Cocker Spaniels are great with young children
As friendly, affectionate, and sensitive dogs, Cocker Spaniel are ideal for homes with young children. When training them, it’s important to bear their sensitive nature in mind, as harsh responses can lead to reversed progress. These dogs are generally healthy, but can gain weight rapidly when overfed.
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Cocker Spaniel stats
- Life span: 12 to 15 years
- Colour: Black, liver, or red
- Size: Medium
- Training: Gentle consistent training needed
- Coat: Long hair, sometimes prone to matting, needs brushing after outdoor play
- Shedding: Average shedder
- Exercise requirements: Medium
Choosing the right Cocker Spaniel pup and exercising them
Both Cocker Spaniel dogs and bitches have a sweet and friendly temperament, making them ideal for use as a young family pet. However, some owners of both report that bitches are easier to exercise. Before you buy your pup, you may want to ask for a KC/BVA eye certificate, as some breeders test for hereditary diseases.
Until around the age of six months, the exercise your Cocker Spaniel gets from playing with you will be sufficient. From six months to about 18 months, 20 to 30 minutes free time in the yard or a park will work. After 18 months, one brisk walk daily is required, but Cocker Spaniel can take quite a lot of exercise beyond this.
What type of households do Cocker Spaniel suit?
Although they are quite vivacious, Cocker Spaniel can thrive in apartments. However, you do need to make sure they get their free time in a park as a pup, plus their walks when they reach adult age.
Cocker Spaniel are quite sociable and are very soft by nature. As such, they thrive in households with children. As Cocker Spaniel are very affectionate, they require early socialization. This also means they’ll thrive in a loving household where they’re likely to get lots of attention.
Where to buy your Cocker Spaniel
As hereditary eye diseases are common amongst incorrectly bred Cocker Spaniel, visiting a reputable breeder in your local area is advised. By doing this, there’s a higher chance you can access a KC/BVA certificate. In addition, some breeders DNA test for other hereditary conditions. (Breeders – please contact us to list your website here!)
Cocker Spaniel health demographics and disease profiles
Cocker Spaniel range from around 36 to 43cm in size. Fortunately, they are relatively well protected from problematic health conditions. However, because of the way their ears hang close to the ground, they are prone to ear infections. This is especially the case during the summer, which means checking for signs of infection regularly is necessary. As Cocker Spaniel tend to gain weight easily, and are particularly bad at keeping their food intake in check, owners should make sure not to overfeed. Ticks and burrs can become a problem, and if left alone may lead to deafness. As already mentioned, hereditary eye conditions are sometimes an issue, but the chances of one arising can be significantly reduced by using a good breeder.
Training
When it comes to Cocker Spaniel training, positive encouragement is the key to success. As sensitive dogs, they can become insular when their owner responds to them harshly, making training efforts a waste of time. One example is, it’s better to reward a Cocker Spaniel for going to the toilet outside than to criticize them for going inside. With positive reinforcement, it’s possible to turn your dog into a responsive learner. Begin training from the point you bring your pup home.
If you’re looking for an affectionate dog that’ll thrive around your children, a Cocker Spaniel is for you.
