Nutrtion & Feeding

The Cocker Spaniel is a medium breed and has a lifespan of 13 to 15 years. What you feed your dog is an individual choice, but frequency of meals as a puppy is greater than an adult. A puppy eats a lot of food. From birth up to six months of age, he’ll need to eat two to four times as much as an adult dog to support all that growth. Puppy food is higher in protein and enriched with vitamins, minerals, and fats essential for growth.Puppies need to eat a lot–and not too much. You should be able to feel but not see their ribs, and they should have a visible waist when you look down at them. This is true for puppies of any breed, big or small. At around eight to 12 weeks of age your puppy is probably eating three to four times a day. He doesn’t have to eat that many times though. If it suits your schedule to feed him only twice a day, just divide the amount of food you’d normally give into two meals instead of three or four.After he’s six months old you can–and should–reduce the number of meals you feed him to two. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Coat & Grooming

Cockers require regular grooming. There are few breeds as handsome as the well-groomed Cocker Spaniel.

 Most owners opt to have a professional groomer bathe, brush, and trim their dogs' coats every six to eight weeks, and prices are high for this time-intensive breed. Some owners opt to clip the coat short to make care easier. Even so, trimming and bathing every six to eight weeks is necessary to keep the Cocker clean and the coat short. Our Cocker Spaniels are introduced to grooming early so to grow up to accept it as a normal part of life. An early introduction is advisable so that he learns to accept the handling, brushing, noise of electric clippers, scissoring, ear cleaning, and all the rest of the tasks involved in keeping him looking good. The nails need to be trimmed about once a month (or at grooming sessions), and the ears checked for dirt, redness, or a bad odor that can indicate an infection. Its easy to wipe the ears out with a cotton ball dampened with gentle, ear cleaner to prevent problems.It also helps to use deep, narrow bowls to for the Cocker's food and water. This way he can eat and drink without getting his ears damp or soiled with food. Teeth should be brushed regularly. This essential for all dogs regardless of breed.

Cockers & Health

Like all breeds there may be some health issues, like hip dysplasia and eye disease but the majority of Cocker Spaniels are healthy dogs.Working with a responsible breeder, those wishing to own a Cocker Spaniel can gain the education they need to know about specific health concerns within the breed. Good breeders utilize genetic testing of their breeding stock to reduce the likelihood of disease in their puppies.

Energy & Exercise

It’s easy to understand the Cocker’s popularity as a family dog. They’re eager playmates for kids, they usually get along with other pets, and they’re easily trained as companions, athletes, huntdogs and more. Cockers are big enough to be sporty, but compact enough to be easily carried. A well-bred Cocker will have a sweet, trusting, playful disposition.

Generally speaking, a dog needs more than leashed walk around the block. Most dogs need 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. Your canine pal needs enough that he’s slowed down by the time you stop. Some general rules of thumb, a minimum of 30 minutes of hard aerobic exercise most days of the week, preferably daily. Extremely hot or cold weather is not safe. During such periods, stay inside and teach tricks to engage your dog’s mind, throw toys, or run up and down the stairs together. 

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