Cocker Spaniel - PDSA

Cocker Spaniels are lively dogs who love to play. They're known for being 'happy' dogs because their tails are always wagging! Although originally bred as gun dogs, Cocker Spaniels have become popular family pets.

Cockers are very people-oriented dogs who love to have company with them all day. They’re very adaptable and suit city living just as well as countryside as long as they have somewhere safe and secure they can run about (and have lots of playtime with their owner, of course).

 

Common health problems in Cocker Spaniels

Cocker Spaniels can be great pets for the right owners no matter where you live and are known for being really sociable. Unfortunately, like so many other purebred dogs, they are at risk of certain problems and conditions relating to their breed.

If you are thinking of buying a Cocker Spaniel puppy, make sure the parents of your puppy have had the relevant health screening to reduce the chances of your puppy being affected by certain conditions. We’d recommend looking for a Kennel Club Assured Breeder as they meet extra requirements which will benefit your puppy’s health.

• Hip dysplasia – where the hip joint doesn’t fit together perfectly, which will eventually lead to arthritis. Before breeding, dogs should be screened by x-rays through the BVA/Kennel Club Hip Dysplasia Scheme.
• Atopy – allergies causing itchy skin and ear infections.
• Ear problems.
• Eye problems, including inherited conditions which there is BVA/KC testing for.
• Some auto-immune conditions.
• Inherited conditions, including familial nephropathy, adult onset neuropathy and acral mutilation syndrome. There is CombiBreed health testing available for these conditions.

If you want to minimise the risk of your dog getting problems due to exaggerated features, you can read our advice on choosing a pedigree dog.

 

Caring for your Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniels are lively dogs and suit fairly active families with plenty of time for playing. They’re clever dogs who love to please and so can be easy to train in the right hands. They’re known for being friendly if properly socialised with other dogs and people. Cocker Spaniels are a popular choice of breed for first time owners because of their gentle natures.

Like most dogs, your Cocker will prefer to have company all the time. Without the right amount of stimulation and company, your Cocker Spaniel will likely try to entertain themselves – which might involve some of your furniture and belongings falling victim to nibbling and chewing.

Cocker Spaniels and barking

As with any dog, your Cocker Spaniel is likely to vocalise and how much noise they make is down to each dog’s individual personality. This said, if your Cocker doesn’t have enough to do and they start to feel bored, they are more likely to bark to let you know. As they prefer to be around people, you may find your Cocker Spaniel barks while you aren’t home (or at least, your neighbours will let you know!). If you’re having problems with excessive noise or barking, we recommend seeking the advice of an accredited behaviourist.

Training and socialisation

Cocker Spaniels were originally bred as gun dogs, so they’re particularly good at retrieving. They’re intelligent dogs with a real willingness to learn, so starting positive, reward-based training from an early age will be of benefit to you and them! Remember they pick up bad habits just as quickly as good, so training needs to be consistent throughout their life. If you’re a first time owner or don’t have much experience of the breed, you may want to go to training classes with your dog. You can find your nearest online.

Socialising your Cocker Spaniel from a young age with a variety of people, dogs and experiences will help them develop into a confident and happy adult. They are a sociable breed by nature so you might find they like to say hello to everyone and anyone out and about.

Cocker Spaniels are known for suffering with separation anxiety, so it’s best to have someone with them during the day. It’s important that your Cocker is never left alone for more than four hours, but even this may be too much for your dog to handle. You’ll need to teach them that it’s OK to be alone for very short periods from a young age.

Exercise