Cocker Spaniel dog breed
Find out what makes a Cocker Spaniel puppy or dog so loveable, from their good-natured temperament to their happy personality.
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Cocker Spaniel dog breed information and advice
If you’re thinking of welcoming a Cocker Spaniel puppy or dog into your family, this guide will help you decide if the breed is right for you.
From understanding the Cocker Spaniel temperament and lifespan, to exercise, feeding and grooming requirements, the more you know about this loveable pup, the better home you’ll give it.
Cocker Spaniels are also known as the English Cocker Spaniel. There are two strains of English Cocker Spaniel, the Show Cocker, and the Working Cocker Spaniel.
The Show Cocker has a dome-shaped head and lower set ears, and is the strain most often seen in show rings. The Working Spaniel strain was bred for country pursuits and agility.
Spaniels are a popular breed, well known for being energetic and playful. They’re also very affectionate and make great family pets. They love fetching a ball or finding a hidden toy.
Cocker Spaniel facts
| Lifespan | 12 to 15years |
| How much | £600 - £2500 |
| Size | 15 to 17 inches |
| Weight | 13 - 14.5 kg |
| Colours | black, black and white, blue roan, chocolate, gold and red |
| Grooming | regular daily grooming is essential |
| Temperament | friendly, gentle and loving |
| Exercise | minimum of one hour daily exercise |
Cocker Spaniel insurance
If you’re considering getting a Cocker Spaniel puppy or dog, don’t forget about dog insurance. Everyone wants to give their precious pooch the best chance. Insurance for your Cocker Spaniel puppy or dog could be crucial if they have a health condition or need emergency treatment. Dog insurance can also assist with costs incurred by any medication, vet prescribed complementary treatment or surgery.
Cocker Spaniels may suffer from:
- Generalised progressive retinal atrophy (GPRA or PRA)
- Hereditary cataracts
- Retinal dysplasia
- Acral mutilation syndrome (AMS)
Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance
You can take out Sainsbury’s Bank dog insurance as long as your puppy is over eight weeks old and your dog is less than eight years of age.
Once you have cover in place with us, you can insure your dog up to any age as long as you keep renewing the policy without a break.
Sainsbury’s Bank offers three different types of pet Insurance. These are:
- Lifetime – this comprehensive option offers up to £10,000 towards vet costs each year. It aims to help with the cost of one-off or reoccurring illnesses over an unlimited number of years.
- Maximum benefit – allows you to claim for vet fees per condition during the length of your policy, up to your policy limits.
- Time-limited – for short-term health issues, time-limited cover could help with unexpected vet bills and expenses.
Please note that we won't cover any pre-existing conditions and that terms, conditions, excesses, exclusions and limitations apply.
How to care for a Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels make wonderful family pets. They have a merry and loving personality making them fun, eager to please and easy to love.
That lovely Cocker Spaniel temperament means that they need lots of attention and plenty of exercise. Here are some tips on keeping them happy and healthy:
Feeding and nutrition
If you choose a Cocker Spaniel puppy, try to feed it the same food it was given with its littermates. You can change the food if you need to, but this should be done over a few days to prevent an upset tummy. Puppies are usually fed three or four times a day, whereas adults are usually only fed once or twice a day.
Guidelines on how much you should feed your Cocker Spaniel can be found on their food packaging. But the amount you feed them will also depend on your dog’s size and the amount of exercise it gets each day. Cocker Spaniels are prone to gaining weight as they get older, so regular exercise is a must.
If you’re not sure how much to feed your Cocker Spaniel, speak to your vet who will be happy to help you work out a feeding plan.
Grooming
Most Cocker Spaniels have a medium-length, flat, silky coat with fluffy ears and legs. Keeping their coat looking good will require daily grooming – which can be a difficult task.
Asking a professional groomer to trim your dog’s coat to a manageable length is a good idea. It will make it much easier to keep your pet clean, tidy and knot-free. Their ears are renowned for getting matted up with grass seeds and burrs, so it’s really important to keep them trimmed and tidy.
‘Field’ Cocker Spaniels usually have a much shorter coat, which is a bit less labour intensive. However, they still have the trademark fluffy ears and legs so will still need grooming to keep knots at bay.
Exercise
Cocker Spaniels are bouncy balls of energy, and they love playing games and going for walkies. Regular exercise will help them burn off any excess exuberance and prevent them from getting up to mischief.
It can be difficult to know how much exercise a Cocker Spaniel needs a day as it changes when they get older.
Cocker Spaniel puppies will benefit from a few quick walks each day. As your dog gets older, you can reduce this to two walks but increase the duration. An older dog still needs regular exercise to help keep their joints mobile but avoid long walks as this can do more harm than good.
And don’t forget playtime, this is an essential part of their life. Whether you’re at home or out on a walk, playing together is a great way to have fun and to bond.
Training
Cocker Spaniels are very intelligent and eager to please. They’re fast learners which makes them easy to train whether they’re a puppy or an adult dog.
You’ll find Cocker Spaniel house training is usually a fairly easy process. And teaching them to sit, stay and fetch a ball will be fun for both of you.
Cocker Spaniel temperament and behaviour
Cocker Spaniels are a friendly, loving breed, and make great pets. They’re well known for their gentle, affectionate and energetic personalities. You’ll have plenty of fun with them, as they love playtime. They’re great at fetch and find games and are very agile too.
This breed needs to be kept active and occupied. If your dog is left alone for long periods of time, they’re likely to become bored and get up to no good. This is when behavioural problems can crop up. Destructive behaviour and separation anxiety are common behavioural problems seen in Cocker Spaniels that don’t get enough mental and physical stimulation.
Cocker Spaniels are affectionate, love a cuddle and will always want to join in on family activities and outings.
Cocker Spaniel health problems
Cocker Spaniels are known to suffer from several health problems, which is why it’s important to take out Cocker Spaniel insurance. Here are some of the more common ailments they can suffer from:
Generalised progressive retinal atrophy (GPRA, or PRA)
GPRA is a disorder of the eyes, commonly seen in Cocker Spaniels. Dogs with GPRA might show signs of poor vision in dim light. This can cause them to be a bit more cautious or nervous about going outside in the dark. Some develop cataracts so their eyes look cloudy. If your dog shows any of these signs, it’s important to take a trip to the vet.
The condition is inherited, and unfortunately, there’s no treatment. Eventually affected dogs will go blind, but with loving care and attention they can still lead a happy life.
Hereditary cataracts
This is an inherited condition that affects both eyes. Dogs can be born with it or, more commonly, develop the condition as they grow older. If your dog develops cataracts, you might notice a slight whiteness of the eye that can gradually become very cloudy over time.
Surgery to remove the cataracts is possible for some dogs. The outcome is usually good if your dog gets regular veterinary checks following surgery.
Retinal dysplasia
This is a condition of the eye where the retina doesn’t develop properly and, in some cases, can lead to complete blindness. Signs of this condition aren’t always obvious unless your dog suffers sudden blindness.
There isn’t any treatment for retinal dysplasia, but because most dogs are born with it, they usually adjust well to life with this condition.
Acral mutilation syndrome (AMS)
AMS is an inherited disorder of the nervous system. The condition is often seen in puppies aged between three and five months. Pain sensation is lost, and puppies lick and chew their feet, causing themselves harm without realising it. This is a serious condition, and unfortunately, most dogs end up being put to sleep.
So, is a Cocker Spaniel right for you?
Cocker Spaniels are full of fun and make loving family pets. They enjoy playing, learning new things and being kept active. Cocker Spaniels make great companions, so if you have the time – and energy – to spend with them, you’ll have many years of fun together.
Frequently asked questions
How long do Cocker Spaniels live?
Most small dog breeds live longer than large dogs. As a medium dog, the Cocker Spaniel lifespan is 12 to 15 years. You can help your dog reach their prime by providing them with the best love and care possible.
Are Cocker Spaniels high-maintenance?
Yes, regarding grooming, Cocker Spaniels are high maintenance. They are known to shed quite a lot of hair and require lots of grooming to prevent matting and to keep them comfortable.
Are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs?
Yes, Cocker Spaniels are considered great family dogs as they are fun, yet gentle and easy-going. They have big hearts and are not usually aggressive towards people or other animals.
Do Cocker Spaniels shed their hair?
Cocker Spaniels are known to shed quite a lot of hair and require lots of grooming. Grooming will keep them tidy and prevent matting which can be uncomfortable. Cocker Spaniels are not a hypoallergenic breed, their dander and saliva will probably cause a reaction in allergy sufferers. If you suffer from a dog allergy, this breed isn’t the right one for you.
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References
Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis - www.vetstream.com/treat/canis 
Dennis E Brooks, David L Williams (online) Lens: hereditary primary cataract. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/lens-hereditary-primary-cataract.
Dennis E Brooks, David L Williams, David Gould (online) Retina: generalized progressive retinal atrophy. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/retina-generalized-progressive-retinal-atrophy.
Rhea Morgan, Natasha Mitchell (online) Retina: dysplasia. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/retinal-dysplasia.
Rosanna Marsella, David Scarff, Laurent Garosi (online) Skin: acral mutilation syndrome. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/skin-acral-mutilation-syndrome.
Vetstream Ltd (online) American Cocker Spaniel. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/american-cocker-spaniel.
Vetstream Ltd (online) Cataract Owner Factsheet. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/cataract.
Vetstream Ltd (online) Cocker Spaniel. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/english-cocker-spaniel.
Vetstream Ltd (online) Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Owner Factsheet. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/progessive-retinal-atrophy-(pra).
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