Welcome to your puppy knowledge base!

Bringing a Cocker Spaniel puppy into your life is a wonderful, heartwarming adventure. They’re intelligent, gentle, affectionate, playful, and they love being part of a family. This guide is here to support you and them every step of the way, from those first-day cuddles to creating healthy habits and a happy, manageable routine. Written by vets, it’s packed with trusted advice to help give your puppy the very best start in life.

Establishing routine

Structure brings calm to the chaos! With a consistent routine, your puppy will quickly learn when it’s time to eat, play, and snooze.

• Provide structure: ensure feeding, play, and toilet training happen at the same time each day.

• Puppies have small bladders. Take them outside often, especially after meals, naps, and play.

• Cocker Spaniels are lively, but they can also be sensitive souls. Avoid overstimulating them and provide a calm, secure bed or crate to rest in.

• Puppies can sleep up to 18–20 hours a day, helping their bodies to grow, their brains to develop, and a time to process everything they’ve learned. Lack of sleep can lead to irritability, poor learning, and even health problems.

Socialisation and training

Socialisation and training are key to a confident, well-behaved dog. Start early, keep it fun, and help your puppy learn that the world is a safe, happy place.

• Gradually introduce your Cocker Spaniel to new people, environments, sounds, and gentle, vaccinated dogs. Positive experiences help build their confidence, even for shy or sensitive puppies.

• Try teaching your puppy basic commands, such as “sit,” “stay,” and “come.”

• Reward good behaviour with treats, praise, or play to encourage its repetition.

• Keep training sessions brief (5–10 minutes) and fun. Cocker Spaniels are intelligent and eager to please, so positive reinforcement works best for training.

Did you know? The golden window for socialisation is between 3 and 16 weeks, a short but vital period for building your puppy’s confidence and curiosity.

Teething and chewing

Chewing is a normal (and important) part of your puppy’s teething. Here’s how to protect your furniture and help soothe those sore gums!

• If your puppy is drooling more or irritable, teething might be the cause. Baby teeth appear around 3 weeks and are usually all in by 8 weeks. These are gradually replaced by adult teeth between 3 and 7 months.

• Offer a variety of puppy-friendly, size-appropriate chew toys, including ones that can be chilled to soothe your Cocker Spaniel’s sore gums and protect their teeth.

• Gently redirect your puppy from furniture or hands to their chew toys, rewarding them when they chew the right things.

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Health and veterinary care

Healthy puppy = happy puppy! Vet visits, vaccines, and parasite prevention give your puppy the best start.

• Arrange a vet check within the first few weeks to check your puppy’s health and discuss vaccinations.

• Vaccinate your puppy to protect them against life-threatening infectious diseases, including distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis. The first vaccination course is usually at 8 weeks old, with another 1–2 injections at 4-week intervals to complete the initial course.

• Ask your vet about flea, tick, and worm prevention suitable for your puppy.

• Make sure they’re microchipped. By law, all puppies must be microchipped by eight weeks old.

• Cocker Spaniels are prone to ear infections, eye problems, and obesity. Keep their ears clean, control their diet, and provide daily exercise to protect their health.

Grooming basics

Grooming isn’t just about appearance. Cocker Spaniels require regular grooming to keep their silky coats healthy and tangle-free.

• Brush your puppy 2-3 times per week, paying particular attention to feathering on their legs, ears, and chest.

• Bathe from 8-12 weeks old if needed. Over-bathing can cause dry skin. Use gentle puppy shampoo and warm water, and dry them afterwards.

• Start nail-trimming early so your puppy gets used to it

• Check your puppy’s long floppy ears for redness, yeasty smell or discharge.

• Professional grooming every few months helps manage coat length and feathering.

• Start early. Make their grooming routine a positive and calming experience with treats and praise.

Tips for success

1. Patience: Stay calm, consistent, and positive as your puppy explores their new world.

2. Focus: Keep training sessions short, fun, and reward-based to hold your puppy’s attention.

3. Exercise: Short walks and gentle, supervised play keep puppies healthy and happy.

4. Socialisation: Introducing new people, places, and experiences gradually builds confidence and prevents fearful behaviours.

5. Mental stimulation: Cocker Spaniels love to learn. Games, puzzles, and gentle training help keep their clever brains occupied!

6. Professional help: Talk to a vet if you’re worried about your puppy’s health or behaviour.

Quick checklist for the first month

• Establish a consistent daily routine

• Start basic training and socialisation

• Keep an eye on teething and provide suitable toys

• Book a veterinary check

• Begin regular brushing and ear-checks

FAQs

Q: How often should I feed my Cocker Spaniel puppy?
A: Usually, it’s three to four small meals per day. Weigh portions rather than guesstimating to avoid overfeeding.

Q: When can I start taking my Cocker Spaniel on walks?
A: Start short, gentle walks once they’ve completed their puppy vaccination course, usually at about 14 weeks old.

Q: How can I stop my Cocker Spaniel puppy from biting?
A:  Redirect biting behaviour to suitable tough chew toys and encourage gentle play with praise and treats.

Q: Is it normal for my Cocker Spaniel puppy to sleep so much?
A: Absolutely! Healthy puppies need 16–20 hours of sleep per day, and a quiet, secure bed or crate to do so. 

Come back next month for tips on training and helping your puppy grow into a confident, well-behaved dog!