Sporting · Small-Medium (20-30 lbs) · 12-15 years
Cocker Spaniel
Gentle, smart, happy; affectionate and merry disposition.
20–30 lb
At a glance
Kid-friendly
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First-time owners
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Energy
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Shedding
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Good with cats
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Alone time
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Apartment OK
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Trainability
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What this is
What they’re great at
✓ Willing, capable learner
✓ Forgiving of first-timer mistakes
✓ Adapts beautifully to smaller spaces
✓ Wants to work WITH you - biddable to the bone
Why it matters
Honest challenges
Alone time is genuinely hard
Bred to work or live beside a human all day - solitude was never in the job description.
What helps: ['Train it like a skill: the Alone-Time guide builds tolerance in micro-doses from day one', 'The frozen-KONG-only-when-you-leave ritual turns departures into jackpots', "Cover long days honestly: a midday walker, daycare 2-3x a week, and a camera to know (not guess) how they're doing"]
Bred to work or live beside a human all day - solitude was never in the job description.
What helps: ['Train it like a skill: the Alone-Time guide builds tolerance in micro-doses from day one', 'The frozen-KONG-only-when-you-leave ritual turns departures into jackpots', "Cover long days honestly: a midday walker, daycare 2-3x a week, and a camera to know (not guess) how they're doing"]
What you can do
Exercise & training
Exercise: Moderate - 45-60 min/day
Training profile — Gundog / retrieving-pointing-flushing type: Biddable and handler-focused: these breeds genuinely want to work WITH you. Under-exercised gundogs invent jobs - usually involving your furniture.
Sports and outlets that suit them: Scent work · Agility · Therapy work
What you can do
Grooming & coat
Grooming: High - professional grooming every 6-8 weeks, brushing several times weekly, frequent ear care (very prone to ear infections).
Shedding: Moderate.
Good to know
Health to know about
Chronic ear infections, eye problems (PRA, cataracts, glaucoma), autoimmune hemolytic anemia, skin allergies
Breed-typical tendencies, not a diagnosis. Individual dogs vary enormously — your veterinarian screens for what matters for your dog.
Why it matters
Emergency red flags
Poisoning (chocolate, xylitol, grapes, medications, rodenticide)
Vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, or known ingestion
→ Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 immediately; do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed
Vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, or known ingestion
→ Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 immediately; do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed
Know your ER
→ Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your phone TODAY, not during a crisis
→ Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your phone TODAY, not during a crisis
This page never carries product links in the emergency section. ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661.
Good to know
The numbers
Typical ranges for planning, not promises — costs vary by region, breeder and individual dog.
| Group | Sporting |
| Size | Small-Medium (20-30 lbs) |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
| Healthy adult weight | 20–30 lb |
| Original purpose | Flushing woodcock and small game birds. |
| Monthly care | $100-$160 (incl. grooming) |
| Typical puppy price | $800-$2,000 |
Similar breeds
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