Where the English Cocker Spaniel came from
The English Cocker Spaniel comes from England, where spaniels were used to flush birds toward hunters. Until the middle of the 1800s, spaniels were split mostly by size, and a puppy from a cocker-sized litter could grow up to be a springer.
The first stud books were published by the new Kennel Club in 1874. The Spaniel Club formed in 1885. Springer and Cocker spaniels were shown together until the Kennel Club separated them in 1893.
The AKC recognized the English Cocker as its own breed in 1946, apart from the American Cocker. English Cockers have also done well at Crufts, winning Best in Show seven times. Today there are working types and calmer house types.
- 1874 The Kennel Club publishes its first stud books, and spaniels under 25 pounds join the Cocker group
- 1885 The Spaniel Club is formed
- 1893 The Kennel Club separates Springer and Cocker spaniels
- 1946 AKC recognizes the English Cocker Spaniel as a separate breed
- 1996 An English Cocker wins Best in Show at Crufts for the seventh time
The job an English Cocker Spaniel was bred for
Spaniels worked close to the hunter, quartering through brush with the nose down and flushing birds. That is why many English Cockers sniff everything, wag their whole body, and want to be near their people. They are happiest with a job.
What you may see at home
Sweet and merry, sniffs everything, can be clingy, sensitive to rough handling.
Give them: Find-it games, scent work, gentle handling practice, and alone time training.
Sports that fit an English Cocker Spaniel
- Hunt tests. Original work: flush and retrieve
- Scent work. Perfect for a nose-driven dog
- Agility. Quick and happy
- Rally. Light, fun obedience with lots of reward
- Fast CAT. A fun sprint for a small hunter
Training tips for an English Cocker Spaniel
- Use soft, positive training. Cockers can be sensitive.
- Practice gentle handling for grooming, ears and nails, with treats.
- Teach alone time in small steps. Many are very people-focused.
- Give daily nose games like find-it and scatter feeding.
Body and health
Long ears can trap moisture, so check and clean them. Regular grooming is needed. Eye and ear problems occur, and some lines can have guarding of food or toys.
Fun fact. English Cocker Spaniels have won Best in Show at Crufts seven times between 1928 and 2009.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your English Cocker Spaniel is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.