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English Cocker Spaniels: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about English Cocker Spaniel personality and behavior. main page breed review faq health training adopting/buying links My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the English Cocker Spaniel, including these excerpts: "The AKC Standard says, "His enthusiasm in the field and the incessant action of his tail while at work indicate how much he enjoys the hunting for which he was bred." With more sporting instincts than the American Cocker Spaniel, the lively English Cocker Spaniel likes more exercise. When well socialized, the English Cocker Spaniel has a merry tail-wagging nature and is sweet and gentle with everyone. Some are on the reserved side, and there is timidity and excessive submissiveness in some lines. This equable dog is responsive to persuasive obedience training that includes praise and food rewards. Unless taught to be independent, some individuals are so persistently affectionate that they become clingy and demanding of attention." History This little English hunting dog specializes in searching through the fields for the woodcock game bird -- hence his name. Size 14-17 inches and 25-35 lbs

English Cocker Spaniels What's good about 'em What's bad about 'em If you want a dog who... Is conveniently sized and athletic Has a pretty feathered coat in a variety of colors Is lively and playful, with a tail-wagging nature Is usually polite with everyone Is peaceful with other pets An English Cocker Spaniel may be right for you. If you don't want to deal with... "Separation anxiety" (destructiveness and barking) when left alone too much Frequent brushing, combing, and clipping of the silky coat Shedding Barking Excitable or submissive urination (tendency to dribble urine when excited or nervous) An English Cocker Spaniel may not be right for you. If I were considering an English Cocker Spaniel... My major concerns would be: Providing enough exercise. The English Cocker Spaniel is a hunting dog who needs more exercise than you might think. Just because he's small doesn't mean he will be happy living in an apartment with a couple of slow walks around the block. He needs some outside space to run and play. Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, English Cocker Spaniels need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you. Grooming. To keep their silky coat free of mats, English Cocker Spaniels require regular brushing, and also clipping and trimming every couple of months. Shedding. English Cocker Spaniels shed quite a bit. Their hairs come off on your hands when you pet them, stick to your upholstery and clothing, and hide under the furniture. Barking. English Cocker Spaniels are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. To teach your Cocker to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Cocker Spaniel Training Page discusses the program you need. Health problems. Serious eye problems are common in Cocker Spaniels. To keep this breed healthy, I strongly recommend following all of the advice on my English Cocker Spaniel Health Page. Not all English Cocker Spaniels are alike! There are energetic Cockers, and placid Cockers. Hard-headed Cockers, and sweet-natured Cockers. Serious Cockers, and good-natured goofballs. Introverted Cockers, and Cockers who love everyone. If you acquire an English Cocker Spaniel puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." If you're considering an adult English Cocker Spaniel... There are plenty of adult English Cocker Spaniels who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you. When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS. If you would like to link to this review, here is the HTML code: <a href="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/englishcockerspaniels.html">English Cocker Spaniels: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em</a> Copyright © 2000-2008 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author.