Cocker spaniels are one of the most popular pedigree dogs in the UK, ranking second in our list, only pipped to the top spot by the Labrador retriever. Cocker spaniels generally belong to either one of two distinct breeds, the American cocker spaniel or the English cocker spaniel. For this article, being UK based, we are going to focus on the English cocker spaniel. 

So what is a Cocker spaniel? 

The Cocker spaniel was first officially bred in the UK in the late 1800s, and recognised by The Royal Kennel Club in 1892. Prior to this, spaniels were popular in the UK, but the differing breeds were separated mostly by size when born, rather than distinct breed lines. It is believed that the ancestors of the modern English cocker spaniel, and other spaniel breed lines originated in Spain in the 1300s and were subsequently brought to the UK as hunting dogs used in game hunting. The name ‘cocker’ was reputedly established as this breed was known for being good at flushing out Eurasian woodcocks on game drives.  

 
Why are Cocker spaniels so popular? 

Cocker spaniels are very popular pets in the UK. With the American cocker spaniel having been popularised by Disney in the iconic film Lady and the Tramp, both breeds are well known and highly recognisable. Their friendly personality makes them ideal as family pets and their small to medium size means they fit well in most homes without needing excessive additional space. 

 
Are Cocker spaniels easily trained? 

Cocker spaniels are highly intelligent and are known for being eager to please and easily trainable with the right techniques. They were originally bred as gun dogs, and participated in game hunting and flushing, so they have a natural instinct to retrieve. They benefit from positive, reward-based training, and ideally this should be started at an early age and done consistently.  

Being intelligent dogs, they are just as capable at picking up bad habits as well as good habits, so it’s important to be consistent and firm in your boundaries to ensure they develop the right behaviours. They benefit from being socialised from a young age to get them used to playing well with other dogs. Typically, they are known as being a sociable breed, so they will often want to interact with all the dogs they meet! 

 
Are Cocker spaniels good with children? 

Cocker spaniels are generally considered to get along well with children, as they have friendly tolerant natures, and as a result are popular family pets in the UK. Despite this, any dog, good natured or otherwise should always be supervised around children as dogs can be unpredictable, especially if scared or surprised, and children, especially young children, do not know how to read or react to a dog that is behaving abnormally. As a result, this can result in accidents and harm if not supervised correctly.  

 
Are Cocker spaniels prone to any particular health issues? 

Cocker spaniels like many pedigree dogs can be prone to health issues which are linked to the breed genetics, meaning there are some conditions which are known to occur more frequently in them. These include: 

 
Atopy 

Allergies which result in skin conditions including itchy skin and ear infections. 

Eye conditions  

Inherited conditions which result in changes in structures in the eye such as the retina, which can result in vision changes or loss, they can also get conditions which affect the lens such as cataracts, and the ability of the eye to produce tears (dry eye), among other things.  

Autoimmune conditions  

A range of conditions where the immune system attacks the body. 

Hip dysplasia  

Where the hip joint doesn’t form correctly and results in osteoarthritis. This is moderately common in Cocker spaniels, but not as common in this species as larger breeds of pedigree dogs. 

Other inherited conditions  

Including familiar nephropathy (an inherited kidney disorder), adult-onset neuropathy (a neurological condition resulting in changes to the peripheral and central nervous systems) and acral mutilation syndrome (a disorder resulting in loss of pain sensation when licking or chewing paws/toes which can result in severe wounds and self mutilation). 

 
It is important to note that for many of the conditions above some form of pre-breeding testing is available, including genetic testing of the parents for many inherited conditions including some eye conditions, and hip scoring of the parents to assess their likelihood of hip dysplasia.  

If you are buying a puppy from a breeder, it’s important to discuss any concerns you have regarding health conditions and see any test results they have for parents and grandparents of the litter you are looking at, and discuss this with your veterinary team as well to get a rounded view of the risk level. No test is a certainty that an animal will or won’t develop a condition, but they can provide a useful guide as to the likelihood and risk level.  

 
Do Cocker spaniels require grooming? 

Yes, Cocker spaniels are very high maintenance in this department! They have high grooming needs, requiring a daily brush after walks to remove dead hair and regular appointments with the groomers, at least every 3-months for clipping to keep their coat in good condition. As well as being a time constraint, grooming is an additional financial cost to consider when planning for taking on a dog, so should be added to the monthly dog budget alongside food, vet bills and insurance for this breed as it is needed regularly.  

Do Cocker spaniels suffer from separation anxiety? 

Cocker spaniels are known to suffer from separation anxiety, and ideally should have someone with them during the day. The PDSA suggests they should not be left alone for more than four hours, but for some individuals even this can be too long. It’s important to consider this before thinking about taking on a Cocker spaniel, as they will not cope well with being left for extended periods of time, especially on a regular basis, so if your routine requires this, they are unlikely to be a suitable choice of pet.  


Do Cocker spaniels need regular walks? 

Yes, Cocker spaniels require regular exercise to keep them fit and healthy. Originally bred as gun dogs, a type of working dog, they require regular, consistent exercise so it’s important this is built into their daily routine. Cocker spaniels will require different levels of activity depending on their age, life stage and any underlying health conditions, so it’s important to talk to your veterinary surgeon about your pet’s exercise to establish if it’s appropriate for them or if any adjustments are needed to make it more in line with their health needs.  

Do Cocker spaniels need a specific diet? 

Cocker spaniels need a balanced nutritionally complete diet to keep them fit and healthy. If fed the incorrect diet, or inappropriate amounts they can become overweight which can cause significant health issues, so it’s important to read the recommended amount for your dog’s size on the food packet and ensure they are not overfed. In most cases, a high-quality commercial pet food will be suitable for your Cocker spaniel, but it’s important to discuss their diet with your veterinary surgeon as they may suggest alternative options depending on any underlying health conditions they have.  

It’s also important to ensure your dog is fed the correct food for its life stage, this is usually clearly marked on commercial pet food with ‘puppy’, ‘junior’, ‘senior’ labels for example. These foods are nutritionally complete for that life stage but not appropriate in other life stages, for example a puppy would not get all the nutrition they require from a senior pet food.  

 
You can read the full breed profile on the Cocker Spaniel here on the Royal Kennel Clubs website. 

Summary: 

  • Cocker spaniels are small to medium sized dogs which are popular pets in the UK.  
  • There are two types of cocker spaniels, English and American, but this article focusses on English cocker spaniels  
  • They were historically bred as working gun dogs, known for their skill at flushing out woodcock on game drives  
  • They are popular family pets and highly trainable but do have high grooming needs 
  • Like all dogs they require a balanced nutritionally complete diet with regular exercise to keep them fit and healthy  
  • They can be prone to a number of health conditions so it’s important to discuss their history with your veterinary surgeon, and discuss genetic testing with breeders if you are purchasing a puppy from a breeder