English Cocker Spaniel: temperament, training and care

At a glance

Temperament

• Merry and affectionate
• Keen nose, loves to retrieve
• Sensitive to harsh words

Training tips

Use scent games: a Cocker's nose tires them out faster than walking.

English Cocker Spaniels usually pick things up quickly, which also means they learn bad habits quickly. Keep sessions short and varied, and reward the calm behavior you want to see more of.

Start with a marker word, sit, come and leave it. For a puppy, see the puppy training guides.

Exercise and energy

A healthy adult English Cocker Spaniel typically needs around 60 to 90 minutes of activity a day. Walks alone rarely cover it: add sniffing games, training and play so their brain gets tired too. Puppies need much shorter sessions while they grow.

See how much exercise a dog needs and our games and enrichment ideas.

Health to watch

Things the breed is known to be prone to. Ask your vet what to check for your dog.

• Ears. Floppy ears trap moisture: check and clean them weekly, and dry them after swims.
• Eyes. Prominent or sensitive eyes: see the vet the same day for squinting or a cloudy eye. See: Eye Injuries.
• Weight. Gains weight easily: measure meals and count the treats.