Cockers have a great sense of smell and are often used as sniffer dogs in airports or by police and the military. This sense of smell is part of what makes them good working dogs.
Another great thing about the Cocker Spaniel is their size. They're the smallest breed of sporting dog, standing at just 13 inches at their smallest, and 16 for a large dog.
Excluding accident or illness, cockers live a long time and can accompany you through life for up to 15 years. 10-14 years is the standard life expectancy, but with any breed, it varies depending on the dog's lifestyle, health, and genetics.
Cockers are friendly, happy dogs and often happy to approach and interact with strange people. While they will bond closely with their family.
One of the great joys of owning a Cocker Spaniel is how playful they are. Whether it's with their people, other dogs, toys, or even sticks they find on a walk, Cockers can turn pretty much anything into a game.
While they may look a bit dopey, Cockers are extremely smart. They have high adaptive intelligence, meaning they are easily trained for a variety of tasks and quick to pick up new information.
If your Cocker Spaniel's tail isn't wagging it's probably because they are asleep (and even then they may wag in a dream). If you've always dreamed of a happy little companion with a tail.
We have to talk about Cocker Spaniel eyelashes. While not every dog will have the amazing, Disney Princess-style sweeping lashes that you sometimes see, Cockers tend to have long luscious lashes that add to their soft, sweet looks.