The English Cocker Spaniel

​Origin:
One of the oldest spaniels known, the English Cocker Spaniel was originally known as the general spaniel and the only one recorded as being imported into England many centuries ago. They were then separated into 7 different individual spaniel breeds. These were;
- English Springer
- Cocker Spaniel
- Clumber Spaniel
- Sussex Spaniel
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Field Spaniel
- Irish Water Spaniel
All of which are still well-known and kept breeds todays. It was not until 1946 that the Cocker Spaniel was first recognised as two separate breeds, being the American and English Cocker Spaniel.
Their name comes from the bird the Woodcock, a bird that the breed was fantastic at flushing out, leading them to be named the ‘Cocker’ Spaniel.

Purpose:
The Cocker Spaniel was breed for a working dog. They were used as hunting gun dogs and were able to travel easily through wet and dry land and harsh environments. Their key talent is to flush out and retrieve game very gently and without damage. Along with hunting and retrieving, the Cocker is also great at agility and obedience work as well as making a brave watchdog.

Coat care:
The Cocker Spaniel can be kept in full coat, breed cut or trimmed all over.
When kept in full or breed coat, they will require daily brushing, sometimes twice daily, to avoid matting especially around their pants and underbelly. Being low to the ground they can pick up burrs and twigs very easily. They can also matt very easily on their feet and between their toes so special focus should be made on these areas too.
Their long ears can also pick up grass seeds easily so should be checked after being out in any areas of long grass. They can also hold a lot of moisture so should also be checked often for signs of infection.
They should be bathed only as needed.

Health & Temperament:
Don’t let their small side fool you, the Cocker Spaniel is a strong, sturdy and very smart little dog. Being bred as a working dog, they love to run and play and need a decent daily walk at a minimum. They can be very gentle with their family and love to play, making them great with children. When well socialised from a young age, they make for a very confident dog who enjoys being around other people, dogs and cats. They thrive on plenty of physical and mental stimulation as well as having rules and boundaries in place, to avoid any dominance issues.
They are a breed who can gain weight easily, so diet and exercise need to be well managed. They are often prone to ear infections so any Cocker owner needs to be confident in checking ears regularly and knowing the signs of an infection beginning. The breed has no serious hereditary issues and on average they live for 12 – 15 years.