Cocker Spaniel

The cocker spaniel comes in many colors. The breed is rather small, but they use this small size to their advantage as a bird dog or a hunting dog. Not to be mistaken for the English cocker spaniel, this dog has been a separate breed since the 1940s.

The (American) Cocker Spaniel is slightly smaller than the English Cocker Spaniel (ECS), and they are groomed differently since the Cocker Spaniel has a heavier coat. The ECS was bred for hunting, while the American cousin is used for companionship and as a show dog.

Spaniels originated in Spain (thus the name). As far back as the 16th century, when spaniels were employed as hunting dogs, litters were divided into “springers,” which were larger pups used for hunting larger game, and “cockers,” smaller pups that specialized in hunting woodcock. The “cockers” eventually became the English Cocker Spaniel.

The first Spaniel came to America on the Mayflower in 1620, and it was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1878. Regal and adored, this breed often comes with a much bigger commitment to grooming than most owners realize.

3 Pros and Cons of Ownership

Size and Weight

Known as the smallest dog breed of the sporting group, the long-haired cocker spaniel has an average height of 14 to 15 inches when measuring from the foot to the top of the shoulder. Males can reach a maximum height of 17 inches, while females tend to be no bigger than 16 inches tall. The female tends to be slightly smaller in size, contributing to their lower weight. Once fully grown, the male reaches a weight of 24 to 28 lbs., with the female being 22 to 26 lbs.

While the breed typically lives to be about 15 years old, the oldest to have ever lived was over 22 years old with ideal care.

Common Health Issues

As many wonderful attributes as the spaniel has, one of the biggest problems with the breed is their health concerns. Every animal comes with some health issues to consider, but the right breeders can make a big difference.

The biggest health issues that this breed faces are related to their eyes, including progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, patellar luxation, and glaucoma. Much like with bulldogs, cherry eye is a major concern, as are allergies and congestive heart failure. Getting exams with a vet can screen your dog for issues in its hips, knees, thyroid, and eyes. Although this dog is at risk for anemia, you can get a DNA test to determine if it is at risk due to phosphofructokinase deficiency.

Gastric torsion, elbow dysplasia, and epilepsy are also issues that this pup should be screened for. Though problems like hip dysplasia may be a risk, you can check with the breeders to see if it is inherited through the mother. Generally, this breed is also at risk for liver issues, urinary stones, cardiomyopathy, and hypothyroidism as well. Despite these many challenges, the lifespan of a healthy cocker spaniel continues to be up to 15 years old.

Temperament and Behavior

The lovable and affectionate personality of the cocker spaniel is the main reason that it has such a great reputation. Early socialization is easily the best way to preserve this nature. They love to cuddle with their family members, though they also become quite playful and active. Originally bred as bird dogs, bringing this dog along during a hunting trip can be a positive experience for both of you.

Even though the main appeal of this breed’s traits is their adoration of their family, they can be very sensitive. Harsh treatment or scolding is not met with positive behavior. Instead, fear and pain are often conveyed with growling at the person who acts that way towards them. The breed tends to be intelligent overall, but proper training for their manners is crucial to bring out their good side.

Care

Caring for a Cocker Spaniel requires specific attention to its needs. Even as a puppy, it must be groomed properly and fed a healthy diet to thrive. This pet has many health issues to watch for, which are primarily the result of careless breeding in their origins.

Best Dog Food

The diet of these dogs needs to consist of at least 1.5 cups of high-quality dog food every day, though they may eat up to 2.5 cups.

They have quite a voracious appetite, and their likelihood of becoming obese is quite high. To avoid being put on a diet, don’t give in to their begging for more food.

The exact amount your dog will eat will depend on its age, activity level, and other factors. If your pup likes to spend more time doing physical activities, it might be at the higher end of this range.

Maintenance and Grooming

With moderate shedding, this dog breed has to be cared for properly to keep its regal appearance. Their thick fur needs regular grooming, showing off the beautiful colors of their red, brown, light cream, or black coat. The grooming of this dog breed is labor-intensive and quite costly, which is why most owners outsource this task to a professional. The trimming, bathing, and brushing of this dog should happen every six to eight weeks, bringing up the amount of money you’ll have to spend on the right professional. Even with this care, brushing the coat at home each day is necessary to stave off matting. If you aren’t ready for the many grooming needs of this dog breed, you may want to look elsewhere.

To make the dog more comfortable with grooming, you should start the process relatively early. With this exposure, it’ll stand confidently and calmly among all of the clipping, brushing, cleaning, and other processes associated with its coat.

Training

These dogs tend to be easy to train, which gives them great appeal among novice dog owners. They particularly thrive in training for show rings, performing their obedience and agility challenges perfectly. However, that’s part of the reason you need to be gentle with your training — this breed becomes fearful of its owner if harsher methods are used. Be consistent and train with a kind hand.

Exercise

Since the spaniel tends to be rather active, the dog will enjoy nearly any physical activity, even if you just take it on a brief yet brisk walk. Most Cocker Spaniels require at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise daily to stay healthy and happy. While they can thrive in apartments, regular walks and playtime are essential. They don’t require much space, and the space they do need is easy to get to on a walk or a trip to the dog park.

Puppies

The main concerns with adopting a puppy are the socialization of the pet and the acclimation to grooming. Puppies need to be groomed early on to get them used to the amount of maintenance that needs to happen for their coat to be healthy. Since these dogs can be incredibly sensitive, it is important to train the puppy to be obedient to certain commands to avoid confusion. Always train gently and kindly to amplify the beloved temperament of this dog breed.

If you choose to buy a puppy from one of your local breeders, ask for proof of testing the parents for hip dysplasia and other problems. These concerns can often be avoided with the proper research. Considering their long lifespan, addressing health concerns during their younger years is a proactive way to keep this breed healthy.

Children

If you choose this dog breed, part of the appeal is the way that they bond with family members, especially children. However, you have a much better chance of a positive relationship with children in the house if the dog is raised from its puppy years with little ones. Since the Cocker Spaniel is incredibly sensitive, teaching your child to properly handle and interact with the pup is a necessity. It will not react kindly to any family member who is rough with it.

Similar Dogs

Some similar dog breeds that replicate many of the loved characteristics of Cocker Spaniels include the American Water Spaniel, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and the English Cocker Spaniel.

• American Water Spaniel: The American Water Spaniel originally came from Wisconsin and Minnesota as a dog breed that could fetch waterfowl during hunting season.
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: This dog breed has been associated with nobility in Europe for at least 600 years.
• English Cocker Spaniel: As part of the sporting group of breeds, this variation was originally bred to hunt woodcock.

Famous

Cocker Spaniels have a beautiful, regal, and friendly temperament that makes them ideal for movies and for the celebrities in them. Some of the most famous Cocker Spaniels in history include:

• President Nixon and his family had a cocker spaniel named Checkers that lived to be 13 years old.
• George Clooney adopted a Cocker Spaniel named Einstein from a shelter when he was five years old, which led the actor and his wife to adopt more animals from shelters.
• Elton John’s dog Arthur has made multiple appearances with the musician on the red carpet.
• Perhaps the most famous cocker spaniel of all time isn’t actually real. Lady from the Disney movie “Lady and the Tramp” is one as well!