English Cocker Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniels are a sporting dog breed. Hundreds of years ago, the Spaniel breeds were developed in England. These breeds were descended from dogs from Spain, hence the name Spaniel. Originally, the breeds were classified by whether they were land or water spaniels. The three land spaniels were known as the Springing, Field, and Cocking Spaniel. The Cocking Spaniel, which was the expert at hunting woodcock, later became known as the English Cocker Spaniel.

These gun dogs come in a variety of colors. They may have a solid golden, black, brown, or liver coat. Additionally, English Cocker Spaniels may also have a parti-colored coat. These may be liver roan, blue roan, orange roan with black or brown, black and white, orange and white, and a variety of other colors.

These dogs are intelligent, friendly, and affectionate. They are very loyal to their owners and can make a great family pet.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning an English Cocker Spaniel

Evolution and Origins

As far back as the 16th century, when spaniels were employed as hunting dogs, litters were divided into “springers”, which were larger pups that would be used for hunting larger game, and “cockers”, smaller pups that would grow to specialize in hunting woodcock.

However, during the late 19th century, both breeds began to be bred separately, resulting in each breed having a distinct physical appearance. 

About half a century following this selective breeding process, shortly after World War II, the AKC recognized the English cocker spaniel as a unique breed in its own right.

Size and Weight

English Cocker Spaniels are a medium-sized dog breed. Males are between 16 and 17 inches tall and weigh between 28 and 34 pounds. Females are just a bit smaller; they stand 15 to 16 inches tall and weigh between 26 and 32 pounds. At 3 months, the dog weighs between 11 and 14 pounds. By the time they are 6 months old, the puppies should weigh between 20 and 26 pounds. This breed will be fully grown somewhere between the ages of 14 and 16 months.

Common Health Issues

Before adopting one of these dogs, there are a few common health issues faced by this breed that you’ll want to learn about. One problem that some English Cocker Spaniels face is obesity. Making sure your pup is eating the right portion of healthy and high-quality dog food is important. You will also want to make sure you give your dog enough exercise. Obesity can lead to other problems, such as digestive disorders, joint issues, and metabolic disorders, so taking steps to prevent your dog from becoming obese is important.

English Cocker Spaniels may also have problems with their teeth that can progress to dental disease. When tartar builds up on their teeth and isn’t removed, it can lead to an infection in the roots of their teeth and their gums. You’ll want to be sure to brush your dog’s teeth regularly and schedule dental cleanings with their veterinarian.

English Cocker Spaniel can also develop PRA, or progressive retinal atrophy. This is a degenerative eye disorder that can cause them to lose photoreceptors at the back of their eyes. This can cause an English Cocker Spaniel to completely lose their eyesight. Since PRA is hereditary, purchasing an English Cocker Spaniel from a reputable breeder is a good idea.

Bacterial and viral infections are other ailments that English Cocker Spaniels may face. Making sure your dog is properly vaccinated can help reduce the chances of them developing an infection such as rabies, distemper, or parvo.

Temperament

These dogs have a very affectionate personality. In general, this breed is very friendly towards people, especially those they know and trust. They may bark at a stranger or act slightly more reserved when someone they don’t know is around.

In addition to being very friendly and affectionate, they also exhibit very playful traits. When they are properly socialized, they can be a great dog to have around children and will enjoy being a playmate for a child.

English Cocker Spaniels are also known for being very intelligent and loyal dogs. Overall, these behaviors make them easy to train, but they are also known for being a bit stubborn.

How to Take Care of an English Cocker Spaniel

Before bringing home an English Cocker Spaniel, you’ll want to learn more about this breed so you can develop an appropriate care plan. The common health concerns, temperament, nutritional needs, and other factors should all be considered when you plan to care for your new dog.

The Best Dog Food

When feeding your dog, it is important to make sure you monitor their calorie intake and daily exercise levels. Since this breed often has problems with obesity, you want to be proactive to prevent your dog from facing this health concern. Keep in mind that dogs like English Cocker Spaniels that are prone to dental issues should eat kibble, not wet food.

Whether you have an adult or a puppy, you will want to select a high-quality dog food that will meet their nutritional needs. Adults should eat somewhere between 1 and 2 cups of food each day. Again, keep their activity level, weight, health concerns, and other important factors in mind when deciding the amount of food to feed your dog. You should divide their food into two meals each day.

When choosing food for a puppy, look for a food that is specially formulated for puppies. Younger puppies have a smaller stomach than older puppies and adults. Because of this, they will need to eat smaller, more frequent meals. You should plan to feed puppies that are up to 4 months old four meals each day. Puppies between 4 and 6 months should eat three meals each day. By the time a puppy is 6 months old, they should be able to handle eating two meals each day.

Maintenance and Grooming

English Cocker Spaniels are not low-maintenance dogs. Their coat will need to be brushed and combed at least once a week to keep their fur from getting matted and tangled. You will also need to schedule appointments with the groomer or trim their hair around their feet, face, and tail on your own. This should be done once every month. If you plan on doing this trimming on your own, you can purchase a pair of clippers, a stripping tool, and shears.

In addition to taking care of their coat, you will also need to clean their ears and make sure that wax or debris isn’t building up in them. A monthly nail trim and frequent tooth brushing will also be important with this dog breed.

Training

When positive reinforcement is used, these dogs can be very easy to train. They aim to please their owners, which simplifies the training process. It is important to note, though, that this breed responds very poorly to negative training methods. Stay positive and offer a lot of praise if you are looking for the best results.

In addition to training your dog, you will also want to be sure to socialize it from an early age. This can help ensure that it adjusts well to other people, pets, and places.

Exercise

You will want to make sure that your English Cocker Spaniel gets plenty of exercise each day. This breed enjoys playing, walking, or hiking with its family members. Since these dogs were bred to be hunting dogs, their exercise requirements are higher than those of some other breeds. Additionally, since this breed is prone to obesity, making sure your dog stays active can help prevent this problem as well.

Puppies

If you are bringing home a puppy, be sure to puppy-proof your home first. Remove anything that could be potentially hazardous to the puppy or that you wouldn’t want to see destroyed by the dog. You will also want to make sure you are prepared for the arrival of your new puppy. Purchase food, treats, a crate, a bed, a collar and leash, and other supplies before the new dog comes home.

After bringing your puppy home, be sure to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Keep your dog up to date on its vaccinations and have your veterinarian screen your dog for any health concerns. Keep in mind that puppies have a smaller stomach than a fully-grown dog. You’ll want to feed your puppy smaller, more frequent meals because of this.

Children

These dogs often make a great family dog. They have a very friendly and gentle personality, making them an excellent dog to have around children. If you have younger children who are more unpredictable, it may be best to wait until they are old enough to understand how to appropriately interact with a dog. As with all dog breeds, being in the same room and supervising your children when they are with the dog is a good idea. This will prevent any accidental injuries to either your child or the dog.

Dogs Similar to English Cocker Spaniels

Three dog breeds that are similar to English Cocker Spaniels are American Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, and Field Spaniels.

• American Cocker Spaniels: While the American Cocker Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel are often confused, they are two distinct dog breeds. While both breeds have shared ancestors, breeders in North America focused on different traits than those in Europe, creating two different breeds. American breeders were looking to create Cocker Spaniels with solid colors, while British breeders preferred the parti-colored and roan Spaniels. American Cocker Spaniels are longer than they are tall, while English Cocker Spaniels have a squarer shape since they are taller than they are long. Both breeds are friendly and affectionate and can make a great family pet.
• English Springer Spaniels: English Springer Spaniels are also sporting dogs. Both dogs are highly intelligent, playful, and easy to train. One key difference between these two breeds is their size. English Springer Spaniels are larger. They weigh around 50 pounds and are between 18 and 21 inches tall. English Cocker Spaniel, on the other hand, weigh closer to 30 pounds and are between 14 and 17 inches tall.
• Field Spaniels: Field Spaniels are another gun dog. Both of these breeds are playful, easy to train, affectionate, and sensitive. Field Spaniels are a little easier to groom than English Cocker Spaniels and are less likely to bark.

Famous English Cocker Spaniels

These dogs have been featured in literature and film. Two poems written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “To Flush, My Dog” and “Flush or Faunus”, were written to her Cocker Spaniel.

Another famous English Cocker Spaniel was Lupo, who was owned by Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, until his death in November 2020.