English Cocker Spaniel Care

The English Cocker Spaniel (ECS)--like its American cousin, the Cocker Spaniel--is a small- to medium-sized, active, affectionate breed. A bit larger than its American counterpart (but very similar in temperament), English Cocker Spaniel care and maintenance will require a moderate amount of work, and will need to include regular exercise, diet monitoring to prevent obesity, and plenty of TLC.

Below you'll find details on caring for an English Cocker Spaniel, including puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. For answers to your questions about raising an English Cocker Spaniel, read on!

These dogs are sporty and active, so English Cocker Spaniel exercise needs are moderate to high. As hunting dogs, English Cockers will need a variety of activities that condition them physically (walking, jogging, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). They're also prone to obesity, so consistent exercise will help control their weight.

The typical adult ECS will require about an hour of proper exercise per day. You can start exercising your ECS puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the puppy grows.

Precautions with English Cocker Spaniel exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're nine months old
• Leash is required when exercising in public
• Yards should be securely fenced
• Suffers separation anxiety; best to exercise with people

It's important to exercise your ECS every single day. Without consistent activity these dogs will turn destructive, bark excessively, and will often become overweight. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging: Two 20-minute walks (or 15-minute jogs) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs will chase a ball, stick, or Frisbee for hours
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, English Cockers enjoy the company of other dogs
• Canine Sports: An ECS can excel in obedience or agility trials, flyball, or other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

When indoors, give the dog access to balls or toys so it can burn excess energy. It's also good to have a consistent exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks or jogs after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs need moderate care. English Cocker Spaniel shedding is fair, but drooling isn't an issue.

The ECS has a long, slightly wavy, silky coat that sheds moderately all year long. Owners can use both a 2-in-1 comb and a pin brush to brush these dogs 2-3 times per week, to minimize the shed and keep the coat from matting or tangling. Hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary once in a while.

English Cockers rarely drool at all. If your ECS is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

The ECS diet will need to include animal proteins and carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients every dog requires to maintain its health. The best English Cocker Spaniel food is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients, and is much better for preventing obesity (a common issue with these dogs). Cheap, generic food is not recommended for this breed because it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that are harder to digest and cause significant weight gain.

Recommended brands include Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, and Diamond, which have excellent lines of premium food.

They typical adult ECS will need about two cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. ECS puppies, depending on age, will need a bit less: about 1½ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months old.

For more info, see this English Cocker Spaniel feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a little more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. If constantly overfed, these dogs will quickly become overweight--and a fat English Cocker Spaniel will have numerous health problems. Help control your dog's weight by having regular feeding schedules and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're concerned your ECS is overweight, reduce its food consumption--and increase its daily exercise.

An ECS will typically tolerate any climate.