Cocker Spaniel Puppies for Sale in Scotland

Once you’ve been smitten by a Cocker Spaniel, it’s said you never look back. There are plenty of pinterest, Facebook and instagram accounts dedicated to the love of Cocker Spaniels. You just need to look into those beautiful puppy dog eyes – remember ‘Lady’ from Lady and The Tramp!

There isn’t any doubt that this love is reciprocated as this furry friend is indeed a human love-bug and loves being around his owners.

Whether you’re looking for a Working Cocker Spaniel – a dog bred specifically as a working gun dog with the ability to stay out all day in the shooting field or would rather go for a show-type dog – the type you would normally see in Crufts with its appealing glossy coat and compact size, there isn’t any doubt that the Cocker Spaniels make a great family pet.

Whatever you decide on, Cockers are busy active little dogs! If you’re looking for a Cocker Spaniel puppy in Scotland, it’s worth bearing in mind that the Working Cocker may have more reserves of stamina and need exercised a bit more. He’s a dog that’s been genetically bred for working and needs a lot of exercise and mental stimulus. The Show-type Cocker on the other-hand still loves to go for long country walks but he might just tire out a little easier!

Anyone looking for a Cocker Spaniel puppy in Scotland should contact a selection of breeders first to find out which kind of puppies they have, so they can make the right choice for their lifestyle.

Temperament

If you’re looking for a Cocker Spaniel puppy for sale in Scotland, it’s worth knowing that this breed is playful and full of life; Cockers are loveable with boundless energy, however, their sociable nature and eagerness to be involved in family activities makes them relatively easy to train.

The Cocker is highly intelligent so training is important from puppyhood. Good socialisation with the family and other pets is important to make the Cocker a confident dog who knows his place. He likes to know who is the leader, so remind him on occasion – he likes this guidance and reassurance.

Gentle positive commands reinforced by treats make the best way to get the most out of this kind of dog because he can be a bit stubborn when he wants to, however, the Cocker is also known to be very food motivated and so patience, gentle reminders and treats are the best ways to train.

This furry friend makes for a good watchdog and will soon let you know when someone comes to your door, but, once a visitor has been let inside they are regarded as another friend!

The Cocker tends to get on with most people and other pets; happy, compassionate, intelligent, loyal and resilient, he’s a truly reliable dog. He is also kind and playful with children making him an ideal family pet. His continous wagging tail has him known in the doggy world as the ‘Merry Cocker’!

Cocker Spaniels love all activity so obedience, flyball, agility classes and working trials are all activities he would excel in.

Description of the Cocker Spaniel

The good looking Cocker has round, soulful eyes which reflect their intelligence; these dogs are gentle souls but always alert.

The Working Cocker can look quite different physically from the Show-strain Cocker; they tend to be bigger, sturdier-looking dogs and have flatter skulls and higher-set shorter ears in comparison with the show-type. The Working Cocker’s coat also tends to be heavier and has far less feathering than the glossy show-type dog.

The Kennel Club breed standard for the Working Cocker Spaniel’s coats accepts that it can be liver or liver and roan in colour or liver and white.

The Show-type Cocker Spaniel has a wonderfully silky coat with plenty of feathering on his legs and a well-set chest that is neither too narrow, nor too wide. His coat can come in a variety of colours acceptable to the breed standard including, black, golden, red and chocolate. Other acceptable coat colours include parti-colours, bi-colours, tri-colours and roans.

With long ears that lie close to his head and an attractive square-framed muzzle, the Cocker’s jaw is strong with a perfect-bite – a throwback to his Working Cocker days when these dogs would hunt out woodcocks from the fields.

This breed likes to be in the hub of the family and does not like to be left alone. The Cocker can actually develop serious separation anxiety if he’s not trained from a young age to use a crate or to go to his own bed. They need to know that they can’t be with you all of the time.

The Cocker Spaniel stands at between 38 to 41cm and weighs in at 13 to 14.5kg.

Lifespan

If you’re looking for a Cocker Spaniel puppy for sale in Scotland, it’s worth noting that they can live up to 10 to 12 years! It’s a good lifespan for a medium-sized dog who will be happy to go everywhere with you.

Exercise

If you’re looking for a Cocker Spaniel puppy for sale in Scotland, it’s worth knowing that a he needs at least two thirty minute walks each day to keep him physically fit and mentally stimulated.

The Cocker Spaniel is a bundle of energy and without his walks he can he can get bored and start getting up to mischief!

Always be wary of your Cocker Spaniel around water. All spaniels love water so, try to keep him on a lead near any potentially dangerous areas of water and ice.

Owners of Spaniels should also never let their dog off leash near livestock as their history of flushing out the woodcock could repeat itself.

Grooming

The amount of grooming required by a Cocker Spaniel can be quite time-consuming especially if you keep your Cocker’s coat in the long show-style. This would take daily grooming to keep out tangles and knots, however, those looking to keep a more casual family pet could keep their dog’s coat shorter.

All Cocker’s benefit from attending the grooming parlour to keep their coat in check every two-to three months. They also benefit from bathing with gentle doggy or baby shampoo, but this needn’t be done too often as it can upset the gentle balance of the dog’s skin and Spaniels can be prone to skin allergies.

Cockers will shed – though some more than others, so it’s worth asking the breeder about their parents’ coats when buying.

Feeding

Cocker Spaniels should be kept on a routine diet of feeding twice per day. Treats should make up 20% of his daily diet. Owners should account for this and take heed of the instructions of their vet on feeding for the perfect weight for their dog’s frame to avoid extra strain on joints and hips.

The Working Cocker may need a diet containing more protein to satiate his appetite and levels of stamina required for work in the fields.

The Cocker Spaniel has a healthy appetite and can be a bit greedy so try not to allow begging at the dinner table for food. You could make a rod for your back is you appease those adorable eyes piercing through the dinner table. This is not desirable behaviour at anytime, especially when you have guests!

Cost of Keeping a Cocker Spaniel

If you’re looking for a Cocker Spaniel puppy in Scotland, you should know that the average price to buy a puppy ranges between £500 to £900. It will cost on average between around £60 to £100 per month to keep a classy Cocker in your life, if you include food, pet insurance, grooming and vaccinations and neutering.