Cocker Spaniel
A complete breed guide for English Cocker Spaniel dogs
This article is written by Pet Circle veterinarian,
This happy and outgoing spaniel is the smallest member of the gun dog family and is much loved as a gentle and affectionate companion dog. The English Cocker Spaniel is a medium breed dog that is very adaptable and happy to live in any situation as long as they are part of the family.
Find all your Cocker Spaniel essentials including toys, treats, collars harnesses and more in our Medium Breed Dog Shop.
Contents:
Facts About the English Cocker Spaniel
Best Toys for English Cocker Spaniels
Best Food for English Cocker Spaniels
Facts About the English Cocker Spaniel
| Breed size: | Place of origin: | Intelligence: |
| Medium | Great Britain | High |
| Breed group: | Energy level: | Weight range: |
| Gun dog | Moderate | 13 - 14.5kg |
| Life expectancy: | Tendency to bark: | Height range: |
| 14 - 16 years | High | 38 - 41cm |
| Drool factor: | Coat type: | Colours: |
| Low | Medium and silky | Solid, bi- or tri-colours and roans - Black, blue roan, red, golden, liver (chocolate). Lemon, tan and white in bi- or tri-colours. |
| Shedding factor: | Easy of training: | Overall grooming needs: |
| Moderate | Moderate | High |
How big do Cocker Spaniels get?
Cockers are a medium sized breed weighing between 13 - 14.5 kg and around 40 cm tall at the shoulder.
How much does a Cocker cost?
Cocker pups in Australia may cost anywhere from $1500-$8000. The pandemic significantly increased demand for Cocker puppies and the price of a purebred pup can occasionally even exceed this. Of course, as with any breed, it is cheaper to adopt an adult dog from a rescue.
Do Cocker Spaniels shed?
Cockers are moderate shedders all year round and they will shed more once or twice a year when they moult. Their silky coat requires daily grooming and a good selection of grooming tools is essential e.g. Furminator Long Hair Medium Dog, Kazoo Self Cleaning Slicker Brush, Paws for Life Combo Brush and Style It Rake Brush. Many people prefer to have their Cockers clipped short, particularly in the warmer months.
Are Cocker Spaniels good pets?
Cockers' gentle and affectionate nature makes them ideal family pets particularly for children. They do require regular grooming and can be prone to various health conditions so pet insurance is a must.
How long do Cockers live?
Cocker Spaniels can live from 14 to 16 years if regular attention is paid to keeping their skin and coat in tip top condition and they are exercised regularly and not allowed to become overweight.
Do Cockers bark much?
Some Cocker Spaniels can become problem barkers. Their origins as a hunting dog means they are bred to be vocal and have their voices heard above the sound of the guns. They can also be quite territorial and feel the need to alert their humans to anything they perceive as a threat to their family. Providing consistent training from an early age and ensuring your Cocker gets enough exercise will help prevent this behaviour from becoming a problem.
How much exercise do Cockers need?
Healthy adult Cocker Spaniels need around one hour of exercise preferably divided into a mixture of lead walking and off lead running. They also love interactive games like fetch.
How do I choose a Cocker Spaniel breeder?
When looking for a Cocker Spaniel, your options are to: a) adopt from a rescue (this is our top recommendation!) b) buy from an or online marketplace or pet store (NOT recommended!), or c) Research a reputable breeder. Never purchase a puppy without inspecting the breeder's premises and asking the 10 Breeder Checklist Questions first. Good breeders socialise their animals, house them humanely, allow you to inspect their premises, and selectively breed healthy traits and good temperaments. Read our Guide to Finding a Good Breeder for more tips.
English Cocker Spaniel History
As their name suggests, Spaniel breeds originated in Spain centuries ago and may have arrived in Britain when Caesar invaded in 54 BC. Spaniels were used to hunt in dense cover, flushing and retrieving game. By the late 1600's spaniels had become specialised into water and land breeds. The English Cocker Spaniel is derived from one type of land spaniel - the "springing" spaniel - so named because they sprang birds from cover. In a single litter of springing spaniels, the larger pups would become Springer Spaniels, the smaller pups would become Cocker Spaniels and the medium-sized pups would become Sussex spaniels. The name, Cocker Spaniel, is derived from the Woodcock, a bird that was commonly hunted in Britain.
In the 1890s, these three breeds began to be independently developed and bred and, in 1892, English Cocker Spaniels and English Springer Spaniels were recognised as separate breeds by The Kennel Club.
What is the difference between an English and an American Cocker Spaniel?
Cocker Spaniel breeders in the USA concentrated on different characteristics from English breeders and, in 1946, the American Kennel club recognised the American Cocker Spaniel as a separate breed from the English. These dogs have a different shaped head, and are longer and shorter than the English dogs.
English Cocker Spaniel Personality
The engaging smile and lively, enthusiastic nature of the English Cocker Spaniel has earned it the nickname "The Merry Cocker". Cockers thrive on being around people and will greet any human with a big lick and a joyfully wagging tail. Although they are alert and will bark at strange noises, don't expect your Cocker to be a good guard dog as they are more likely to befriend a burglar than chase them away!
Cockers reflect their hunting dog origins and are busy, inquisitive dogs who love to sniff around with their nose on the ground. They need a minimum of one hour's walking and playing every day, however, most dogs of this breed can keep going for as long as you let them! Being gentle and eager to please, Cocker Spaniels respond exceptionally well to good socialisation and positive reinforcement training from an early age.
It is no wonder that the female lead in the movie "Lady and the Tramp" was an English Cocker Spaniel. Lady is the very image of an affectionate, gentle and glamorous pooch.
Did you know? Prince William and Kate Middleton owned an English cocker spaniel named Lupo, who was bred from a dog owned by her parents.
Best Toys for English Cocker Spaniels
This puzzle feeder can be used with treats, wet food or dry kibble and has variable levels of difficulty
Paws for Life Hide and Seek Tree Friends
Featuring 3 little teddies and a soft, plush tree stump, your Cocker will love retrieving the woodland creatures from inside their home.
Pet Dreamhouse Slow Feeder Bowl
With this Slow Feeder, you can help promote slow healthy eating, whilst encouraging sniffing, licking and problem solving!
Can't decide? Why not let us pick for you with the Curious Box? Each Curious Box contains a selection of two to three engaging toys (and treats!) Even better, the theme changes every 6 weeks, making it the perfect way to keep your pet's supply of toys and treats fresh, fun, and varied for mental stimulation!
Cocker Spaniel Diet and Nutrition
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Cocker Spaniel puppies
When adopting a cocker spaniel puppy into your home, it's important to have a few things in order.
⢠Food: Cocker Spaniel puppies should eat a premium, medium breed puppy diet that is nutritionally formulated to meet AAFCO Guidelines until they are 12 months of age.
⢠Behaviour: Cocker Spaniel puppies have fantastic personalities but do like to chew and destroy things, just like any puppy! Puppy proofing your house is essential. Remove any easy-to-reach toxins or electrical cords, and provide plenty of toys!
⢠Worming: Cocker Spaniel puppies need to be wormed fortnightly from the age of 2-12 weeks, and then once per month after this. In Australia, Cocker Spaniel puppies also require heartworm protection. You may wish to get a heartworm injection yearly at your vet, or you can simply give a monthly treatment such as Nexgard Spectra, Simparica Trio, or Credelio Plus.
Best food for Cocker Spaniel puppies
Raw diets for Cocker Spaniels? Raw diets are not suitable or safe for Cocker Spaniel puppies due to the risk of bacterial contamination upsetting their tummies, and an unbalanced diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Read more about Raw Diets: The Risks and Benefits.
Best food for adult Cocker Spaniels
Cocker Spaniel adults are prone to a number of health conditions including skin allergies and ear infections, so the following diets have been recommended to help support skin and immune systems. You may consider a rotational diet to provide exposure to different proteins and reduce the risk of food sensitivities.
For more information have a look at What is the best dog food? and Breed diets: Are they worth the hype?
Cocker Spaniel Health Issues
Skin Allergies
Allergic skin disease such as atopic dermatitis and contact allergies do seem to be more common in Cockers. Atopic dermatitis is a generalised allergy caused by items in the environment such as pollen, dust mites or grasses. It usually results in itchy, red, inflamed skin and ears. Often affected dogs may lick their paws excessively and have recurrent ear infections.
Contact allergies can cause similar symptoms in dogs however the reaction is limited to areas where the dog has come into direct contact with the allergen (usually plants). Diagnosis of allergic skin disease in dogs can take some time as the underlying cause needs to be discovered, usually through a process of elimination.
For more information about allergic skin disease in dogs check out Why is my dog still scratching?
Ear Infections
Due to their allergies and long fluffy ears, Cockers are very prone to recurrent ear infections. Red, inflamed allergic skin inside the ear canal combined with long, floppy ears that restrict airflow leads to the perfect breeding ground for yeast and bacteria. Signs include head shaking, scratching at the ear, and a smelly discharge.
For more information about recurrent ear infections in dogs check out Why is my dog getting ear infections?.
Lip Fold Dermatitis aka "Cocker Mouth"
Cocker Spaniels will often have an additional skin fold present under their bottom lip. This crevice accumulates saliva and remains both moist and warm with little opportunity to dry out. This environment favours excessive bacterial growth resulting in a very smelly skin infection.
Eye Problems
Like many other spaniel breeds, Cockers are prone to a number of eye problems including:
⢠Entropion - drooping of the lower eyelids
⢠Distichiasis and Ectopic Cilia - eyelashes growing from abnormal sites
⢠Progressive Retinal Atrophy - an inherited condition leading to blindness
⢠Keratoconjunctivitis sicca - abnormal tear production or "dry eye"
⢠Glaucoma - increased pressure in the eyeball
⢠Cataracts - clouding of the lens that leads to blindness
Hypothyroidism
This is a disease of the thyroid gland that causes them to stop making enough thyroid hormones. The thyroid gland regulates metabolism, an under-active thyroid generally means the metabolism is slower than it should be and many of the body's processes are disrupted.
Signs of hypothyroidism include lethargy, weight gain, intolerance to cold and changes in coat and skin, like increased shedding, hair thinning, hair loss, and thickening of the skin. Fortunately, hypothyroidism is relatively easy to diagnose and treat.
Related Breeds
English Springer Spaniel
One of the most energetic and active spaniels, the English Springer Spaniel isn't suited to a sedentary home. This breed thrives when provided with a job, particularly one which allows them to use their fantastic scenting abilities. English springers often work as drug and bomb detection dogs in airports or for the police. These dogs are affectionate, sociable, and very trainable, but can become over-aroused if you don't keep them stimulated.
Sussex Spaniel
The Sussex Spaniel is known as the "5 L Spaniel" â Long, Low, Level, Large in bone and Liver in colour. They are a strongly built dog capable of working all day on the heavy, clay soil and in the dense undergrowth. The Sussex Spaniel is an active, energetic dog that needs plenty of exercise and will tend to bark and howl, especially if left alone too much. Unlike other Spaniels, the Sussex can be aloof with strangers and pushy with other dogs. They require positive, upbeat training methods to overcome their natural tendency to be dominant and stubborn.
Clumber Spaniel
The Clumber Spaniel is the heaviest of the spaniel breeds and has a massive head, dark amber eyes, and a medium-length white coat with lemon or orange markings. Their long body was developed to help them move more easily through thick vegetation however it comes in more handy these days for reaching food on kitchen benches!
The Clumber Spaniel is a calm, sedate and gentle dog that enjoys the company of humans. They are a good choice for first time dog owners because of their easy going nature which has earned them the nickname of the "Retired Gentleman's Spaniel".
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is an incredibly affectionate, playful, intelligent dog that eagerly provides endless devotion to their owners. These happy little dogs are great with kids, and their desire to interact with their guardians makes them pleasurable household companions.
Further reading
Premium pet food: Is it worth it?
Does your dog have a food allergy?
How to read the label on a bag of pet food
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