Our Breed

About the Breed: Field Bred English Cocker Spaniel

Meet the English Cocker Spaniel — a dog full of heart, drive, and personality. Here’s what makes this breed so unique:

Quite different then the American Cocker Spaniel, the English Cocker Spaniel brings intelligence, agility, and loyalty to the table! They have shorter coats over the body and some feathering around the legs, ears, and rear. They have higher set ears and are normally a little longer in the body in comparison to the American Cocker Spaniel. The English Cocker Spaniel is compact and sturdy! Their body size ranges from 22-38lbs and is within the range of 14-17in tall at the shoulder. Colours of the breed include a vast variety with variations in roans and solids as well as some to little ticking in the coat. They are sleek and agile, with the ability to get low and go into places where the larger dogs struggle. Active and happy, they meet the stereotype of any sporting breed with the need to keep exercised and mentally stimulated. This breed is personable with a high desire to please their owner(s), work hard, and try their best. 

The field bred English Cocker Spaniel are:

1. Born Hunters - English Cockers are hunting dogs, bred to flush and retrieve game animals. They work hard, with their noses to the soil, covering ground efficiently. With a strong drive, these little dogs make short of the job in front of them. Tails at a constant wag, the English Cocker Spaniel is a merry hunting partner. 

2. Great Retrievers - Not shy about having any object in their mouth, the ECS are born retrievers! Minimal training is required for them to love the game of fetch with any object, whenever you ask.

3. Unmatched Loyalty - By your side at all times, they go where you go. When you join their ‘circle’, you are their friend for life! They love their families with everything they have and treasure every pet, hug, and cuddle.

4. Higher Energy and Driven - English Cockers naturally have a lot of energy. They need daily outlets for their drive through exercise, training, and structured activities. Their potential is endless the jobs the can perform! They go all day, every day. 

5. Natural Water Lovers - This breed loves to swim, and swimming pulls together everything they were built for: retrieving, exercising, and staying mentally sharp.

6. Full of Character - Life with an English Cocker is never dull. They’re goofy, full of joy, and always ready to make you laugh whether it’s sleeping upside down, chasing their own tails, or inventing their next game. They’re always smiling, with a tail that never stops wagging.

7. Intelligent - This breed is quick to learn, have a high desire to please, and love to work their brains and continue learning. The possibilities in their capabilities are infinite! Cockers pick up new tricks very quickly, and it takes little time for them to master a new skill. Because they are highly intelligent working dogs, they do require clear training and leadership.

 

8. Agile and Athletic - Often leaving other breeds of their size far behind, this breed is made to surpass expectations both in agility and in stamina! They are quick on their feet and can easily keep up in most busy settings. Compact and sturdy, they are bred to last.

9. Exceptional Noses -Their sense of smell is extraordinary. They love to put their noses to work and you will often watch them moving low, covering ground, with their noses to the ground. ECS are known to work in fields such as bird hunting, shed hunting, and scentwork such as narcotics.

10. Natural On/Off Switch - As they mature and with some training, English Cockers start to develop a true “on/off” switch. After a good day of work and play, they are perfectly content to relax and cuddle with you in the evenings. They also learn when to let out their crazy side and when to rein it in and be relaxed.

11. Sensitive Souls - While they can be stubborn, English Cockers are typically “soft” dogs who want nothing more than to please their people. They respond well to clear, firm, but gentle correction.

Tendencies:

The Field Bred English Cocker Spaniel is a working breed that requires mental and physical stimulation to be the best versions of themselves. Without meeting these requirements for a puppy or adult, unwanted behaviors can occur. While each individual dog is different in how they respond to lack of discipline, boundaries, and proper stimulation, these are some of the behaviours that can occur:

• Chewing: built for retrieving, this breed is destined for having an object in their mouth, whether wanted or unwanted. This can lead to getting into trouble with chewing outside of their own toys or nipping when playing.

• Resource Guarding: an unwanted behaviour that can occur when lack of discipline and boundaries are not made clear to the dog. Resource guarding is when the dog or puppy becomes overprotective of their space, toys, or food. A defensive reaction that can turn aggressive if not dealt with properly.

• Wandering: with a high drive and amazing noses, they tend to put their head down and take the trail the scent leads them. This can lead to them losing focus on their owners and taking off. Wandering mostly occurs in unsupervised and unfenced scenarios (such as being loose in a park or on a farm). A proper and strong recall is vital!

• Energetic: destined to work hard, play hard this breed has the stamina and athleticism to do a job. They have lots of energy and lacking proper outlets can make them off-the-walls crazy, counter surfers and hole digger pocket rockets.

Cockers thrive on structure, discipline, and clear boundaries. The breed is incredibly intelligent and will take advantage of freedom and become the leader of the home. This can lead to these negative behaviours. With strong structure and boundaries in their training and day-to-day life, English Cocker Spaniels can easily develop an on/off switch that separates their crazy and calm side. Reminder: An owner can cultivate good behaviours or bad behaviours. 

Why We Love This Breed

A couple reasons why our family fell in love with English Cockers include their energy, drive, and their incredible work ethic.

We love how these little dogs pack the heart and stamina of a big dog, yet they’re small enough to cuddle with on the couch in the evenings.

That famous “on/off switch” is something we see in every dog we live with: full throttle when it’s time to work, and total relaxation when it’s time to rest.

We are an active family, whether it’s doing chores around the farm, hiking, swimming in the summer, or hunting.

Wherever we go, you’ll always find a shadow at our side and that shadow is almost always a spaniel.

Their size makes them perfect companions for all of life’s adventures, easy to bring anywhere we go.

These dogs are incredibly versatile. Their natural ability and intelligence allows them to be taught anything! With a few of us having the passion for hunting, getting into agility, or having our pups used in a therapy setting, ECS can do it all and do it well.

We enjoy allowing our dogs to have free time exploring when we go on walks or hikes. There’s nothing better than taking them into the field and watching their instincts take over, zig-zagging with their noses to the ground, it’s pure magic!

Others of us love how athletic they are.

They can fly through an agility course with ease, jumping, weaving, and racing through obstacles all while strengthening the bond between dog and handler.

And for some of us, they are first and foremost our family companions.

These dogs are loyal to the core, always willing to be a part of whatever you’re doing, no matter the day. If they could have it their way, they would never leave your side.

It’s not uncommon for friends, even those who don’t usually like dogs, to fall completely in love with our spaniels. Their sweet, goofy personalities are impossible to resist. Whether it’s the classic “spaniel stare,” their joyful wiggles, or their floppy ears and crazy hair-dos, these dogs know exactly how to steal your heart!

They are just that special!

Once you live with an English Cocker Spaniel, life is never quite the same and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

What we pride ourselves on:

As breeders, we strive to better the English Cocker Spaniel breed both in health, quality and behaviour. We stand behind our dogs and program 100% in the dogs we keep back and the puppies that go to new homes. Our program includes extensive training with our adult dogs, genetic health testing, and breed specific OFA testing (hips, elbows, and patellas). We prioritize breeding healthy dogs, and producing healthy puppies. Our kennel ensures the health of our dogs by having great vet support and regular checkups with our dogs and an overlook of our facility. Each of our puppies go to their new homes with full breeder support for the lifetime of the puppy, 2 year genetic health guarantee, and a no-breeding contract. If you bring home one of our puppies we also have a community of Windygates puppies/owners through Facebook to help you as you navigate life with your new puppy! Furthermore, all our dogs are CKC registered, a mark of their distinguished lineage and quality.

Why is health testing important?

Health testing is important as it minimizes future issues with a puppy or dog and allows us to be selective in breeding to prioritize healthy dogs. Buying a dog that has been health tested will help prevent genetic problems and keep vet bills to a minimum.