Cocker Spaniel
Popular Dog Breeds
All about the Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel is a bold yet gentle breed. It is excellent with kids and other dogs as well as smaller pets, despite the dog’s hunting instincts.
It is easy to train and responds well to obedience training, however, it is prone to ‘Small Dog Syndrome’ so strong leadership is required to have a well behaved dog.
Given its gentle and easy going nature, it makes for an excellent companion breed. It is slightly reserved with strangers and has a tendency to bark, which makes it a good watchdog.
Grooming a Cocker Spaniel
Hair type: Cocker Spaniels have a long, heavy coat which is prone to matting. They also shed heavily.
Daily coat care: Your Cocker Spaniel will need to be brushed at least every two days with an Slicker Brush to prevent matting and to help reduce shedding.
Cocker Spaniels are prone to developing a coat condition known as seborrhoea which will cause an excessively greasy and flaky coat. If you suspect your dog is suffering from this, or any other skin irritation, speak with your groomer who will be able to advise you of the next steps.
Recommended groom frequency: Your Cocker Spaniel should be fully groomed every 6-8 weeks, while interim washes may also be necessary to keep his coat clean and fresh.
At Petmania Grooming Studios we have a full range of treatments available for your Cocker Spaniel. If you get puppy, we recommend our Puppy’s First Visit at around four months, once your puppy has received all his vaccinations.
Diet
Depending on the size of your Cocker Spaniel, you will need to feed it between 274g and 361g of high quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. The Cocker Spaniel is prone to weight gain, so choose a food that offers a balanced nutritious diet and limit access to treats.
Our pet advisors in-store can help you find the most appropriate food for your dog, while you can find out more about the different dog food brands we stock here.
Activity Level
This is a high energy breed which needs plenty of daily exercise. Daily walks are essential for emotional as well as physical well being of the dog. These should be supplemented with jogging, running or games to meet the developmental needs of the dog. Without enough exercise your Cocker Spaniel is likely to develop behavioural problems.
Cockers will do okay in an apartment if they are adequately exercised as they are fairly active indoors. A small yard is preferred but they like company and not suited to living outside alone in a kennel.
Where to get a Cocker Spaniel
There are lots of places offering dogs or puppies for sale in Ireland, but we would always ask that you consider adopting a dog first. Our animal rescue partners have 100’s of rescue dogs and puppies seeking a forever home and would be delighted to introduce you to them.
However, if a rescue dog is not for you, we do recommend that you choose a registered breeder and seek Irish Kennel Club registration papers which will confirm that the dog has been bred to their strict code of ethics.
