Dog Breed Guide

English Cocker Spaniel

Profile

Size

Small - Medium

Country of origin

United Kingdom

Origin

19th century

Bred for

Bird hunting

Height

male 39 - 41cm (15 - 16in), female 38 - 39cm (15 - 15in)

Weight

13 - 14.5kg (29 - 32lb)

Life span

12 - 14 years

A spaniel loved for its long drop ears, silky wavy coat and gentle expression. It has a longer head and longer legs than the American Cocker Spaniel and a leaner, more sporting build. It comes in many colors, including red, golden, black and blue roan.

Cheerful and friendly, with a tail that never stops wagging, it is known as "the merry Cocker." It adores its family and plays happily with children. It is smart and takes to training well.

As a gundog it needs plenty of exercise and loves running and fetching games, not just walks. Its long ears get dirty easily and are prone to infection, so regular care is a must.

Good to know

The name Cocker comes from the woodcock, a bird. The dog got its name because it found woodcock hiding in the undergrowth and flushed them into the air for the hunter.

It is the only breed to have won Best in Show at Crufts, Britain's biggest dog show, seven times. It dominated an era, winning back to back in 1930 and 1931 and again in 1938 and 1939. Most of those winners came from the kennel of H. S. Lloyd, a renowned breeder.

It has been loved by the British royal family too, and Queen Elizabeth kept several English Cocker Spaniels alongside her Corgis. In the United States it was separated from the American Cocker Spaniel as a distinct breed in the 1940s.