or occurrence until now. Similar to other quirky colour and patterned Spaniels, these woofers’ origin is also highly controversial with everyone having a theory of their own.
Thus while many pet parents think the puppers to have originated by cross-breeding, others recognise it as a genetic flaw that affects certain puppies. This flaw can be highly variable and hence occur in puppies even from the same litter.
How does a Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel look like?
Featuring a beautiful coat colour, adult Blue Roans however at the end of the day are Cocker Spaniels only. Therefore starting from their head to their tails, everything matches with purebred Spaniels. So, they also have a wide set of almond or circular shaped eyes with a tiny muzzle and somewhat of an elongated body.
However, the turning point here is that it isn’t easy to detect a blue roan puppy from the very start. The genes responsible for this rather unique appearance don’t show up until they are at least 12 months, thereby maintaining a mysteric aura until they are all grown up.
What is the life expectancy of these pups?
Based upon collected data, the average life expectancy of a Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel usually lasts between 10-13 years of age. However, other external factors also play a major role in deciding their lifecycle as it can grow longer or shorter by several folds.
Some of these factors include:
- External surroundings
- Diet
- Lifestyle and management
- Progeny
- Existing medical or genetic conditions
Apart from that, the breed is also known to suffer from ear and eye problems, hip and elbow dysplasia, heightened number of Progressive Retinal Atrophy disease, etc. Therefore, although differing in their coat colour, a Blue Roan may also succumb to these health conditions, if not taken care of properly.
To avoid this, dog experts often advise pet parents to thoroughly go through essential information before adopting or getting one of these pups. Every canine deserves a good life and hence if you are absolutely sure that you can manage a Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel’s health demands well, then the breed is the right choice for you. You may also invest in at home dog stool kits as mostly every health issue starts from the digestive tract only.
Are Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels Hypoallergenic? How to groom them?
Unfortunately, no Spaniel excluding the Irish Water Spaniel has a hypoallergenic coat. Given their luscious furry composition, they are one of the moderate to high shedding breeds and also require more grooming attention for them to manage their cuteness. This naturally means that their little bodies and fur automatically produce more allergens that could cause severe reactions in a sensitive individual.
From regular brushing to thorough raking, every alternate day, owners need to perform the duties like a sacred task. Go for a 2-sided grooming rake that can go deep enough to eradicate dead skin cells and loose hair from the deeper parts to prevent your home, furniture and clothes from looking like a total mess.
Spaniels are also prone to gum and teeth problems, so daily brushing is a must. Pet parents can use a high-quality dog-friendly toothpaste with a mild smell and meaty flavour to ensure a complete and tasty grooming experience for their beloved pooches. Similarly for bathing, there are numerous dog shampoos that you could use, however, for best results consulting with your vet or using a vet-referred hypoallergenic shampoo is no wonder the best choice.
Are Blue Roan Spaniels good dogs?
Well, there’s no dog breed that is bad in any way. And when it comes to the amazingly loyal Blue Roan Cockers, they were bred to be the best companion dogs and that’s what they are. A difference in their coat colour doesn’t make them bad or ‘aggressive’ in any way and that’s what every pet parent needs to know.
Just like the Cocker Spaniels, the blue roans are lovely little canines with love for all pets. Some puppers may exhibit a more dominant or unsure side, but all of that solely depends upon their upbringing environment and socialisation skills. They are also bold, courageous and prioritise their family’s safety over anything. So, the moment they sense any danger, they won’t back down from jumping in to protect the people they love.
These woofers love to cling on to their humans and can be the best cuddle buddies you could ever wish for. They will happily canoodle around you for extensive periods of time, so if you are looking for a live, fluffy teddy bear that will do nothing but laze with you, you can opt for a Blue Roan.
What are their exercising needs?
Born with enormous amounts of energy, this breed needs owners to ensure them with optimal exercising so as not to have them turn into destructive monsters. They will need a daily 30-minute walk with ample mind stimulating and physical exercises, a good game of fetching and if possible free-running in a securely fenced yard.
They don’t cope well with staying alone or with minimal exercise conditions and hence they can get separation anxiety issues. This in turn can make them extremely vocal and destructive, becoming a huge headache for pet parents.
Is the breed trainable?
Fortunately, given their previous gun dog genes, the Blue Roan will love to train with you. These puppers are known for their easily trainable mentality and the need to impress their owners, so no matter whatever the tricks, they will do it for you.
Positive reinforcement training methods are the best option for training these pooches into doing your bidding and are also known to work for woofers that may have a bold, stubborn personality.
How much does a Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel cost?
Colour variations in a Cocker Spaniel’s coat makes them extremely expensive and therefore a Blue Roan may cost you around two thousand to eight thousand dollars. The price goes higher with odd combinations. Thus, if the puppy has odd colored eyes, nose pad or paw pad, they are mostly going to cost you higher.
But beware!!! There are also many shady breeders who will sell you these puppies at much lower prices, without revealing the catch. Such breeders often administer inhumane breeding practises, don’t follow proper breeding principles and keep the canines and their offspring in unhygienic conditions. This can affect the pups lifestyle as you never know all these details.
So, if you really want to be the parent of a happy and healthy Blue Roan Cocker, getting the pup with proper papers is the best option.
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