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By the time you have finished reading this Cocker Spaniel owner's guide, you should have a good understanding of the Cocker Spaniel breed. We look at what to expect from a Cocker Spaniel, answers common questions about the breed, the best nutrition for them and give you some tips about their behaviour.
Cocker spaniels are energetic and people-oriented dogs that love to play, making them a popular family pet. Whether you already have a cocker spaniel, or are thinking about bringing one into your home, this handy guide will teach you everything that you need to know about this lively breed of dog.
By the time you have finished reading, you should have a good understanding of the cocker spaniel breed. Keep reading to find out what to expect from a cocker spaniel, top exercise and grooming tips, how to maintain a healthy diet and much more.
Cocker spaniels were originally bred as hunting dogs in the UK, given a reputation as loyal and reliable companions. As well as being initially used to hunt game birds, from the 1890s, cocker and springer spaniels began to be bred separately, forming two separate breeds of spaniel.
A common question about this breed is “How long do cocker spaniels live?” Cocker spaniels typically live between 12 and 15 years. By the age of 24 months, they have typically started to grow out of their puppy-like tendencies as they develop mentally and emotionally. They are considered senior from the age of around 10 onwards.
Working cocker spaniels are intelligent dogs with great characters. They have plenty of stamina and energy and are typically active and prey driven. These wonderful companions that love to please require mental stimulation with challenges and enjoy learning and discovering.
The show cocker spaniel is known to be more docile and calmer than a working cocker spaniel, however they all have their own personalities and it is not unheard of for them to be more energetic.
As with all dogs, cocker spaniels’ behaviour relies largely on their training. It is best to take time to build a great bond with cocker spaniels, supporting them to learn in a positive way and become the best version of themselves. By being a calm, sensible adult that a cocker spaniel puppy can learn from, they will follow your lead and become sociable beings that interact with those that want to be interacted with.
It is also important to make sure cocker spaniels’ drive for exercise and enrichment is met, allowing them to learn and venture within the boundaries you set from a young age.
A great way to encourage positive behaviour in cocker spaniels is to create a close relationship with your dog and then engage their love of exploring on walks. Having a good relationship is the best way to prevent dogs from running away or rebelling against the behaviours they are taught.
The cocker spaniel is a medium-sized dog, with the males generally growing to be slightly larger than the females.
All dogs develop at their own rate; however cocker spaniels typically reach their fully grown height between the ages 9 and 12 months. When cocker spaniels are fully grown, their average height is between 15” and 17” at the shoulder.
Cocker spaniels continue to develop their muscularity until the age of around 18-24 months. By this age, they will have reached their fully-grown weight.
It is important to help cocker spaniels maintain a healthy body weight throughout their lives, to reduce unnecessary pressure on their joints. This is particularly important as cocker spaniels are predisposed to hip dysplasia and arthritis. Feeding a species-specific, nutritious diet in the right volume is key to making sure cocker spaniels are a healthy weight.
Click here to see how much you should be feeding your dog.
| Age | Weight |
| 3 months | 3.1 – 5.8kg |
| 4 months | 4.1 – 7.7kg |
| 5 months | 4.9 – 9.2kg |
| 6 months | 5.6 – 10.7kg |
| 9 months | 6.8 – 12.9kg |
| 12 months+ | 7 – 14kg |
Click here to find out how much your cocker spaniel should weigh.
Exercise is essential for dogs’ health and wellbeing. As an active and energetic breed of dog, adult cocker spaniels require at least one hour of exercise per day, split between at least two walks. This should include daily walks, some more vigorous activity and mind enrichment.
Cocker spaniels are highly intelligent, so hunting games and training can help them to express themselves and fulfil their abilities. They can also become obsessive with activities, so instead of playing fetch repetitively, encourage cocker spaniels to get their noses down and hunt for toys to bring to you, making sure they are challenged enough.
All exercise should be tailored to individual dogs’ abilities, taking weight, age and health issues into consideration. For example, older dogs or those with mobility problems will not be able to enjoy the same amount of exercise as a younger, healthy dog.
The general guideline for young dogs is to provide them with around 5 minutes of exercise for each month of their age per session, up to twice a day until they are fully grown. For example, a 3-month-old cocker spaniel could have up to 15-30 minutes of physical activity per day. It is important to not exceed safe amounts of exercise when they are young, as this can lead to hip and knee problems in later life.
Cocker spaniels have medium-length silky coats that require daily grooming. This is important to stop their hair becoming matted. They have a double coat that sheds moderately year-round; a short undercoat to help regulate their body temperature and an outer coat that protects them from dirt and water. Regularly grooming cocker spaniels helps to control their shedding, which can become excessive if their coat is not maintained.
Keep the hair short between cocker spaniels’ toes, so grass seeds and mud cannot cause soreness or injury. They also need their nails trimmed, as well as the hair around their legs and torso being trimmed to prevent it growing too long. In addition to this, their teeth should be brushed and their ears should be checked for strange odours, as dirt and bacteria getting trapped in the ear canal makes them prone to ear infections.
Finally, keep cocker spaniels’ ears dry after exercise in wet weather or water, to reduce the likelihood of their ears becoming infected.
To ensure that your cocker spaniel lives a long and healthy life, it is important to understand the best type of diet to feed them.
All dog breeds, including cocker spaniels, benefit from a diet that is packed with nutrition, balanced and species-specific. It will need to be tailored to your dog’s individual needs and requirements.
By feeding cocker spaniels a healthy diet, it will be easier to ensure that they stay a suitable weight, thereby reducing the chances that your dog will develop common health issues that often plague this breed, such as arthritis and hip dysplasia.
A cocker spaniel’s diet should also be designed to prevent inflammation wherever possible, reducing the likelihood of allergies that cause itchy skin and ear infections in the breed.
Feeding a cocker spaniel a raw diet that has all the nutrition they need to thrive can also help them with common health problems that this breed often faces. A recent study done by the University of Helsinki suggests that a raw diet can help reduce the chances of hip dysplasia.
An additional benefit to a grain-free and filler-free raw diet is that it can also help keep inflammation away. Diet can be further enriched with the use of botanical anti-inflammatories, such as curcumin, black pepper or pure filtered fish oils.
Cocker spaniels benefit most from a meal and diet that contains high quality ingredients that does not contain any fillers such as grains, glutens or other additives. These types of additives are sometimes referred to as non-beneficial as they often have little nutritional value.
A filler-free diet allows cocker spaniels to get optimum nutrients which will help support their growth and health at all stages of their life.
This also means that the food should be adapted to the stage of their life, as puppies have different dietary needs than adults or senior dogs. Bella & Duke’s range of puppy foods is exceptionally suited to support your puppy’s growth.
Here at Bella & Duke, we also have a range of adult dog food, split up into different ranges and types, so you are certain to find something suitable for your cocker spaniel. This includes different meat and single protein options as well as working dog meals.
Our senior dog food has been enriched with a variety of beneficial ingredients to help support your dog’s fit lifestyle as they age.
If you’re looking for healthy dog treats, browse our range of lean, nutritious dog snacks.
One of the most common health issues that affect cocker spaniels are ear infections, which can occur as their long, floppy ears trap moisture and debris. Due to the decrease of airflow, it unfortunately makes their ears ideal breeding grounds for infections. If left untreated, ear infections can lead to more serious conditions, such as hearing loss or infections that spread to other parts of the body. Ear infections can be avoided with proper care, which can include more frequent grooming and regular vet check-ups.
Cocker Spaniels can also be prone to a variety of eye problems, such as cherry eye, cataracts, glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which can cause vision loss.
As other dog breeds, cocker spaniels can be prone to musculoskeletal issues, such as patellar luxation or hip dysplasia. The recent study done by the University of Helsinki indicates that a raw diet can help your cocker spaniel in reducing its chances of developing hip dysplasia.
The cocker spaniel breed is also prone to develop something called IVDD. IVDD stands for Intervertebral disc disease, which affects their spinal cord and can cause the cushioning discs in the spine to rupture or slip.
This in turn can cause paralysis in their back legs. If your cocker spaniel has a hunched back, starts dragging their feet or has a sudden paralysis where they are unable or unwilling to move, this may be indicative of IVDD. The quicker the treatment, the better the outcome will be for your dog as the paralysis is not always permanent.
Cocker spaniels reach their adult height between 9 and 12 months, however they continue to develop their muscularity until the age of around 18-24 months.
Yes, cocker spaniels do shed their coats. Regularly grooming cocker spaniels helps to keep shedding to a minimum, while keeping their coat soft, healthy and preventing matting.
The average adult cocker spaniels need at least an hour of exercise per day, split between at least two walks. This should vary in intensity, ranging from normal walks, to more vigorous activity and mind enrichment.
Puppies should have around 5 minutes of exercise for each month of their age per session, up to twice per day until they are fully grown.
Remember, all exercise should be tailored to each dog’s individual requirements, making sure it is a comfortable amount of exercise for them. As dogs get older, or if they have any health issues, you will need to reduce the amount of exercise.
The best food for a cocker spaniel puppy is a nutritious, easily digestible meal, packed with bioavailable proteins to support their growth and development. To learn more about the benefits of kibble vs raw dog food, click here.
Cocker spaniel dogs are not hypoallergenic, as they do shed their dander, which is the dry skin attached to their loose hairs. Typically, people with dog allergies are allergic to dander, or the proteins found in saliva and urine.
Cocker spaniel pregnancies last around 9 weeks from the date of conception.
Cocker spaniels are medium-sized dogs. When they are fully grown, their average height is between 15” and 17” at the shoulder.
No, cocker spaniels do not smell any more than any other dog. If there is a bad smell, it is usually caused by an infection of the ear or skin, tooth problems, or smelly anal glands. Keeping dogs well groomed is key to reducing their smell.
Cocker spaniels can be vocal dogs, using barking to communicate and respond to a range of situations. It’s important to train them from a young age to not develop a habit of barking excessively. Proper socialisation, adequate exercise and having enough, but not too much mental stimulation can help to stop cocker spaniels barking too often.
The ease of training depends on two things; the individual dog and the way you try to train it. While some dogs may be more naturally excitable, energetic or playful, being a calm role model and taking time to build a close, trusting bond can simplify training cocker spaniels.
At the age of around 3 months, cocker spaniel puppies can weigh as little as 3kg, however by the time they are fully grown, a healthy cocker spaniel weight range will usually be between 7 and 14kg.
Their weight should correspond to their size, meaning it is important to ensure their body composition is healthy and cocker spaniels are not overweight, as this can cause health issues.
If you believe your dog is overweight, read our guide on how to help your dog lose weight.
We hope you enjoyed our cocker spaniel owner's guide and now feel confident to give your cocker spaniel the long, happy and healthy life they deserve. We would love to meet you and your cocker spaniel in our friendly online community "The pack", we can't wait to meet you.
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