Cocker Spaniel
Puppy
Fully Grown
The Cocker Spaniel's trademarks are those enormous ears that are almost guaranteed to fall into their water bowl. Did you know that you can even buy special bowls to ensure their ears stay dry when drinking?
Cocker Spaniels are affectionate, loyal and energetic dogs. They are great with children, the elderly and other pets, as long as they are socialised and trained from an early age.
They make fantastic family dogs, as they love to play and burn energy that way. To keep them out of trouble, make sure they get plenty of exercise and mental stimulation through some agility, K9 Nose work or other dog sport.
Cocker Spaniels have an excellent sense of smell. You could hold their nose and they would still be able to smell something far, far away that they want to run to and investigate. For this reason they are often used for drug detection services. If you're planning on getting one we suggest you invest in a good a lead and teach them to come back to you!
| Weight: | 13-15 kg |
| Health risk: | Medium |
| Life expectancy: | 12-15 years |
| Coat: | Medium |
| Grooming intensity: | High |
| Monthly cost (food): | Average |
| Trainability: | High |
| Activity level: | High |
There are many sources to get your Cocker Spaniel from. Considering the number of homeless dogs without a future, we strongly encourage you to consider rescuing a dog. Your local shelter or rescue organisation can be a helpful place to start, or try contacting your local or national breed club or a reputable breeder and asking if they have pets available for rehoming. Many rescue organisations have active Facebook pages, which can also be a good place to enquire.
Here are some links that could be useful for finding a Cocker Spaniel to adopt:
To help your rescued Cocker Spaniel to settle into your home, our Rescue Dog Guide gives you tips and advice on bringing your rescue dog home.
If you decide you’d prefer to get your Cocker Spaniel from a breeder, the following guides will help you to find a responsible breeder:
The following organisations will be able to help you find breeders in your state in Australia. They will also be able to connect you with your local breed clubs, which are always a great source of information in regards to finding good breeders and rescue organisations.
