Character of the English Cocker Spaniel
English Cocker Spaniels are gentle, affectionate, full of life, exuberant, intelligent and sensitive, but quite stubborn and playful well into old age. They are very loyal and don't want to miss anything and be there everywhere. Cockers like to exaggerate a bit with everything, but the English Cocker's enthusiasm is often what appeals to enthusiasts. Cockers are very endearing. There are few pups that look so endearing. A cocker must be trained gently, but consistently, otherwise he will play tricks on his boss. But above all, he really wants to please his boss. You can use it for education and other activities with your dog. In general, cockers are sociable and tolerant of strange dogs. They are also great children's friends, they can live well with other pets such as cats, rabbits and hamsters.
A cocker needs three walks a day
The Cocker Spaniel is recommended for a home with at least a small yard, but will do well in an apartment as long as they get enough exercise. They are quite an active breed and need at least three walks a day unless they have the opportunity to roam freely in a fenced backyard.
An intelligent dog
Like many dogs bred for hunting, English Cockers are smart and seek intelligent challenges. Having to independently comb a bush in search of game means that intelligence has remained happy in the long line from hunting dog to 'domestic dog'. They often come up with the strangest things that an owner has not thought about. And when you have more than one in your house and you let them loose in the forest, you can see that they are used to working well together. The obvious non-verbal mutual communication shows itself best when they are chasing a rabbit or pheasant together.
English cockers are generally not barkers. This too can be traced back to their origin. When they used to track game in the dense forest, they had to hunt silently. In the case of a domestic dog, however, this may be different.
Handling the English Cocker Spaniel
Cockers, however, are not runaways. They were bred to hunt under the gun. This means that they work independently up to a range of about 30 meters from the boss. A well-instilled and socialized English cocker therefore always stays close to its owner, even if he is running loose. The cocker always keeps an eye on the owner and is also very sensitive to whistle signals. The intelligence must be challenged, otherwise a cocker will get bored.