Life expectancy
The Cocker Spaniel is generally a healthy breed of dog with a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. Hereditary eye conditions can occur in the breed and for this reason breeding dogs and bitches should be eye tested.
Joint problems can also occur but these are not as common as in larger breeds of dogs. The beautiful coat of the Cocker does need regular grooming and trimming. Ears and teeth need checking regularly.
Cocker Spaniels customarily have their tails shortened and their dew claws removed.
Training
Cocker spaniels need to know who is alpha in the family as they can try and become dominant that is why gentle but firm handling is needed when it comes to the training stage, these dogs are very sensitive and don’t like loud noises so with the wrong training could actually make this breed timid and nervous.
cockers love nothing more than impressing their owner so enjoy positive rewarding.
Barking
Barking is not a desired trait in Cocker Spaniels, but some working strains will be more likely to yap when excited than others. If you are concerned about noise, then choosing a quiet pup from a quiet parent will increase your chances of having a less noisy home!
Breed
The two breeds of cocker spaniel are the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel. They were bred as gun dogs, to use their sense of smell to cover low areas near the handler to flush birds into the air to be shot, and to use their eyes and nose to locate the bird once downed, and then to retrieve the bird with a soft mouth. The major differences between the English and American varieties is that the American is smaller with a shorter back, a domed head, and a shorter muzzle, while the English variety is taller with a narrower head and chest.
Social
Cocker spaniels make good family dogs if they are handled correctly as puppies, any dog around children should be supervised and never left alone, young children can sometimes be too rough with dogs which can sometimes just be too much for them, however, if properly socialized and trained with a firm but gentle hand these dogs can make great family dogs, you have to remember these dogs were originally bred to hunt.
Energy
When choosing food for a Cocker spaniel puppy, look for a brand that supports healthy growth and development of teeth and bones, as well as providing something for a glossy coat, healthy skin, and plenty of energy.
Health
Cocker spaniels are high maintenance when it comes to their coats, they need to be brushed on a regular basis to keep their skin and coat in a healthy condition and prevent matting, it is also recommended they visit a professional groomer numerous times a year. Starting daily brushing from a puppy will help them form positive experiences with brushing.
Coat
Cocker Spaniel coats occur in a variety of colors, including black, liver, red, and golden in solids. Also, black and tan, and sometimes liver and tan are known, as well as a variety of color mixtures of those solid colors including roans, roan and tans, tricolors, and those solid colors with additional white markings.
Temperament
If you are thinking about getting a Cocker Spaniel, I hope this article has helped you to somewhat understand the temperament of a Cocker Spaniel and what to expect from a young puppy.