SportingEngland

English Cocker Spaniel

Bred for woodcock, built for joy.

Weight: 26–34 lbs
Height: 15–17 in
Lifespan: 12–14 yrs

In short

The English Cocker Spaniel is a medium sporting dog from England, 26–34 lbs and 15–17 in, living 12–14 years. Merry, eager to please and upbeat in the field yet mellow at home, it needs 30–60 minutes of daily exercise, regular brushing for its feathered coat, and CHIC health screenings for hips, patellas, thyroid and prcd-PRA.

Is it right for you?

A great match if you…

you want a merry, eager-to-please dog that is upbeat outdoors and mellow indoors
you can give 30–60 minutes of exercise plus training most days
you do not mind regular brushing and weekly ear checks

Think twice if you…

you want a low-energy dog or a wash-and-go coat
the dog would be alone all day, every day
you want a guard dog — this one greets strangers happily

The daily plan

Exercise: 30–60 min
Training: 2–3 × 5–10 min
Treat limit: 65–75 kcal

At a glance

TrainabilityQuick study8.5/10

EnergyActive7.5/10

Calm at homeCalm indoors8.0/10

SheddingSheds seasonally6.5/10

What sets it apart

01
Long, low-set feathered ears
Long, low-set ears hang close to the cheeks and need weekly checking and cleaning; ear infections are common in the breed.
02
Gently rounded head, long muzzle
A softly rounded skull with a long, strong muzzle — the English Cocker’s distinguishing feature versus its smaller American cousin.
03
Silky feathered coat
A silky, flat-lying coat with feathering on the ears, chest, legs and belly; it needs regular brushing to stay mat-free.

Size & coat

Specification	Male	Female
Weight	28–34 lbs	26–32 lbs
Height	16–17 in	15–16 in
Daily calories	660–980 kcal	625–935 kcal
Lifespan	12–14 yrs
Coat	Silky, flat or slightly wavy, medium length

Side profile 15–17 in at the shoulder

Back in stock soon

Personality

The merry cocker: upbeat in the field, mellow at home, and eager to please. Cheerful and gentle with considerate children, generally good with other dogs, friendly with strangers, and happiest with human company rather than long days alone.

With children

Cheerful and gentle with considerate children; as with any dog, supervise play and teach children not to pull its long ears.

With other pets

Generally good with other dogs. As a bird dog it may chase birds and small animals on instinct, so introduce cats carefully.

With strangers

Friendly and welcoming rather than watchful; do not expect guard-dog behaviour.

Alone time

Thrives on human company; a full workday alone every day is a poor fit. Build alone time gradually from puppyhood.

Training

How often

2–3 sessions daily, 5–10 minutes each.
Socialize early (8–16 weeks)

Socialize between 8–16 weeks with strangers, children, other dogs, traffic sounds and new surfaces.
Self-control

Teach a reliable recall on a long line before trusting it off leash, since a bird-chasing instinct can override training; reward checking in on walks.
What it works for

Use small, high-value food pieces in short, cheerful sessions; this breed is sensitive, so keep corrections light and count every piece against the daily treat budget.

Exercise

Exercise a day 30–60 min

CouchModerateAthlete

Good outlets

Two daily walks totaling 30–60 minutes
Fetch and retrieve games
Scent games and spaniel field work

Brain work

Retrieval and recall training
Nose work and scent games
Food puzzles and scatter feeding

Watch for A strong bird-chasing instinct can override recall, so train recall on a long line and keep it leashed outside fenced areas. Check and dry the long ears after water play.

Feeding

A busy sporting dog that gains weight easily when under-exercised; VetCompass found obesity in nearly 1 in 10 English Cockers. Feed measured meals, never free-feed, and keep treats to 10% of daily calories.

Puppy (4–12 Mos)

Daily calories: 530–990 kcal
Protein: 28%
Fat: 18%
Treat limit, all treats: 55–100 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 3–5 pieces a day

Adult Maintenance

Daily calories: 625–765 kcal
Protein: 26%
Fat: 15%
Treat limit, all treats: 65–75 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 3–4 pieces a day

Active / Working

Daily calories: 800–980 kcal
Protein: 30%
Fat: 20%
Treat limit, all treats: 80–100 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 4–5 pieces a day

Senior (8+ Yrs)

Daily calories: 535–655 kcal
Protein: 28%
Fat: 12%
Treat limit, all treats: 55–65 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: about 3 pieces a day

Compare every life stage

Life stage	Daily calories	Protein	Fat	Treat limit (all treats)	Saylor's liver, suggested / day
Puppy (4–12 Mos)	530–990 kcal	28%	18%	55–100 kcal	3–5 pieces
Adult Maintenance	625–765 kcal	26%	15%	65–75 kcal	3–4 pieces
Active / Working	800–980 kcal	30%	20%	80–100 kcal	4–5 pieces
Senior (8+ Yrs)	535–655 kcal	28%	12%	55–65 kcal	about 3 pieces

The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.

Health & grooming

Watch for	Ask the breeder or vet for	When
Hip dysplasia	Hip Dysplasia — OFA Radiographic Hip Evaluation	Once
Progressive retinal atrophy	Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test	Once
Patellar luxation	Patellar Luxation — Veterinary Evaluation	Once
Autoimmune thyroiditis	Autoimmune thyroiditis evaluation (required for CHIC since Sep 2025)	As advised by a vet
Health elective	Health Elective — 2 of: FN DNA, BAER hearing, CAER/ACVO eye exam, AON DNA, EIC DNA, AMS DNA	As advised by a vet
Obesity	Weight and body-condition scoring	Every vet visit
Dental disease	Dental exam	Yearly
Ear infections	Ear checks and cleaning	Weekly

Official health tests for breeding dogs

The OFA's CHIC program asks English Cocker Spaniel breeders to test for these. Ask to see the results before you buy a puppy.

Hip Dysplasia
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
Patellar Luxation
Autoimmune thyroiditis
Health Elective (2 of the following)

Also recommended

Familial Nephropathy (FN) DNA test
B.A.E.R. hearing test
OFA CAER/ACVO Eye Exam
Adult Onset Neuropathy DNA test
Exercise-Induced Collapse DNA test
Acral Mutilation Syndrome DNA test

See the full list on OFA.org

Grooming Moderate year-round shedding

Brush 2–3 times weekly, bathe as needed, check and clean the long feathered ears weekly, and trim nails every 3–4 weeks.

History

Origins

England’s woodcock spaniel

Spaniels trace their roots to Spain and were developed in England. By 1803 the Sportsman’s Cabinet distinguished smaller ‘Cockers’, named for woodcock hunting, from larger springing spaniels.
Standardization

A breed of its own

The first Cocker was registered with the Kennel Club (England) in 1873, and Ch. Obo, whelped in 1879, is credited as founder of the Cocker family. The English Cocker Spaniel Club of America was founded in 1936, and the AKC recognized the English Cocker as a separate breed in 1946.
Modern Companion

The merry family dog

Today it is the AKC’s 35th most popular breed by 2025 registrations — a merry family companion and active sporting dog. A 2024 VetCompass study of 10,313 English Cockers found a median age at death of 11.44 years.

Questions owners ask

Are English Cocker Spaniels easy to train?

Yes, for a committed owner. English Cocker Spaniels are biddable and eager to please, so they learn fast in short, cheerful, reward-based sessions of 5–10 minutes. They are sensitive to tone, so keep corrections light.

How many calories does an English Cocker Spaniel need per day?

An adult English Cocker Spaniel (26–34 lbs) typically needs about 625–980 kcal per day across adult maintenance to active work: about 625–765 kcal for maintenance and up to 800–980 kcal when active. Adjust to body condition and your vet’s advice.

What is the best diet and training treat for an English Cocker Spaniel?

Small, fast-eaten, high-value pieces. Keep every treat inside the 10% limit: about 65–75 kcal a day in total for an adult English Cocker Spaniel of typical size. If you use Saylor's freeze-dried liver, keep it to a small share of that, roughly 3–4 pieces a day: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should stay a topper, not a staple. Adjust for your own dog's size and body condition, and ask your vet if there is a health condition or special diet.

Are English Cocker Spaniels good for apartments or first-time owners?

Possible, with commitment. English Cocker Spaniels are mellow indoors and can suit an apartment with 30–60 minutes of daily exercise, and their eagerness to please makes them a reasonable first dog — provided the owner commits to training, exercise and regular brushing.

How much exercise does an English Cocker Spaniel require daily?

Most adults need 30–60 minutes daily, split across two walks plus retrieve or scent games. Train recall on a long line, since a bird-chasing instinct can override training, and keep it leashed outside fenced areas.

What health issues are English Cocker Spaniels prone to?

English Cocker Spaniels are prone to familial nephropathy, progressive retinal atrophy, adult onset neuropathy, hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, ear infections and obesity. Ask for the CHIC tests: hip and patellar evaluations, the prcd-PRA DNA test, autoimmune thyroiditis evaluation, and a health elective (2 of FN, BAER, eye exam, AON, EIC, AMS).

Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats

Back in stock soon

We're restocking. When it's back, a English Cocker Spaniel needs only 3–4 pieces a day, well inside the 65–75 kcal treat limit.

See the product

Where the English Cocker Spaniel ranks

Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.