English Cocker Spaniel puppies & breed info
- Belgian breeder since 1990
- DNA-tested parents
Available now
Available English Cocker Spaniel puppies for sale
Click ‘Puppy alert’ to stay up to date on new English Cocker Spaniel litters.
Our usual process
Buying an English Cocker Spaniel puppy from Woefkesranch
How it works:
- Meet the puppies (optional). Make an appointment to see the puppies with their mother, and to work out together which puppy suits your family.
- Reserve your puppy (optional). You can reserve online (24/7) or by phone on +32 (0)15 75 59 42. After reserving, you receive photos on request. If a puppy is already 8 weeks old, you can also take it home at your visit.
- Collection from us or home delivery. You can collect your puppy from 8 weeks old. It leaves microchipped, vaccinated, dewormed and with its European passport, and we register it in your name in DogID together. If you have no transport, someone from Woefkesranch brings your puppy to your home, within 250 km of our ranch in Putte (including the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Germany).
- 1-year guarantee. Every puppy has a 1-year guarantee on hereditary conditions and hidden congenital defects. We remind you about the first booster vaccination and deworming.
- Lifelong support. We remain available by phone or WhatsApp, also for training tips and health questions. For urgent matters we can be reached 24/7.
Written and reviewed by Marleen Dyck, co-founder of Woefkesranch
Character
A cheerful dog that rarely barks and follows you all over the house
Cheerful, friendly and quick to learn, and usually quiet in the house. The hunting instinct is still strong, so it needs daily work to stay settled.
What to expect
Cheerful
Energetic and friendly, including with strangers.
Quick to learn
Eager to please, and fast to pick up commands.
Quiet
Barks rarely, even in a busy household.
Full of stamina
A strong hunting instinct and real endurance.
Height*
~39 cm
Weight*
~14 kg
Life expectancy
~14 years
Origin
England, recognised 1892
*The sizes above are based on the FCI breed standard. Woefkesranch aims for them, but the health of the dogs always comes first.
Breed summary
You will discover that the English Cocker Spaniel is the older of the two Cockers and the more workmanlike: first described in the late 14th century, recognised as its own breed in 1892, and named for the woodcock it was bred to hunt. It is cheerful, friendly with strangers and rarely barks, and it is still a gundog with real stamina and a strong nose underneath the family dog. You will need to brush that silky coat once or twice a week, check the long ears as a matter of routine, and give an intelligent dog something to think about. Read on to see what this breed asks of you.
In five points
- The English Cocker was first described in the late 14th century and recognised as its own breed by the Kennel Club England in 1892.
- The name comes from the job: these dogs were bred to hunt woodcock, flushing birds out of undergrowth and retrieving them with a soft mouth.
- Males stand ~40 cm and weigh ~14 kg, females ~38.5 cm and ~14 kg, which makes it larger than the American Cocker.
- The silky, medium-length coat needs brushing once or twice a week, plus a few professional grooms a year.
- It is friendly with strangers and rarely barks, which together with its size makes it suitable for apartment living.
History and Origin
The first description of the English Cocker Spaniel comes from Gaston Phebus in the late 14th century, but it took another 500 years for the breed to take its present form. All the English spaniel breeds descend from one type of spaniel brought to England centuries ago, which gradually separated into seven distinct breeds.
In 1892 the Kennel Club England recognised the Cocker Spaniel and the Welsh Springer Spaniel as separate breeds, with size the only thing distinguishing them. The name Cocker comes from the dog’s speciality: hunting woodcock, which is what shaped its hunting skills in the first place.
In the 1940s the American and Canadian Kennel Clubs recognised the English and the American Cocker as different breeds, with the Americans placing more emphasis on appearance. Today the English Cocker is mainly a family dog, though the hunting instinct and the skills that go with it are still very much there.
Physical characteristics, colours and grooming
The English Cocker is an alert, strongly built medium-sized dog with a compact, harmonious body. Males stand ~40 cm at the shoulder and females ~38.5 cm; males weigh ~14 kg and females ~14 kg.
The most striking feature is the long, lobed ears, which reach the tip of the nose and are covered in long straight hair. The eyes are dark and oval, the skull well developed with a clear stop, and the muzzle roughly as long as the skull.
The coat is medium-length, smooth and silky, with neither curl nor wave, and it grows longer around the ears, forelegs, chest and the backs of the hind legs into elegant feathering. The colours run from solid black, red, gold or liver through black and tan, parti-colour and the blue, orange and lemon roans. Brush or comb through it one to two times a week, paying attention to the feathering, where matting starts.
| Characteristic | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Height | ~40 cm | ~38.5 cm |
| Weight | ~14 kg | ~14 kg |
Heights and weights from the FCI breed standard.
Comparison of the English and the American Cocker Spaniel
| Characteristic | English Cocker |  American Cocker |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ~39 cm and ~14 kg, larger and more sturdily built | ~37 cm and ~11 kg, visibly smaller and more lightly built |
| Head | Longer, narrower muzzle, slightly flattened skull and slightly oval eyes | Short, broad muzzle, rounded skull and round eyes that look straight ahead |
| Coat | Medium-length, with less hair around the ears and legs | Long and dense, with plenty of hair around the ears and legs |
| Character | More energetic, more independent, more athletic | Softer, more sensitive, more attached to its people |
Both have long, low-set ears. Their grooming is similar: brushing twice a week and the groomer 3 to 4 times a year. Both are intelligent, sociable family dogs that enjoy company. The English Cocker suits an active family, the American a somewhat quieter one.
Personality and Temperament
The English Cocker is a sturdy, energetic, cheerful and friendly dog. It is a family-friendly breed and good company for children, with the caution that it does not tolerate teasing, and young children should never be left alone with any dog.
It is friendly towards strangers and rarely barks, which makes it straightforward to live with. Its intelligence shows in how quickly it picks up new commands, and the quiet command is one worth teaching early and rewarding deliberately.
Underneath the family dog there is still a working gundog with a strong hunting instinct and real stamina.
Health and Nutrition
The English Cocker is generally a healthy, energetic dog that with proper care lives a long life, on average ~14 years. It needs an active life with regular walks and play, and a diet matched to its energy level and age. A healthy adult needs the vet only once a year, for the annual vaccination.
Coat care is a health matter here rather than a cosmetic one. Regular trimming and proper maintenance prevent the matting and the skin problems that are common in this breed, and the long lobed ears want checking as a matter of routine because they shut out the air.
Socialisation and training belong in the same list. They keep the dog mentally stimulated and prevent the behavioural problems that an intelligent, under-occupied gundog will otherwise invent for itself.
Training and Exercise
Training an English Cocker takes a balanced approach that matches an intelligent, energetic nature. Reward wanted behaviour immediately, with a treat, praise or play: these dogs are eager to please and respond extremely well to positive reinforcement.
Give corrections that are timely and clear, a firm no when one is needed, because a Cocker’s intelligence means it works out quickly what is and is not acceptable. What it needs from an owner is calm, consistent leadership rather than force: clear rules, enforced the same way every time.
Start socialising as early as possible. Expose a puppy to different people, other dogs and new places, reward calm and friendly behaviour during introductions, and keep every social experience positive and controlled.
Choosing and caring for your English Cocker Spaniel
Choosing the right breed and breeder
The English Cocker is family-friendly and good company for children, though it does not tolerate teasing, so time with young children needs supervising and no young child should be left alone with a dog. It is friendly towards strangers, rarely barks, and is tolerant enough to get on with other pets. It wants to be with its people and will follow them about the house, so it does best where someone is around to give it that.
Good English Cockers are not easy to find everywhere, and they are sought after for their friendly character and their looks. That combination attracts sellers who use lures, or sell crossbreeds and call them purebred English Cockers.
The minimum age to take on a dog is eight weeks, and for socialisation and training a puppy taken at around that age is the better start.
Adopting an English Cocker from a shelter is a generous thing to do, but these are often dogs with a history behind them. It is worth considering when you already have a lot of experience with the breed, or when you already have another dog.
Essential daily care
Caring for an English Cocker Spaniel means committing to a daily routine that addresses their grooming, feeding, exercise and health needs.
For optimal daily care, focus on these key points:
Coat
Silky and medium-length. Brush or comb it one to two times a week, and watch the feathering, where matting starts.
Ears
Long and lobed, and they shut out the air. Check them as a matter of routine, not only when something looks wrong.
Food
Good quality, rich in animal protein, matched to the dog’s energy level and age.
Occupation
An intelligent gundog that is under-occupied will find its own job. Give it one first.
Regular veterinary visits are essential to monitor health, contributing to a longer lifespan for your English Cocker Spaniel. If you are considering getting a puppy, it is important to recognize a good breeder.
Recognised family business since 1990, now in its second generation
We are a recognized breeder of English Cocker Spaniel puppies in Belgium. Our ranch is in Putte (near Mechelen), between Brussels and Antwerp, about 40 kilometers from Brussels, 30 kilometers from Antwerp and 80 kilometers from Ghent. Our puppies are socialized on the ranch through contact with our caretakers and with other dogs and puppies. Woefkesranch has been a family business since 1990 and is now in its second generation. Every puppy is born in our own kennel under permanent supervision, with no imports and no middlemen. Families are guided before the purchase and are welcome back with their questions long afterwards.
Delivery to your door in and around Brussels, Cologne, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, DĂ¼sseldorf, Essen, The Hague…
If you have no transport, someone from Woefkesranch brings your puppy to your home, up to 250 km from Putte. Approximately: Hasselt 60 km, Charleroi 80 km, Mons 100 km, Liège 110 km, Bruges 120 km, Rotterdam 120 km, The Hague 150 km, DĂ¼sseldorf 180 km, Amsterdam 190 km, Cologne 190 km, Essen 220 km.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an English Cocker typically live?
Around 14 years, with care, diet and exercise making most of the difference.
Are English Cockers good with children?
Yes. They are playful and patient family dogs. The one caution is that this breed does not tolerate teasing, and no young child should be left alone with any dog.
Are they suitable for older owners?
For active ones, yes. At ~14 kg they are easy to handle, and the friendly, affectionate temperament suits a quieter household. The daily walk is not optional.
Can an English Cocker live in a flat?
Yes, given the exercise. They are sociable, form strong bonds and rarely bark, which is what makes flat living workable, but a gundog still needs a proper walk and something to think about.
What should an English Cocker eat?
Good quality food rich in animal protein, matched to the dog’s energy level and age. Active dogs need more, and dogs that have slowed down need less.
What does an English Cocker puppy cost?
Between 1000 and 2000 euro, depending on the breeder, the bloodline and the colour. What the price should never vary with is health, which must always come first whatever the dog costs.
Come and see
Make an appointment
Do you want to visit our puppies? You can also make an appointment.
- 100% Belgian puppies
- Professional statutory warranty
- 24/7 service after sale
- Puppies have all necessary vaccines
- Puppies are dewormed multiple times
- Chipped and with Belgian/European passport
- DNA-tested parents
