English Cocker Spaniel: temperament, size, care and health

About the English Cocker Spaniel

The English Cocker Spaniel is a compact, athletic dog with a refined head, long wavy ears and a tail that is in near constant motion. It is a size larger than the American Cocker, with a longer muzzle, a flatter skull and a lighter coat. Colors include solid black, red, liver and golden, parti-colors such as blue roan, orange roan and liver roan, and tricolors.

The breed was developed to work in dense cover, flushing woodcock and other game and retrieving them to hand. English Cockers still compete in field trials, and plenty live as pets. They are chosen for their size, cheerful energy and willingness to join in with whatever the family is doing.

Temperament and family life

English Cockers are bright, affectionate and tuned to people. Many are happy to play for hours and then settle on a lap. They are generally friendly with children old enough to be gentle, and they accept other dogs and pets readily. The breed is alert and will bark to announce a visitor, but it is not a guard dog.

Some English Cockers are sensitive or excitable, and a few lines have shown unpredictable aggression, so a reputable breeder and early socialization matter. A dog that is left alone for long spells can become anxious. A wagging tail and a wriggling body are a fair guide to the breed's usual mood.

Exercise and training

An English Cocker needs a good hour of exercise most days, including time off leash in a safe area where it can run and sniff. Retrieving, tracking and swimming are natural pleasures. Working lines have more drive than show lines and need more activity.

Training goes best with reward and short, varied sessions. The breed is quick to learn and sensitive to tone, so scolding gains little. Common problems are barking at triggers, jumping up and following scents out of reach of the owner, so teach a recall and use a fenced yard. They compete well in obedience, rally, agility and scent work.

Grooming and shedding

The coat needs regular brushing and combing, at least a few times a week, to keep the feathering on the ears, legs, chest and belly from matting. Many pet owners have the body trimmed short every couple of months, while show dogs are hand-stripped and groomed to an exacting pattern.

The long ears trap moisture, so check and clean them every week and dry them after baths and swims. Hair that grows between the pads should be trimmed to avoid collecting burrs. Shedding is moderate, and field dogs often bring in seeds, mud and twigs.

Health

Ear infections are common. Inherited eye diseases include progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts and glaucoma. Familial nephropathy, a kidney disease that occurs in the breed, has a DNA test. Hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, autoimmune conditions and heart disease are also reported. Responsible breeders test hips, eyes and known DNA conditions and will share results. Keep body weight in check to protect joints. For anything about a specific dog, a veterinarian is the one to ask; this section is only a general guide.

History

The English Cocker descends from the old British land spaniels, which were once divided mainly by size and by task. The woodcock hunters were called cockers. English breeders separated the cocker and the springer more formally in the late 1800s, and the Kennel Club in Britain began registering them as distinct breeds in the 1890s. The American Kennel Club began registering English Cockers separately from American Cockers in 1946.

Is the English Cocker Spaniel right for you?

This breed fits an active household that wants a mid-sized, affectionate dog and will brush, trim and exercise it regularly. It does well with children, can manage in a small home if walked well and enjoys working tasks.

It is less suited to a family with no time for daily exercise or grooming, or one that wants a quiet, low-key pet. The Cocker Spaniel is smaller with a heavier coat, while the English Springer Spaniel is taller and stronger. The Field Spaniel is rarer and a little calmer.