English Cocker Spaniel

The English Cocker Spaniel is a breed of gun dog: an active, good-natured, sporting dog that is compactly built and stands well up at the withers. Outside the US it is usually known simply as the Cocker Spaniel. Its constantly wagging tail has earned it the nickname "Merry Spaniel".

Males stand about 39 to 41 cm at the withers and females are a little smaller at about 38 to 39 cm. Both weigh roughly 13 to 14.5 kg. The breed has a sturdy, well-balanced build, dark eyes, long lobular ears and an expression showing intelligence and alertness.

Colours are varied. Solid coats come in black, liver/brown and red/golden, while parti-coloured dogs come in roans, ticked coats and two-colour combinations. There are "field" or "working" cockers and "house" cockers, and the two types look noticeably different. The breed is also known for producing a very varied number of pups in a litter.

Spaniel-type dogs have appeared in art and literature for almost 500 years. In England they were first split into land spaniels and water spaniels, and the breeds we know today began to separate only in the mid-19th century. The name cocker comes from the dogs being used to flush woodcocks. Early spaniels drove game toward the guns rather than retrieving it.

In the 1840s Cockers were described as 5.5 to 9 kg, and Cockers and Springers could come from the same litter. The first stud books were published in 1874 by the newly formed Kennel Club, and any spaniel under 11 kg went into the Cocker breeding pool. The Spaniel Club was formed in 1885, and the Kennel Club separated Springers and Cockers for showing eight years after the Spaniel Club created breed standards for each type.

At Crufts the breed has won Best in Show seven times, in 1930, 1931, 1938, 1939, 1948, 1950 and 1996. After World War II, show and pet Cockers became hugely popular and for a while the breed was the most numerous registered with the Kennel Club.

The English Cocker Spaniel is friendly, cheerful and prefers to be around people. With good early socialisation it can get along well with people, children, other dogs and other pets.

The breed ranks 18th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, which counts as excellent working and obedience intelligence. Kindly trained and rewarded, it tends to be an obedient and loving companion.

Cockers can be easily stressed by loud noises and by rough handling or treatment. They are not well suited to being left alone in a garden.

Studies of life expectancy give varying figures. A 2022 UK study found 11.31 years, and a 2024 UK study found 13.3 years. A 2024 Italian study found 13 years.

In a review of 2,318 dogs at vets, the most common conditions were periodontal disease (20.97%), otitis externa (10.09%), obesity (9.88%), anal sac impaction (8.07%), diarrhoea (4.87%) and aggression (4.01%).

The breed is predisposed to chronic hepatitis, being 2.78 times more likely to acquire it in one study. It is also one of the more commonly affected breeds for progressive rod-cone degeneration, caused by an autosomal recessive mutation in the PRCD gene.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. Always consult a vet about your pet's health.

How long do English Cocker Spaniels live?

UK studies have found average life expectancies of about 11.3 years and 13.3 years, depending on the study. An Italian study found 13 years.

Are English Cocker Spaniels good with children?

With good early socialisation, they can get along well with people, children, other dogs and other pets. They are friendly and like company.

Is cocker rage real?

Some studies have reported higher aggression in the breed, but the notion of cocker rage has been dismissed as a myth. Aggression was recorded in about 4% of dogs in one veterinary review.

What is the difference between an English Cocker Spaniel and a Springer Spaniel?

Springers are larger. Cockers tend to have longer, lower-set ears, a shorter muzzle, more prominent eyes and a more abundant coat.

Are working and show cockers different?

Yes. Working types have shorter coats and less pendulous ears, and the two strains are rarely crossed, though both are registered as the same breed.

The breed is nicknamed the "Merry Spaniel" because of its constantly wagging tail.

The English Cocker Spaniel is the most successful breed in Crufts Best in Show history, and was the only breed to win the title between 1938 and 1950.

The American Cocker Spaniel was developed from the English Cocker Spaniel and has a shorter snout.

Sable is a rare colour in the breed, and geneticists have found it is unique to the English Cocker Spaniel.

In England and Wales, tail docking is only allowed for dogs whose owners have proved they will work as working or shooting dogs.