Cocker Spaniel

Today the AKC recognizes cocker spaniel at 5^th rank making it the most loved spaniel breed.

With his playful, alert, active, affectionate and cuddly nature it instantly wins a lot of hearts.

This article is all about them.

Did you know?

The lady from “The Lady and the Tramp” is a Cocker Spaniel?

Cocker Spaniel has two types of the breed- American Cocker Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel.

Quick Facts

Average Weight: 28-35 Pounds (Male), 26-33Pounds (Female)

Average Height:   15.5-16 Inches (Male) , 15-15.5 Inches (Female)

Life Expectancy:   12-15 years

Dog Group: Sporting Group

Colors: Cocker Spaniel Black, Blue Roan, Black and Tan, Orange Roan, Orange and White, Tri-color, Liver Roan, Liver and White, Liver, Liver and Tan, Lemon and White, Ash, Black and White, Sable, Silver, Golden, Tri-color Ticked, Red.

At A Glance

Size (2/5)

Cocker Spaniel Size is medium with its wavy coat.

Puppies at 12 months old reach their height most but continue to develop and fill out for few months old by 24 months old they become of their maximum size.

Cocker Spaniel Weight is 28 to 35 pounds in case of males and height ranges from 15.5 to 16 Inches.

On the other hand, female cockers weigh from 26 to 33 pounds and height ranges from 15 to 15.5 inches.

Affection (2/5)

Cockers Spaniels are gentle and lively beings.

They are very affectionate and easy going and are considered good with children as they are non-aggressive with animals and people.

Puppies should keep under the watch of what they can eat as their stomach is very delicate.

But also they are not particularly good watchdogs.

Apartment-Friendly (2/5)

They don’t need much space and are good for apartment living.

Cockers are friendly with family and can be trained easily moreover, they are suitable for small houses.

They are even-tempered, lovable, eager to please and enjoy learning.

Yes, cockers are very intelligent so if you get them trained they are very obedient.

You can also check out our blog about Apartment Dogs if you are worried.

Cold Water Tolerability (2/5)

They can abide in cold water with their thick and shiny double coats.

Some of them can have thin coats and shiver after a short time.

But most of the times they are good with cold water.

Cockers can tolerate cold water with no problem.

Hot Water Tolerability (2/5)

Due to their thick double coats on their bodies, they are already warm enough and too much heat and hot water may make them restless.

During humid days Cocker Spaniel temperament is hot so try to keep them cool as much as possible.

Cool pads can be helpful in this situation.

Barking Tendencies (3/5)

Cocker Spaniel barking depends on the situation or to give out a warning such as if there is a knock on the door or ringing of telephone, doorbell, shouting.

Other than that they are very gentle and friendly.

And if it does bark a lot they just need your affection or maybe sick.

Cat-Friendly (3/5)

They can either get along really well or it would ignore the cat completely.

As they age they can be wary of different animals as cats are no different.

But in most cases can be very friendly with each other.

Dog-Friendly (5/5)

Puppies can get along with anyone as their nature is very playful.

Friendliness is one of the main perks of this breed.

Cockers are smart and their personality is gentle with happy demeanors so that makes them friendly with other dogs.

Exercise Needs(4/5)

Cocker Spaniel Exercise is very enthusiastic and they need almost 1 to 2 hours of training per day with their playful nature.

They will happily join in with any games you may offer.

But they don’t respond to harsh training as they are very delicate in nature yet with the utmost care they will be obeying you in no time.

Cocker Spaniels are high energy and active breed so you need to keep them actively trained as well as with lots of playing in the garden.

They were originally bred as hunting dogs easily having a high-spirit.

Grooming Needs (5/5)

Cocker Spaniel Grooming is very important to take care of that shiny, wavy coat and keep it in good condition but also while not forgetting about skin.

You can always use a de-shedding tool or a slicker brush to remove dead undercoat and loose hair.

As a breed, a Cocker Spaniel temperament is often uncooperative or nervous on the grooming table so owners need to be gentle with that and make them accustomed to it by a young age.

You can use slicker or pin brush to remove tangles or a liquid detangler or baby oil for stubborn tangles.

Use a spray hose, pitcher or unbreakable cup to wet your dog and be careful to avoid getting water in the eyes, ears, and nose but save the head for the last massage in pet shampoo and immediately rinse thoroughly.

Take care of their teeth, hair, skin, nails, bathing, and brushing.

Playfulness (5/5)

Cocker Spaniels are sweet, active and alert making them extra enthusiastic.

They need your attention to play with all the time.

They are eager to please and will be involved with any games and activities you get them to play or train.

As long as there are no health issues with them they will remain cheerful.

• Trainability (5/5)

Cockers Spaniel Training is high as they are intelligent dogs and learn early as they are very eager to please this makes them easy to train as long as training starts at a young age.

They are very delicate in nature hence they do not respond to harsh training.

Training should start at a young age if not, they can become very stubborn, or overly sensitive as they are sensitive dogs, to begin with.

Use a calm repetition of commands rather than reprimanding them when they don’t respond right away.

They don’t have the longest attention span, so short sessions are better than long ones.

Mouthiness (4/5)

Cockers really enjoy a game of fetch or a good chew at chew toys.

By the time they are 9 months old, they start to nip or chew but only because of their gums and are not harmful the chewing toys can keep them at bay.

As they are very intelligent dogs small training can keep them from doing much harm.

Intelligence (5/5)

This breed is known for its intelligence and adaptability as they are extremely loyal and affectionate.

That’s why it is so easy to train them because of their intelligence.

It retains the knowledge about people, places and of course training given to him.

Price (4/5)

Cocker Spaniel Price is an average $600 to $800 USD.

As a puppy, it gets costly with food, care, training, vaccination as compared to adult years.

Late adulthood may also require medical attention.

About Cocker Spaniels

Cocker spaniel dogs have two breeds of Spaniel dog types: American Cocker Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel.

They have a sweet disposition and are intelligent making them good for families.

This breed is easy to train.

They are very active and sensitive in nature.

They are the sweetest and warmest family dogs around and can be involved in more activities.

As they come from a sporty group they are very High-spirited.

They love playing and fetching things.

They are your best companion and love to cuddle.

Needs a lot of grooming hence they are not for you if you work all day as they need your attention all the time.

Where Cocker Spaniel Came From?

Cocker Spaniel History goes back where they were originally bred as hunting dogs in the United Kingdom.

The term “Cocker” derives from their use to hunt Eurasian woodcock.

It is said to be specialized in hunting the American Woodcock.

Their origins are unknown they are assumed to have originated from Spain.

The Welsh or Devonshire was considered cockers until 1903 when they were identified by The Kennel Club as the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

They are considered to be descendants from spaniels, one of the oldest breed of dogs.

They have become a part of history in stories by Chaucer (1342-1400) and Shakespeare (1564-1616).

The Cocker Spaniel is smaller than it’s English counterpart and is the smallest of sporting dogs.

Size

They are medium-sized dogs.

Cockers have a round, graceful head and a broad, square muzzle.

With a long and silky coat that needs feathering not just on the ears but also on the legs, chest, and underside.

They weigh from 28 to 35 pounds in Male and 26 to 33 pounds in Females.

Their height is around 15.5 to 16 in Males and 15 to 15.5 in Females.

They grow fully when they reach 24 months old.

They have a docked tail.

Trainability

They are loving companions and have the desire to please their family which makes them perfect for training.

Their outgoing and extremely sociable nature comes in handy.

Their intelligence and smartness are some of the perks that help them learn early.

They crave and thrive on human attention so one treat for listening to you can do the deed.

Despite their small size they are very active and make great companions for your adventure.

However, they are extremely sensitive so you might want to start the training at an early age so they learn quickly as the age grows they become quite stubborn.

You need to be gentle with them as harsh training can easily frighten them or can show canine aggression.

Grooming

The coat needs to be kept clean and untangled all the time.

They need to have bath time to time with good pet shampoo massage.

The nails have to be trimmed in regular intervals.

Frequently, after time to time keep cleaning their teeth to avoid cavity and germs.

Clean them after every outdoor activity to avoid any allergies and diseases.

Give them a cleaning habit from an early age to ease their nerves.

Common Diseases

Targeting the Bones

Cocker Spaniel Health needs to be put first.

They can get Arthritis in their senior years or young years by a traumatic injury or congenital poor joint.

You need to go to the doctor if you see a limp in the walk of your dog.

The bones might get infected if your dog has a fracture and not taken proper care of.

Metabolic disorders and bone cancer are some of the bone diseases if noticing something different in your dogs rush to a doctor before it spreads quickly.

Targeting The Nasal Cavity

Rhinitis and Sinusitis are some common nasal issues found in which you can recognize if your dog is sneezing too much or has lost its appetite has or mucus you need to get your dog to the doctor.

Nose cancer is rare but can be diagnosed if your dog has got pus in nasal discharge has seizures with visible pain around the nose or has formed facial deformity you need to set up a check-up with your doctor.

Targeting The Skin:

You may be confused if your dog has dry and oily patches of skin at the same time it may start to develop Seborrhea that needs to be treated immediately before it catches an infection or spreads too much.

Spaniels are known to develop food allergies, which can cause numerous skin allergies so you need to be careful with the food.

Targeting The Eyes

They are said to be prone to eye problems including entropion, cataracts, and glaucoma so bring your dog to regular check-ups and also to keep their eyes clean.

Eyes also may cause a problem because of the genetics of the parent have eye issues.

Targeting The Nervous System

When there are neurological problems symptoms can be very obvious, sudden and scary.

If your dog has seizures, head tilt, tremors, blindness your dog needs immediate medical attention.

To give your dog the best recovery you need to identify the symptoms, gain a lot of knowledge and of course professionals like veterinary neurologists.

Targeting The Body

You need to know your dog’s genetic history to be aware of any disease and take caution beforehand.

They need to have a regular eye, ear, and feet cleanings to keep them dirt free.

Also always look out for any allergies, try to detect if your dog is acting different and have caused some diseases.

They need to have a body checkup from time to time.

To know more about diseases and problems in cocker spaniel check out Prestige Animal Hospital.

Feeding

Cocker Spaniel Feeding needs to be done twice a day or one third is recommended in the morning and the rest at night.

Animal protein can be found in good quality meat and fish, and should be included in the cocker spaniel diet, for example, turkey, salmon, chicken, beef or lamb (Without skin and bones).

A good diet helps protect internal organs, maintain healthy skin, shinning coat and clear eyes.

Always be careful with food as your dog may have allergies to some food.

Cockers need a balanced amount of proteins, vitamins, fibers, fats, and carbohydrates so their diet must be according to that.

Suggested: Senior Dog Food

You can go through our link for more information on their diet Dog Feeding.

Vaccination and Care

The vaccinations need to be given to dogs from time to time with an exact medical schedule. Read our Guide To Dog Vaccination so you always go prepared to a vet.

Vaccinations start right after their birth and given on time can avoid a lot of harmful diseases as well as permanent body damage.

Rabies, canine distemper are some vaccines that need to be given on time.

Regular body check-ups need to be done from time to time. 

Monthly Expense Estimation

To feed the cocker it goes around 10.83 pounds per month.

Cocker Spaniel house needs to go up to 13.54 pounds but vary with different covers.

Grooming takes 12.63 pounds including toys and such.

Training classes cost 22 to 40 pounds per week.

Vaccines take 27 pounds per year.

Vet bills and insurance may take 45 pounds.

Though, all of this may vary with your dog’s needs.

Behavior With

Children

Cocker Spaniel Behavior is playful as they are trustworthy family companions and get along with children very easily.

They are very gentle and loving and adore being with their family.

But even children need to be gentle with dogs or they can become aggressive.

Dogs

Puppies get along with dogs quite fine and even play with them.

Adult dogs may be wary of other dogs but with time can get along with them.

Their comfort zone matters or they can get aggressive.

They need time to get familiar with them.

Cats

Cockers and cats get along with each other if they are introduced to each other at an early age and grow up together.

Though it’s not the same with every dog as a situation and dogs vary from others.

Do not force them to play with each other as the outcome may be dangerous.

Overview

In conclusion, cockers are very gentle, kind, active, loving and playful breed.

It can be suited for apartments as it is a medium-sized dog with a lot of energy.

It is a sporting breed so it needs a lot of exercises and spends time in a playground or play in the house.

Cockers need all the care and love you can give to them as they are sensitive dogs.

Grooming and health checkups need to be on time to time.

They are eager to please and friendly in nature.

Fun Facts

• It is said that Cocker Spaniel may have come to America on the Mayflower.

• The two dogs were passengers on the Mayflower, they landed in New England in 1620.

• One of the dogs was Mastiff, and the other was a Spaniel- including the Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Field Spaniel, and the English Cocker Spaniel though they are yet to be distinguished from each other.

This was all about the loving and friendly Cocker Spaniel.

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