Daily exercise is required for a happy Cocker Spaniel. Having a back yard to play in is ideal. However, they can be content with apartment living. In general the Cocker's loves kids and will play with other pets. They do have a tendency to bark more than the norm. However, this can be control through crate and obedience training.

Consider These Items for your Cocker Pup

Comfortable Bed
A Quality Dog Grooming Brush
Collar
Hair Conditioner for Dog Hair
Dog Dishes
Grooming Spray for Dogs
Dog Leash
Shampoo Made for Dogs
Tags for your Dog
Fun Toys for your Dog
Helpful Training Aids
Quaility Dog Treats
High Grade-Nutritous Dog Food
Dog Hair formulated Shampoo
Cotton Swabs

Caring for your Cocker Spaniel

Vaccinate your Cocker Spaniel when you first get her and follow up with yearly booster vaccinations to maintain the dog's immunity to diseases. Consult your veterinarian about flea control products and worming your dog.

A Cocker Spaniel food diet should be established and monitored. Cockers will put on weight if not exercised and watched closely. Only provide high-grade dog foods. The first ingredient should be meat if you want a quality product. Check for crude protein levels of 30 percent or better. Crude fat should be no less than 20 percent. Four percent MAX for fiber content.

Early Socialization with people, children and pets is always good and your dog will be better for it. If not socialized, they have a tendency to shy.
Walk your cocker spaniel daily, being careful not to let her walk through brush, as her coat can get tangled easily.

Housebreaking and crate training go hand in hand for effective results. Unsupervised pups should be put in crate. Ensure the crate is comfortable and that there is only enough room for the pup to sleep and turn around in. Take your dog out after every meal to the same spot so. It will soon get the idea that this is the place to go. After your dog is finish give it lots of praise.

Brush your dog daily, being careful not to pull out the hair. Giving your a dog a bath with shampoo should be done on a regular basis. Cocker Spaniels shed very little. If you keep your dog's coat long, it will need to be trimmed every four months.

Regularly clean your Cockers eyes with moist cotton wool pads. Avoid spreading any infections by cleaning each eye with a different pad.

Check nails every two to three weeks and trim them as needed.

Know that Cocker Spaniels are prone to health problems including cataracts (a cloudy area in the lens of the eye), glaucoma (increased fluid pressure inside the eye) and patellar luxation (dislocation of the kneecap). They can also be prone to hip dysplasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint) and allergies.

A mutured Cocker Spaniel will reach 15 inches in height. Most adult female Cocker Spaniels reach a height of 14 inches. Both the female and male weigh at around 24 to 30 pounds.

The normal life expectancy for a Cocker Spaniel will be between 12 and 15 years.

A Cocker Spaniel that is well cared for will provide many years of enjoyment and true companionship for the entire family. By carefully checking your dog on a regular basis you will be able to easily spot any thing out of the norm in order to take corrective action. Best time to check your dog is while grooming. The daily brushing is good place to start.