Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Cocker Spaniel Breed Overview
- History of the Cocker Spaniel Breed. Where Cocker Spaniels came from
- What the Cocker Spaniel Looks Like
- How Much is the Cocker Spaniel Puppy?
- Best Cocker Spaniel Breeders
- Adopting or Rescuing the Cocker Spaniel
- Cocker Spaniel Growth
- What Colors do Cocker Spaniels Have?
- The Temperament of the Cocker Spaniel
- How Long Cocker Spaniels Live
- Cocker Spaniel Litter Size
- How Fast Cocker Spaniels Can Run
- Good Names for Cocker Spaniels
- How Intelligent are Cocker Spaniels?
- How Popular are Cocker Spaniels with New Dog Owners?
- Health Problems in Cocker Spaniels and How to Prevent Them
- How to Take Care of Cocker Spaniel
- Dog Breeds That Are Similar to Cocker Spaniels
- Other Things to Know About Cocker Spaniels
Cocker Spaniel Breed Overview
The Cocker Spaniel is a small-sized dog.
The adult Cocker Spaniel stands 1 foot, 2 inches to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the s.
The Cocker Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Dogs group.
Dogs in the Sporting Dogs group, like the Cocker Spaniel, were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water.
Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands.
Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.
The fact that the Cocker Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Dogs group is one of the reasons why Cocker Spaniels have the personality and temperament that they have.
The temperament of the Cocker Spaniel is generally described as:
- Affectionate
- Faithful
- Friendly
- Playful
- Quiet
- Trainable
History of the Cocker Spaniel Breed. Where Cocker Spaniels came from
The Cocker Spaniel is a breed of gun dog originating in the United Kingdom.
cocker-spanielThe Cocker Spaniel was originally bred to hunt game birds, and the name “Cocker” is derived from their use to hunt the Eurasian woodcock.
Spaniels were first mentioned in England in the 14th century, and the Cocker Spaniel was recognized as a distinct breed in 1835.
The Cocker Spaniel was introduced to the United States in 1878, and became one of the most popular breeds in the country.
The Cocker Spaniel is an intelligent and versatile breed, and is used for hunting, companionship, and as a show dog.
The Cocker Spaniel has a long head and body, with sturdy legs and a dense, wavy coat.
They are typically brown or black in color, with white markings on the chest and feet.
Cocker Spaniels are gentle and affectionate dogs, and make loyal and loving companions.
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What the Cocker Spaniel Looks Like
Cockapoos are a hybrid cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle.
They come in a variety of colors, including black, brown, cream, red, silver, white, and gray.
Cockapoos have curly or wavy coats that can be either short or long.
They are typically gentle and loving dogs that make great family pets.
Cockapoos are highly intelligent and easily trained.
They are also relatively low-maintenance dogs that do not require a lot of grooming.
Overall, Cockapoos are friendly, affectionate dogs that make wonderful companions.
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How Much is the Cocker Spaniel Puppy?
The average price of a Cocker Spaniel puppy is $1760. The price of a Cocker Spaniel puppy ranges from $1200 to $2000.
A lot of factors determine the price of the Cocker Spaniel. These factors include what health records the Cocker Spaniel puppy has, the lineage of the Cocker Spaniel puppy, the US state the breeder is located in, etc.
To estimate how much you can expect to pay for a puppy Cocker Spaniel based on the many factors that determine the price of the Cocker Spaniel puppy, check out our calculator that lets you estimate how much you should expect to pay for the Cocker Spaniel puppy based on what you want in the puppy.
When looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of the Cocker Spaniel breed, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting instead of buying a puppy. Adoption costs are very low compared to the price of a puppy.
Best Cocker Spaniel Breeders
We have researched reputable Cocker Spaniel breeders that you can buy a puppy.
Go to this page for our complete list of reputable Cocker Spaniel breeders in various states in the United States.
On this page, you will see how much these breeders sell their puppies for, and how many puppies they have available.
A few of these breeders are listed below.
April`s American Cockers
Puppy Price: $1250.00
Deborah Cozine
Puppy Price: $1,000.
JoAnn Kleckner
Puppy Price: $1000
John Goane
Puppy Price: $850
Woody`s Spring Creek Spaniels
Puppy Price: Check with breeder
Adopting or Rescuing the Cocker Spaniel
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many dogs, Cocker Spaniels included, are currently available for adoption in your local dog shelters.
These helpless but adorable dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Dog adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300 or even less.
In addition to your local dog shelter, another good place to find dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Cocker Spaniel named Mr. Peanut that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely Cocker Spaniels like Mr. Peanut on pefinder.com.
Bodhi is the name of another Cocker Spaniel (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new forever home.
You can find more Cocker Spaniels that are available for adoption on petfinder.
Cocker Spaniel Growth
New Cocker Spaniel owners need to know about the growth of their Cocker Spaniels. This will help them plan their living spaces accordingly.
Also, knowing the typical growth pattern of the Cocker Spaniel will help new owners catch the abnormal growth of their Cocker Spaniel early.
See our calculator for predicting how big your Cocker Spaniel puppy will get. You will also learn about the typical weight of the Cocker Spaniel at different ages and how to catch abnormal growth in your Cocker Spaniel
What Colors do Cocker Spaniels Have?
Cocker Spaniels come in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Brown / Chocolate
- Apricot / Beige
- White / Cream
- Black
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Red / Chestnut / Orange
- Bicolor
- Golden
- Merle (Blue)
- Merle (Red)
- Sable
- Gray / Blue / Silver
The Temperament of the Cocker Spaniel
The temperament of the Cocker Spaniel based can be summarized as in the table below.
The table shows the scores of the Cocker Spaniel for 13 important dog behavioral factors.
We obtained these scores by analyzing raw data from the C-BARQ dog personality survey tool. The higher the score of a dog for a factor, the worse the temperament of the dog regarding that factor.
The C-BARQ tool was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, and it is a scientific tool that is used worldwide for reliably measuring the temperament of dog breeds.
See our complete analysis of the temperament of the Cocker Spaniel here.
| Factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Energy Level | 62.5 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 61.6 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 56.6 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 48.7 percent |
| Prey Drive | 48.0 percent |
| Excitability | 43.4 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 42.8 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 42.0 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 41.9 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 40.4 percent |
| Stubbornness | 33.0 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 32.5 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 30.6 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 28.2 percent |
How Long Cocker Spaniels Live
The lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel is typically from 12 to 15 years.
Moreover, a few years back, veterinarian researchers performed a scientific study to determine the lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel. In this study, the scientists collected data on how long 60 pet Cocker Spaniels lived.
From the study, it was found that Cocker Spaniels have an average lifespan of 10.3 years. Furthermore, the study found that it is not uncommon for Cocker Spaniels to live as long as 17.3 years.
Note that you need to put in some effort if you want your Cocker Spaniel to live long.
Cocker Spaniels live long if they eat well, drink well, exercise well, and visit the veterinarian regularly.
There are also dog supplements that you can give your Cocker Spaniel to improve your Cocker Spaniel`s quality of their life.
Click here to learn more about how to make your Cocker Spaniel live long.
Cocker Spaniel Litter Size
Researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science did a study where they counted the numbers of puppies in 95 different Cocker Spaniel birth litters.
From this study, the researchers found that the average number of puppies that Cocker Spaniels can have is 5 puppies. Also, the Cocker Spaniel can have as few as 1 puppies per litter and as many as 10 puppies per litter.
The number of puppies that the Cocker Spaniel will have depends on factors such as the age of the Cocker Spaniel, the method of pregnancy, etc.
Click here to see our calculator for predicting how many puppies your Cocker Spaniel will have and how the litter size of the Cocker Spaniel compares to the litter size of other dog breeds.
How Fast Cocker Spaniels Can Run
How fast a dog breed can run is a good measure of how athletic the dog breed is.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) regularly conducts dog running competitions. The AKC records the running speed of competing dogs in these competitions. These competitions are open to all dog breeds.
Based on our analysis of the speeds of 73 different Cocker Spaniels, the average speed of the Cocker Spaniel is 18.0 mph (29.0 kmph).
The fastest speed on AKC record that the Cocker Spaniel ran in a race is 23.05 mph (37.1 kmph) and the minimum speed on record in a race for a Cocker Spaniel is 9.58 mph (15.4 kmph).
Click here to see how the speed of the Cocker Spaniel compares to the speed of other dogs and other mammals such as cats, horses, humans, etc.
Good Names for Cocker Spaniels
Here are some really good names that are typical for the Cocker Spaniel ranked by popularity:
- Cooper
- Charlie
- Brownie
- Oliver
- Teddy
- Guppy
- Ace
- Dog
- Leo
- Murphy
How Intelligent are Cocker Spaniels?
| Cocker Spaniel | |
|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 20 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions |
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, a Canadian psychology professor/dog trainer, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
- Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence that comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that have been historically bred to be guard dogs will have a high `guarding` intelligence compared to dogs that were not bred for guarding.
- Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. You can improve your dog`s adaptive intelligence by investing time to train your dog.
- Working/Obedience Intelligence: This type of intelligence is breed-specific. Certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. This type of intelligence can be measured for each dog breed and compared to that of other dog breeds.
Professor Stanley Coren measured and ranked the working intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the Cocker Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 20 out of 130 dog breeds. Thus, Prof. Coren put Cocker Spaniels in the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Cocker Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
However, we should mention that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone. There are other important factors you need to consider when deciding on which dog breed to get. These other factors include sociability, adorability, and compatibility of the dog breed with your lifestyle.
See the intelligence ranking of some other dog breeds below:
| Breed | Intelligence Rank |
|---|---|
| Standard Poodle | 2 |
| Belgian Tervuren | 14 |
| Belgian Sheepdog | 15 |
| Weimaraner | 21 |
| Irish Water Spaniel | 24 |
| Vizsla | 25 |
| Giant Schnauzer | 28 |
| Samoyed | 33 |
| American Staffordshire Terrier | 34 |
| American Foxhound | 46 |
| Scottish Deerhound | 47 |
| Norfolk Terrier | 56 |
| Pug | 57 |
| Maltese | 59 |
| Old English Sheepdog | 63 |
| Great Pyrenees | 64 |
| Bull Terrier | 66 |
| Bullmastiff | 69 |
| Shih Tzu | 70 |
| Basenji | 78 |
How Popular are Cocker Spaniels with New Dog Owners?
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds.
The graph below shows the popularity trend of the Cocker Spaniel.
The popularity of the Cocker Spaniel averaged over the years is Number 29 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Do not get a dog breed just because it is a popular dog breed. And do not reject a dog breed just because it is an unpopular breed.
Health Problems in Cocker Spaniels and How to Prevent Them
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it tends to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
The Cocker Spaniel is prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is an organization that keeps track of genetic health problems in dog breeds.
From the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop.
Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
If you want a Cocker Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Cocker Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Cocker Spaniels for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Cocker Spaniels here.
How to Take Care of Cocker Spaniel
To take good care of your Cocker Spaniel, you need to make sure that you groom your Cocker Spaniel regularly.
Secondly, you need to find a veterinarian in your area that will routinely check the health status of your Cocker Spaniel regularly, and give you appropriate recommendations on your Cocker Spaniel`s preventative care.
Thirdly, you need to commit some time to exercise your Cocker Spaniel daily. Regular exercise helps improve the health and quality of life of your Cocker Spaniel.
Also, you need to feed your Cocker Spaniel high-quality dog food, and the food should be of the right amount to prevent your Cocker Spaniel from getting overweight or underweight.
See our recommendations on what to feed the Cocker Spaniel and how much food to feed the Cocker Spaniel at different life stages.
Finally, you need to make sure that your Cocker Spaniel has access to clean water all the time. See our recommendations on how much water your Cocker Spaniel needs to drink at different ages.
Dog Breeds That Are Similar to Cocker Spaniels
If you have not made up your mind on which dog breed to get, you may also want to consider some other dogs similar to the Cocker Spaniel.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds that have similar behavior and temperament as the Cocker Spaniel:
- Bichon Frise (77 percent match with Cocker Spaniel). Learn more about the Bichon Frise here.
- English Cocker Spaniel (76 percent match with Cocker Spaniel). Learn more about the English Cocker Spaniel here.
Other Things to Know About Cocker Spaniels
Here are some of the very important characteristics of the Cocker Spaniel that you need to know about the Cocker Spaniel breed:
