What You Need to Know About Cocker Spaniels

Cocker spaniels are popular pets, ranking 25th in the American Kennel Club's 2010 dog registration statistics. They have long ears and straight or wavy coats in colors that include solids or combinations of cream, honey, reddish-brown, dark brown and black. All dogs are born with a tendency toward certain traits, but a pet's environment plays more of a role in influencing behavior than genetics. It's up to the owner to bring out their pet's best qualities through proper training --- and understand how to prevent behavior issues.

  1. The Basics

    • Regular brushing and bathing will keep your cocker spaniel's coat from matting.

      Cocker spaniels have a reputation as a cheerful, gentle and respectful breed. Adult cocker spaniels typically weigh 15 to 30 pounds and stand about 15 inches tall. Like all purebreds, they're prone to a few health issues. A few major ones are cataracts, glaucoma and patella luxation. Cocker spaniels are average shedders, and they'll need regular baths and daily brushing. They have long coats, which some owners cut to medium length for better manageability. Trimming every few months is recommended and will help prevent mats.

    Energy Level and Temperment

    • A long daily walk is essential for a cocker spaniel.

      Cocker spaniels can live happily in an apartment as long as they get enough exercise --- which may be easier if they have access to a backyard, even if it's small. Inside, they're fairly active. Besides a little room to run and play, they will need at least one long walk every day. Cocker spaniels social animals, and they shouldn't be left outside in a kennel. As long as they understand that they rank under humans, which comes with proper training techniques, they're good with children. They will usually get along well with any other animals in a household.

    Training and Socialization

    • Training and socializing a cocker spaniel early is important.

      Training and socializing cocker spaniels at an early age is important. Cocker spaniels tend to take direction easily and want to please their owner. House training, on the other hand, may take a little while for them to master. Experts recommend using the crate-training method. Patience and practice are always key to any training program. Cocker spaniels will do well if you start with a few basic commands and slowly move on to more advanced lessons. They're also sensitive to the tone of your voice, so it's better to not use harsh tones --- even when correcting behavior.

    Issues to Avoid

    • A good relationship with your pet means makng sure it sees you as "pack leader."

      Cocker spaniels do tend to bark, but not excessively and usually not for no reason. They're not considered "yappy." It could be helpful to take measures early on to prevent excessive barking from becoming a habit by not allowing more than one or two barks at a time. Heeling could also be an issue, but it's easy to teach early with frequent walks. If your cocker spaniel doesn't see you as "pack leader," many other issues can arise. Any dog breed may exhibit a slew of negative behaviors, which are all usually the result of something the owner did, or didn't do --- often unknowingly. Bad habits are hard to break once they're formed, so do everything you can early on to prevent problems later.