Cocker Spaniel

What is a Cocker Spaniel?

A small gundog of 12-16kg bred to flush and retrieve game birds from cover - the name comes from woodcock. Two distinct populations exist in the UK: the show (English) cocker, heavier-coated and squarer, and the working cocker, lighter, faster and considerably more driven. They share a studbook but not, in practice, a lifestyle.

History and origins

Land spaniels were split by size in the nineteenth century; the smallest became cockers. The Kennel Club recognised the breed separately in 1893. The show/working divergence began in earnest after the Second World War and is now wide enough that experienced owners treat them as different breeds when choosing.

Appearance and size

38-41cm at the shoulder. Long, low-set feathered ears, a compact body and an unstoppable tail. Colours are extensive: solid black, liver, golden and red; particolours including blue roan, orange roan, liver roan, lemon roan and blue roan and tan; and tricolours. Blue roan is the classic show colour; working lines run heavily to liver and black and white.

Temperament and personality

Sociable, biddable and emotionally attentive. They read the household mood and respond to it. Show lines are softer and more inclined to settle; working lines are switched on from the moment they wake. Both want to be with you.

Intelligence and trainability

Very trainable, and they need it. Scentwork suits them exactly - a cocker given a search task will work happily for half an hour and sleep afterwards. Recall needs proper investment: a spaniel on a scent is genuinely not listening, and this is a trained skill rather than a character flaw.

Children and other pets

Excellent with children and generally sociable with dogs. Their prey drive is moderate to high, so rabbits, birds and small furries need to be housed securely rather than trusted.

Health problems

Ask for DNA clears on prcd-PRA (blindness), Familial Nephropathy (fatal kidney disease in young dogs) and, in working lines, AMS. Add a current eye certificate and hip scores.

The everyday issue is ears: long, hairy, poorly ventilated and frequently wet. Check weekly, dry after swimming, and see a vet at the first head-shake rather than the third. Also watch for mitral valve disease in older dogs, and in solid-coloured cockers a small incidence of resource-guarding often called "rage syndrome", which is manageable but should be discussed with the breeder honestly.

Daily care routine

An hour and a half of exercise for a working-bred adult, an hour for a show-bred one, plus a scent or training game. Ears checked and dried. Feathering combed through after muddy walks.

Grooming and coat care

Brush three times a week, more in the feathering. Professional grooming every 8-10 weeks - hand-stripping for show coats, clipping for pets, though clipping a show coat permanently changes its texture. Keep the hair under the ear flap and between the pads trimmed.

Exercise needs

Working lines: 1.5-2 hours plus mental work. Show lines: an hour. Both benefit far more from varied, sniffy walks than from repetitive ball throwing, which builds obsession in this breed faster than most.

Feeding and diet

Two meals, £30-£45 a month. They are prone to putting on weight in middle age, and the coat hides it well - use your hands, not your eyes.

Price

£900-£1,600 from health-tested KC-registered parents; proven working lines from field-trial stock can exceed that. Setup £300-£500; ongoing £80-£140 a month including grooming.

Buying advice

Decide show or working first, and be honest. Ask what the parents do all day. Get the DNA certificates with the registered names on them, see the mother with the litter, and if the litter is working-bred, ask to see the dam work - a breeder who works their dogs will be pleased to show you.