Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are English Cocker Spaniels Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are English Cocker Spaniels Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are English Cocker Spaniels Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are English Cocker Spaniels Afraid of Strangers?
- Are English Cocker Spaniels Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do English Cocker Spaniels Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do English Cocker Spaniels Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are English Cocker Spaniels Easy to Train?
- Do English Cocker Spaniels Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do English Cocker Spaniels Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do English Cocker Spaniels have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are English Cocker Spaniels Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are English Cocker Spaniels Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are English Cocker Spaniels Playful? What is the Energy Level of English Cocker Spaniels
- Conclusion on English Cocker Spaniel Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the English Cocker Spaniel
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the English Cocker Spaniel out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the English Cocker Spaniel based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the English Cocker Spaniel breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of English Cocker Spaniel by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the English Cocker Spaniel.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the English Cocker Spaniel for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the English Cocker Spaniel.
The summary table below shows the score of the English Cocker Spaniel for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 82.2 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 57.4 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 56.3 percent |
| Prey Drive | 54.3 percent |
| Energy Level | 53.6 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 49.2 percent |
| Excitability | 45.2 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 42.1 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 37.4 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 36.5 percent |
| Stubbornness | 31.4 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 26.4 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 26.0 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 25.4 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your English Cocker Spaniel`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your English Cocker Spaniel, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your English Cocker Spaniel.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are English Cocker Spaniels Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
English Cocker Spaniels are a little bit aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks low for aggression towards strangers.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 89 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 25.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit aggressive towards strangers just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 86 | Ibizan Hound | 25.9 % |
| 87 | Irish Water Spaniel | 25.6 % |
| 88 | Boston Terrier | 25.5 % |
| 89 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 25.4 % |
| 90 | Pug | 23.7 % |
| 91 | Shih Tzu | 23.6 % |
| 92 | Tibetan Terrier | 23.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are English Cocker Spaniels Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
English Cocker Spaniels are quite a bit aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks high for aggression towards its owner.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 35 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has an owner-directed-aggression score of 26.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit owner-aggressive just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 27.5 % |
| 33 | Miniature Pinscher | 27.4 % |
| 34 | Poodle (Miniature) | 26.5 % |
| 35 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 26.4 % |
| 36 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 25.7 % |
| 37 | Chow Chow | 24.3 % |
| 38 | Afghan Hound | 24.1 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are English Cocker Spaniels Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
English Cocker Spaniels are a little bit aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks low for aggression towards other dogs.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 82 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has a dog-directed aggression score of 36.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit dog-aggressive just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | Rottweiler | 36.9 % |
| 80 | Redbone Coonhound | 36.8 % |
| 81 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 36.7 % |
| 82 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 36.5 % |
| 83 | Borzoi | 36.4 % |
| 84 | Poodle (Standard) | 35.7 % |
| 85 | Weimaraner | 35.2 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are English Cocker Spaniels Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
English Cocker Spaniels are quite a bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks high for fear of strangers.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 27 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has a stranger-directed-fear score of 42.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit stranger-fearful just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Pekingese | 42.7 % |
| 25 | Alaskan Husky | 42.6 % |
| 26 | Mastiff (English) | 42.1 % |
| 27 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 42.1 % |
| 28 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 41.9 % |
| 29 | Papillon | 40.9 % |
| 30 | Bichon Frise | 40.7 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are English Cocker Spaniels Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
English Cocker Spaniels are quite a bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks high for fear of other dogs.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 34 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has a dog-directed-fear score of 49.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit other-dog-fearful just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Miniature Schnauzer | 51.2 % |
| 32 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 49.6 % |
| 33 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 49.5 % |
| 34 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 49.2 % |
| 35 | Dalmatian | 48.8 % |
| 36 | Pomeranian | 48.8 % |
| 37 | Bearded Collie | 48.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do English Cocker Spaniels Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
English Cocker Spaniels are somewhat fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks average for non-social fear.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 72 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has a nonsocial-fear score of 26.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat nonsocial-fearful just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 69 | Great Dane | 28.4 % |
| 70 | Bulldog | 27.2 % |
| 71 | Belgian Tervuren | 26.1 % |
| 72 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 26.0 % |
| 73 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 26.0 % |
| 74 | Golden Retriever | 25.8 % |
| 75 | Belgian Sheepdog | 24.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do English Cocker Spaniels Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
English Cocker Spaniels are quite a bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks high on dog rivalry.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 26 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has a dog-rivalry score of 56.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit competition-driven just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Alaskan Husky | 58.6 % |
| 24 | Cairn Terrier | 58.4 % |
| 25 | Beagle | 56.7 % |
| 26 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 56.3 % |
| 27 | Schipperke | 55.7 % |
| 28 | Dingo | 55.6 % |
| 29 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 55.4 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are English Cocker Spaniels Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
English Cocker Spaniels are somewhat easy to train.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks average for trainability.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 57 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the trainability of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has a trainability score of 68.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat easy to train just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Great Dane | 70.9 % |
| 55 | Gordon Setter | 70.5 % |
| 56 | Irish Setter | 69.5 % |
| 57 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 68.6 % |
| 58 | Mastiff (English) | 68.6 % |
| 59 | Pit Bull | 68.0 % |
| 60 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 67.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the English Cocker Spaniel is and how the intelligence of the English Cocker Spaniel affects its trainability in this article on how smart the English Cocker Spaniel is.
Do English Cocker Spaniels Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
English Cocker Spaniels are somewhat into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks average for small-pet-chasing.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 53 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has a chasing score of 54.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat into chasing after smaller pets just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Redbone Coonhound | 54.8 % |
| 51 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 54.7 % |
| 52 | Pit Bull | 54.4 % |
| 53 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 54.3 % |
| 54 | Irish Wolfhound | 53.5 % |
| 55 | Dalmatian | 53.1 % |
| 56 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 51.3 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do English Cocker Spaniels Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
English Cocker Spaniels are very much attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks very high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 7 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 82.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much attachment/attention-seeking just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Australian Cattle Dog | 85.9 % |
| 5 | American Eskimo Dog | 85.0 % |
| 6 | Old English Sheepdog | 84.5 % |
| 7 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 82.2 % |
| 8 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 81.7 % |
| 9 | Miniature Schnauzer | 79.7 % |
| 10 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 78.6 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do English Cocker Spaniels have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
English Cocker Spaniels are very much prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks very high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 18 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has a separation anxiety score of 57.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much prone to develop separation anxiety just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Beagle | 62.0 % |
| 16 | Pekingese | 57.8 % |
| 17 | Pit Bull | 57.5 % |
| 18 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 57.4 % |
| 19 | Old English Sheepdog | 57.4 % |
| 20 | Alaskan Husky | 57.3 % |
| 21 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 56.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are English Cocker Spaniels Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
English Cocker Spaniels are quite a bit touch-sensitive.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks high for touch sensitivity.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 37 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has a touch-sensitivity score of 37.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit touch-sensitive just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Chow Chow | 38.3 % |
| 35 | Parson Russell Terrier | 37.9 % |
| 36 | Jack Russell Terrier | 37.8 % |
| 37 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 37.4 % |
| 38 | Bichon Frise | 37.1 % |
| 39 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 37.0 % |
| 40 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 37.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are English Cocker Spaniels Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
English Cocker Spaniels are somewhat hyper (excitable).
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks average for excitability.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 61 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has an excitability score of 45.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat excitable just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Cairn Terrier | 45.7 % |
| 59 | Chinese Crested | 45.6 % |
| 60 | Havanese | 45.2 % |
| 61 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 45.2 % |
| 62 | Labrador Retriever | 45.0 % |
| 63 | Belgian Sheepdog | 45.0 % |
| 64 | Irish Water Spaniel | 44.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are English Cocker Spaniels Playful? What is the Energy Level of English Cocker Spaniels
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
English Cocker Spaniels are somewhat energetic.
This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks average for energy level.
The English Cocker Spaniel ranks number 72 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 74 English Cocker Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their English Cocker Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the English Cocker Spaniel has an energy-level score of 53.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat energetic just like the English Cocker Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 69 | Afghan Hound | 54.4 % |
| 70 | Cairn Terrier | 54.1 % |
| 71 | Pointer | 54.0 % |
| 72 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 53.6 % |
| 73 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 53.4 % |
| 74 | English Springer Spaniel | 53.4 % |
| 75 | Scottish Terrier | 52.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on English Cocker Spaniel Temperament
The temperament of your English Cocker Spaniel comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your English Cocker Spaniel is exposed to.
You cannot change your English Cocker Spaniel`s gene but you can change the things you expose your English Cocker Spaniel to.
Exposing your English Cocker Spaniel to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your English Cocker Spaniel to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your English Cocker Spaniel`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your English Cocker Spaniel.
If you think the English Cocker Spaniel is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much English Cocker Spaniels cost and English Cocker Spaniel puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable English Cocker Spaniel breeders in the United States and the prices of their English Cocker Spaniel puppies.