🐕English Cocker Spaniel: gear and buying guides

The English Cocker Spaniel is a cheerful, affectionate hunting spaniel of about 12 to 15 kg, always on the move with a wagging tail. A working breed at heart, it needs proper daily outings, and its long drop ears and silky feathering require regular care. Its boundless appetite also calls for strict ration management.

Profile : A medium dog of 12 to 15 kg with a silky, medium-length feathered coat, energetic and bred from hunting lines.

English Cocker Spaniel gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  Allow around 180 to 250 g of kibble per day for an adult of 12 to 15 kg depending on activity. Cockers are famously greedy and prone to weight gain: weigh the ration, limit extras and use part of the kibble as rewards.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  Brushing two or three times a week maintains its silky coat and feathering, with a full groom roughly every eight to ten weeks. Its long drop ears are its weak point: checking after every outing in brush and regular cleaning are essential to prevent ear infections and grass seeds.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  A flushing and retrieving dog, it loves fetching balls and toys, including in water, and excels at scent games such as snuffle mats and treat searches. A Cocker that is well exercised in body and mind is a peaceful housedog.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  Plan for a size-M bed (60 to 70 cm), preferably with a washable cover: it often comes back from walks wet and muddy. It manages fine in a flat provided it gets long daily outings, ideally with off-lead running.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  In the car, a size-M crate or a crash-tested safety harness suits its 12 to 15 kg build. On walks, its nose sometimes leads it more than its owner does: work on recall and use a long line in game-rich areas.

• 🧰 Accessories

  The typical kit: size-M harness, 10 m long line, slicker brush, comb for the feathering and ear solution. A microfibre towel and mild shampoo quickly pay for themselves with this water- and mud-loving dog.

Guides to read

• Which senior dog food should you choose? The complete guideFood

  Protein, phosphorus, joints, palatability: how to choose senior dog food suited to an ageing dog, and how much it costs.

• Large breed dog food: steady growth and a sensitive stomachFood

  Calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, kibble size, bloat prevention: how to choose large breed dog food, from puppyhood to adulthood.

• Wet or dry dog food: which should you feed day to day?Food

  Hydration, palatability, budget, tartar: wet or dry dog food, the pros and cons of each option, and why mixed feeding is worth considering.

• Automatic dog feeder: which one should you choose?Food

  Capacity, scheduling, anti-jam mechanism, backup battery: how to choose an automatic dog feeder to match your daily routine.

• Lick mat for dogs: the anti-stress accessory worth adopting?Toys & enrichment

  Why licking soothes, which toppings to use, silicone or rigid plastic: how to choose a lick mat for your dog and use it safely.

• Kong-style stuffable dog toy: how do you pick the right one?Toys & enrichment

  Toughness levels, sizes, filling ideas, freezing: everything you need to choose a Kong-style stuffable toy and keep your dog busy the smart way.

• Dog puzzle toys: brain games worth playingToys & enrichment

  Difficulty levels, materials, mistakes to avoid: how to choose a dog puzzle toy and work your dog's nose without frustrating it.

• Puppy playpen: choosing a secure indoor penBedding & habitat

  Height, materials, floor space, house-training: how to choose a puppy playpen and use it without turning it into a prison.