Buyer question
Is a Cocker Spaniel good for beginners?
Yes: our Animal Library rates the Cocker Spaniel 4 out of 5 for beginners (good with gentle owners).
Source: the Cocker Spaniel page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Cocker Spaniel in the Animal Library
The detail
The American Cocker Spaniel was bred down from flushing spaniels into a smaller, merrier companion, and most today are family pets. Sweet, sensitive and happy to play, it pairs a manageable size with one of the higher-maintenance coats in the sporting group.
- Temperament
- Merry, gentle, sensitive
- Best fit
- Families, moderate activity
- Trainability
- 4 out of 5 (Responds to soft handling)
- Energy
- 3 out of 5 (Walks plus play daily)
- Grooming load
- 5 out of 5 (Pro groom every 6–8 wks)
What to weigh
The coat needs brushing several times a week and professional grooming every six to eight weeks, and the long ears invite chronic infections. Harsh correction can make a Cocker fearful or snappy.