Cocker Spaniel Insurance

Cocker Spaniel dog breed

Find out what makes a Cocker Spaniel puppy or dog so loveable, from their good-natured temperament to their happy personality.

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Cocker Spaniel dog breed information and advice

If you’re thinking of welcoming a Cocker Spaniel puppy or dog into your family, this guide will help you decide if the breed is right for you.

From understanding the Cocker Spaniel temperament and lifespan, to exercise, feeding and grooming requirements, the more you know about this loveable pup, the better home you’ll give it.

Cocker Spaniels are also known as the English Cocker Spaniel. There are two strains of English Cocker Spaniel, the Show Cocker, and the Working Cocker Spaniel.

The Show Cocker has a dome-shaped head and lower set ears, and is the strain most often seen in show rings. The Working Spaniel strain was bred for country pursuits and agility.

Spaniels are a popular breed, well known for being energetic and playful. They’re also very affectionate and make great family pets. They love fetching a ball or finding a hidden toy.

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Cocker Spaniel facts
Lifespan	12 – 15 years
How much	£600 – £2,500
Size	15 – 17 inches
Weight	13 – 14.5 kg
Colours	Black, black and white, blue roan, chocolate, gold and red
Grooming	Regular daily grooming is essential
Temperament	Friendly, gentle and loving
Exercise	Minimum of one hour daily exercise

If you’re considering getting a Cocker Spaniel puppy or dog, don’t forget about dog insurance. Everyone wants to give their precious pooch the best chance. Insurance for your Cocker Spaniel puppy or dog could be crucial if they have a health condition or need emergency treatment. Dog insurance can also assist with costs incurred by any medication, vet prescribed complementary treatment or surgery.

Cocker Spaniels may suffer from:

Generalised progressive retinal atrophy (GPRA or PRA)
Hereditary cataracts
Retinal dysplasia
Acral mutilation syndrome (AMS)

How to care for a Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniels make wonderful family pets. They have a merry and loving personality making them fun, eager to please and easy to love.

That lovely Cocker Spaniel temperament means that they need lots of attention and plenty of exercise. Here are some tips on keeping them happy and healthy:

Feeding and nutrition

If you choose a Cocker Spaniel puppy, try to feed it the same food it was given with its littermates. You can change the food if you need to, but this should be done over a few days to prevent an upset tummy. Puppies are usually fed three or four times a day, whereas adults are usually only fed once or twice a day.

Guidelines on how much you should feed your Cocker Spaniel can be found on their food packaging. But the amount you feed them will also depend on your dog’s size and the amount of exercise it gets each day. Cocker Spaniels are prone to gaining weight as they get older, so regular exercise is a must.

If you’re not sure how much to feed your Cocker Spaniel, speak to your vet who will be happy to help you work out a feeding plan.

Grooming

Most Cocker Spaniels have a medium-length, flat, silky coat with fluffy ears and legs. Keeping their coat looking good will require daily grooming – which can be a difficult task.

Asking a professional groomer to trim your dog’s coat to a manageable length is a good idea. It will make it much easier to keep your pet clean, tidy and knot-free. Their ears are renowned for getting matted up with grass seeds and burrs, so it’s really important to keep them trimmed and tidy.

‘Field’ Cocker Spaniels usually have a much shorter coat, which is a bit less labour intensive. However, they still have the trademark fluffy ears and legs so will still need grooming to keep knots at bay.

Exercise

Cocker Spaniels are bouncy balls of energy, and they love playing games and going for walkies. Regular exercise will help them burn off any excess exuberance and prevent them from getting up to mischief.

It can be difficult to know how much exercise a Cocker Spaniel needs a day as it changes when they get older.

Cocker Spaniel puppies will benefit from a few quick walks each day. As your dog gets older, you can reduce this to two walks but increase the duration. An older dog still needs regular exercise to help keep their joints mobile but avoid long walks as this can do more harm than good.

And don’t forget playtime, this is an essential part of their life. Whether you’re at home or out on a walk, playing together is a great way to have fun and to bond.

Training

Cocker Spaniels are very intelligent and eager to please. They’re fast learners which makes them easy to train whether they’re a puppy or an adult dog.

You’ll find Cocker Spaniel house training is usually a fairly easy process. And teaching them to sit, stay and fetch a ball will be fun for both of you.

Cocker Spaniel Temperament and behaviour

Cocker Spaniels are a friendly, loving breed, and make great pets. They’re well known for their gentle, affectionate and energetic personalities. You’ll have plenty of fun with them, as they love playtime. They’re great at fetch and find games and are very agile too.

This breed needs to be kept active and occupied. If your dog is left alone for long periods of time, they’re likely to become bored and get up to no good. This is when behavioural problems can crop up. Destructive behaviour and separation anxiety are common behavioural problems seen in Cocker Spaniels that don’t get enough mental and physical stimulation.

Cocker Spaniels are affectionate, love a cuddle and will always want to join in on family activities and outings.

So, is a Cocker Spaniel right for you?

Cocker Spaniels are full of fun and make loving family pets. They enjoy playing, learning new things and being kept active. Cocker Spaniels make great companions, so if you have the time – and energy – to spend with them, you’ll have many years of fun together.

Frequently asked questions

How long do Cocker Spaniels live?

Most small dog breeds live longer than large dogs. As a medium dog, the Cocker Spaniel lifespan is 12 to 15 years. You can help your dog reach their prime by providing them with the best love and care possible.

Are Cocker Spaniels high-maintenance?

Yes, regarding grooming, Cocker Spaniels are high maintenance. They are known to shed quite a lot of hair and require lots of grooming to prevent matting and to keep them comfortable.

Are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs?

Yes, Cocker Spaniels are considered great family dogs as they are fun, yet gentle and easy-going. They have big hearts and are not usually aggressive towards people or other animals.

Do Cocker Spaniels shed their hair?

Cocker Spaniels are known to shed quite a lot of hair and require lots of grooming. Grooming will keep them tidy and prevent matting which can be uncomfortable. Cocker Spaniels are not a hypoallergenic breed, their dander and saliva will probably cause a reaction in allergy sufferers. If you suffer from a dog allergy, this breed isn’t the right one for you.