Cocker Spaniel Puppies for Sale

overview of the Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed

Are you looking for a sporty, small dog that’s also easy to train and super cute? 

Check out our Cocker Spaniel puppies for sale below! (You can also check out our other available breeds on our “all breeds” page.) 

With a gorgeous coat, big round ears, and heart-melting eyes, the Cocker Spaniel is beautiful outside and in. They are gentle and loving companions who also make great hunting partners and excel in agility competitions. Smart, eager to please, trainable, and easy-going – if you don’t mind a bit of extra grooming, you may have just found the perfect dog! 

Adopt a Cocker Spaniel puppy today and start enjoying this exceptional companion!

Cocker Spaniel temperament

Easy Going & Affectionate: While the Cocker Spaniel makes an excellent hunting partner and excels in agility competitions, they are also docile and cheerful companions at home. Cocker Spaniels have a loving nature and are very affectionate.

Sensitivity: Cocker Spaniels can be sensitive to their owner’s emotions and may offer comfort when their owners are feeling down.

Versatile: Cocker Spaniels can excel in various dog sports and activities, including obedience, agility, and even some forms of hunting and retrieving.

Easy-to-Train: Not only are Cocker Spaniels intelligent and eager to please, but they also have submission temperaments. Do not react harshly to Cocker Spaniel; they are sensitive and will quickly become afraid of you. Instead, reward them with praise and treats to encourage positive behavior.

Ideal Size: At 20-30 pounds, the Cocker Spaniel is an ideal size for someone who wants a small dog that is still sporty. The smallest of the sporting group, Cocker Spaniels have sturdy, strong bodies while still being compact.

Gorgeous: Their big ears, round, sensitive eyes, and luscious coat makes the Cocker Spaniel a real beauty. The extra grooming their coat needs is worth the work when you see the stunning results!

Perfect Family Companion: Easy to train, affectionate, an ideal size, good with children and other pets, and absolutely beautiful – what more can we say about this wonderful breed? The Cocker Spaniel is an exceptional companion for almost any family!

Overall, Cocker Spaniels make loving and devoted companions that thrive in homes where they are included in family activities. Their adaptable nature and gentle personality make them well-suited for various types of households, from families with children to singles and seniors.

Cocker Spaniel Breed history

Spaniels originate from Spain and have been helping humans hunt birds and game for centuries.

Originally, Spaniels were classified by type by their size. Spaniel puppies from the same litter would be different sizes and were given different names and jobs.

Smaller Spaniels were used for woodcock hunting (English Cocker Spaniels). Larger Spaniels were used for hunting game (English Springer Spaniels).

Eventually, the two sizes of Spaniels became separate breeds. By 1946, the English Cocker Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel had become different enough to be classified as separate breeds.

In the 1950s, Cocker Spaniels became the most popular dog of the decade in America. Disney’s Lady and the Tramp movie, which centers around a Cocker Spaniel named Lady, brought the Cocker Spaniel to the forefront in American homes.

In addition, President Richard Nixon owned a black and white Cocker Spaniel named “Checkers,” which he talked about in a famous speech called the Checkers Speech, named after his dog.

The Cocker Spaniel was accepted in the AKC registry in 1878. The English Cocker Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel (US type) became registered as two separate breeds in 1946.

Today, the Cocker Spaniel ranks number 30 out of all breeds registered with AKC. Breeds similar to the Cocker Spaniel include English Springer Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Irish Setter. 

Cocker Spaniel Average size

Female Cocker Spaniels are 13.5-14.5 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 20-25 pounds. Male Cocker Spaniels are 14.5-15.5 inches tall at the shoulder and 25-30 pounds.

Average Cocker Spaniel lifespan

Cocker Spaniels usually live for 10-14 years.

Cocker Spaniel body features

You can’t think of a Cocker Spaniel without picturing their round, floppy ears and big puppy dog eyes.

In addition to these two outstanding traits, Cocker Spaniels have compact, muscular bodies and typically have docked tails.

Cocker Spaniels have wavy coats and can be solid colors such as black, brown, buff, red, and silver. They can also be a combination of colors including, black and tan, black and white, brown and white, red and white, and brown, roan, and tan. Sometimes they have merle markings.

Cocker Spaniels naturally have long, flowing coats. This is the kind of coat you’ll see in the show ring. However, many owners choose to have their Cocker Spaniel’s coat kept short. This is called a puppy cut.

grooming Your Cocker Spaniel Puppy

Cocker Spaniels have gorgeous wavy coats and will need some extra care in the grooming department.

There are three types of haircuts styles for the Cocker Spaniel.

The Best-in-Show-Cut style keeps the Cocker Spaniel’s coat long and flowy and is done by a professional groomer. This is haircut style takes the most care and is used in show rings.

The Traditional Cut is shorter and more practical but still keeps some beautiful waves and fringes. This haircut style also takes daily brushing to keep it free of tangles.

The Puppy Cut is the most low maintenance of all, although it still requires care! With a Puppy Cut, the coat is trimmed to about 1 inch long all over the body. This short coat prevents tangles from forming. Keeping your Cocker Spaniel’s coat this short will require staying on top of haircuts! You can plan to take your dog to the groomers every few weeks, or you can learn to give them a trim yourself.

In addition to brushing and trimming your Cocker Spaniel, plan to give it regular baths with a high-quality dog shampoo, trim its nails, and brush its teeth regularly.

You’ll also want to consistently check their ears for ear infections.

Keeping Your Cocker Spaniel Puppy Healthy

Cocker Spaniels are generally a healthy breed, but there are a few things their owners should know.

Cocker Spaniels are susceptible to several eye conditions, including Progressive Retinal Atrophy, cataracts, and glaucoma.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an immune disorder that can affect Cocker Spaniels. AIHA is when the immune system attacks its own red blood cells. Learn the symptoms so you can have your dog diagnosed and treated promptly.

Cocker Spaniels can also be affected by Hypothyroidism, a thyroid disorder. This can be treated with medication and diet.

Protecting Your Dog from Obesity
You can protect your Cocker Spaniel from one of the most common health problems: obesity. One of the best ways to extend your dog’s life is by feeding them the correct amount of food and giving them adequate exercise.

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Like all dog breeds, Cocker Spaniels are at risk for hip and elbow dysplasia, two of the most common health issues in dogs.

Hip and elbow dysplasia occurs when the thigh bone doesn’t fit snugly into the hip and can result in limping, lameness, or arthritis if it’s not addressed.

Hip and elbow dysplasia can be genetic, or it can be caused by environmental factors such as overeating or injuries.

Here are some ways to prevent hip dysplasia in your puppy:

1. Ask the breeder for an OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Hip Clearance. Dogs with hip dysplasia shouldn’t be bred.
2. Talk to your vet about the right food for your puppy and stick to the correct amount to prevent unhealthy growth.
3. Keep your puppy from running or jumping excessively on hard surfaces and from standing on their hind legs.

Typical Cocker Spaniel Allergens

First of all, what causes allergies?

Allergens are caused by dander, which is dead skin cells. Both animals and humans shed these dead skin cells. Dander is attached to the fur that dogs shed.

Cocker Spaniels have double-coats and shed heavily twice a year and minimally the rest of the year. Because of this, they are not considered an allergen-friendly breed. You can keep allergens lower with regular brushing and bathing.

If you or someone in your home has animal allergy concerns, please consult your health provider before adopting a puppy.

• 1. Are Cocker Spaniels hunting dogs?
  Cocker Spaniels make wonderful companion dogs and apartment pets, but they were originally bred to be bird dogs, and those instincts may pop up now and then. Like all Spaniel breeds, they have a high prey drive and love to chase small animals. Because they love the thrill of the chase, it’s important to keep your Cocker Spaniel on a leash when you take him for walks. Otherwise, he may dash off at the first sight of prey.
• 2. Are Cocker Spaniels sensitive?
  Cocker Spaniels are an exceptionally sensitive breed with a submissive temperament. They do not respond well to harsh tones of voice or unkind treatment. They may be a little bit nervous even when well-trained and socialized, so be sure to be gentle with your Cocker Spaniel and treat her kindly.
• 3. Do Cocker Spaniels require a lot of grooming?
  A well-groomed Cocker Spaniel is a beautiful sight—but one that comes at the price of quite a bit of work. Cocker Spaniels take more grooming than a lot of breeds. You will have to be prepared for this if you decide to bring a Cocker Spaniel home.
• 4. Are Cocker Spaniels easy to train?
  Cocker Spaniels are smart, gentle, and eager to please their masters, so they shouldn’t be too hard to train. Make sure you use gentle, kind training methods, as Cocker Spaniels are sensitive and easily offended.
• 5. Do Cocker Spaniels bark a lot?
  Yes, Cocker Spaniels can be barkers if they aren’t trained otherwise. They should be taught the meaning of the word “quiet!”
• 6. Are Cocker Spaniels good with kids and other pets?
  Cocker Spaniels are a popular family dog because they have a gentle, sweet temperament and get along excellently with children. However, because Cocker Spaniels are so sensitive, you should be sure to train your children to play gently and kindly with your dog. Cocker Spaniels get along well with other pets too, as long as they are raised alongside them or properly introduced. But keep in mind that they are hunting dogs and might mistake a pet bird or hamster for prey.
• 7. Do Cocker Spaniels shed?
  Cocker Spaniels don’t tend to shed much. They shed moderately year-round and more heavily in the spring. But shedding tendencies depend on the individual dog.
• 8. Will a Cocker Spaniel wander off if they have a chance?
  These dogs love to be with their masters and won’t run off just for the sake of going off on their own. But remember that they love to chase things, and if they see prey when they are not on a leash, they will be off in a heartbeat. It’s very important to keep them contained or on a leash when outside.
• 9. Do Cocker Spaniels have a lot of energy?
  The Cocker Spaniel is a good apartment dog, but he is still a hunting breed and has some energy. Your Cocker will need daily exercise to keep him happy and healthy.
• 10. Are Cocker Spaniels playful?
  With their impish personality and merry, frolicsome attitude, Cocker Spaniels are one of the most fun, playful breeds around! Their playful attitude is one of the reasons why they are such a popular breed for families.