Cocker Spaniels are playful and loving dogs. Even if this sporting breed is small, they still have a lot of energy to spend.
Thus, proper physical activity and mental stimulation are essential for them to stay healthy and happy. But now you probably wonder how much exercise you should provide to your Cocker Spaniel?
How Much Exercise Does A Cocker Spaniel Need?
In general, a healthy adult Cocker Spaniel needs at least 45 to 90 minutes of daily exercise. This should include daily walks, some vigorous activity, and mind enrichment. Your dog’s exercise requirements will also vary according to his age, health, energy level, and whether he’s an American or English Cocker Spaniel.
What Can Influence Your Dog’s Exercise Needs?
Unfortunately, the rule of thumb mentioned up there isn’t accurate for all Cocker Spaniels. Each dog has different requirements, so you have to figure out what type and amount of workouts are appropriate for yours.
Here are the four main elements that will determine how much exercise your Cocker Spaniel needs!
- How Old Is He?
- What Are His Health & Physical Conditions?
- How Much Energy He Has To Spend?
- Is He An American or An English Cocker Spaniel?
How Much Exercise Does Your Puppy Cocker Spaniel Need?
The general guideline is to provide young dogs with around 5 minutes of exercise for each month of age they have, up to twice per day. For instance, a 3-month-old Cocker Spaniel should have anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes of moderate physical activity.
Too much, too vigorous, or too little exercise for a puppy can interfere with his development. Here’s how much time per day your pup should be active according to his age.
| Puppy Age | Exercise Needs |
| 3 Months Old | 15-30 Minutes |
| 4 Months Old | 20-40 Minutes |
| 5 Months Old | 25-45 Minutes |
| 6 Months Old | 30-60 Minutes |
At a young age, your Cocker Spaniel is also extremely fragile. With growing bones, joints, and muscle, vigorous physical activity isn’t safe for him. Instead, you should provide him with more appropriate exercise such as gentle walking and free playtime. (E.g. Fun games & Dog toys)
When Will Your Cocker Spaniel Be Fully Grown?
To start enjoying intense dog sports or adventures, your Cocker Spaniel has to be an adult. Once he’s fully developed and well-prepared, he should have everything necessary to exercise with you more seriously.
On average, a Cocker Spaniel stops growing around 24 months old. Before that age, your pup is too fragile for strenuous exercise.
If you don’t respect his limits, he can injure himself or develop serious problems. Thus, it’s essential to provide your puppy Cocker Spaniel with proper physical activity.
How Much Exercise Does Your Senior Cocker Spaniel Need?
Once your dog has passed middle age, his level of energy will gradually decrease. He will also be more prone to joint problems, physical conditions, and other medical issues. Thus, an old Cocker Spaniel won’t need as much exercise as an adult one.
Around 7-9 years of age, your senior dog should replace high-impact sports with moderate physical activity. Swimming, walking, or any other joint-friendly exercise can be ideal for him to stay in good shape without risk.
Consider Your Dog’s Health To Provide Him With Proper Exercise!
Cocker Spaniels generally have good physical conditions, but they are still prone to some diseases. They can suffer from elbow/hip dysplasia, joint issues, and many other medical problems. Thus, I highly recommend you to adapt your dog’s exercise routine according to his health situation.
The best way to know what his conditions are is to talk with a veterinarian. At the same time, you can ask him for personal advice on how much you should exercise your Cocker Spaniel.
Take Into Account Your Cocker Spaniel’s Energy Level!
Sporting dog breeds are usually very active companions. Cocker Spaniels are no exception, so they have enough strength and vitality to enjoy sustained physical activity for long periods. However, some dogs are more hyper than others, even if they are from the same breed.
To meet your Cocker Spaniel exercise needs, it’s essential to consider his energy level. The more lively he is, the more physical activity and mental stimulation he will need to be satisfied.
If your dog is extremely energetic, be ready to work out regularly to keep him healthy and happy!
What Is The Difference Between The Exercise Needs Of An English VS American Cocker Spaniels?
Your dog’s breed is one of the most important aspects to analyze if you want to care properly for his well-being. Thus, the origin of your Cocker Spaniel can help you find out how much exercise he needs.
There are two types of Cocker Spaniels, the American and the English. Even if they are extremely similar, they still have a few differences. Thus, let’s see why their exercise requirements are not the same.
The English Cocker Spaniel was originally bred for hunting. Consequently, he needs a lot of physical activity to stay healthy and happy. Outdoor adventures including long walks and hikes are great ways to exercise such an active dog.
On the other hand, the American Cocker Spaniel was bred for companionship. That’s why his exercise requirements may be slightly less important. Nonetheless, this dog breed still needs moderate physical activity, mental stimulation, and social interaction.
| Cocker Spaniel Breed | Exercise Needs |
| American Cocker Spaniel | 45-60 Minutes |
| English Cocker Spaniel | 60-90 Minutes |
The Strain.
Besides your dog’s breed, what he (or his ancestors) was bred for is also important. Both the American and English Cocker Spaniel can be trained for different purposes.
Working Cockers (usually English Cocker Spaniels) are bred to become gun dogs. Thus, they naturally have good physical conditions, stamina, and a lot of energy.
This type of Cocker Spaniel still makes awesome pets, but they need more exercise. For example, such an active working dog can be the perfect hiking or running partner.
On the other hand, you have the show Cockers (generally American Cocker Spaniels. They are bred for companionship and to perform at dog shows. Consequently, they aren’t as energetic and athletic as field Cockers.
That’s why non-working Cocker Spaniels require less exercise. Their loving personality and more calm temperament make them great family dogs. Show Cockers should be fine with 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity and mental stimulation.
| Cocker Spaniel Strain | Exercise Requirements |
| Show Cockers | 30-60 Minutes |
| Working Cockers | 60-90 Minutes |
How To Exercise Your Cocker Spaniel Properly?
Once you’ve determined approximately how much exercise your dog needs, it’s time to take action. Understanding his requirements is useless if you do nothing to meet them. Thus, here’s some information to help you provide your Cocker Spaniel with proper exercise!
Walking As Exercise For Cocker Spaniels!
Daily walks are essential for every dog to stay in good shape. It’s much more than simple “potty breaks”. Walking is an excellent source of physical activity and mental stimulation.
Strolling around the neighborhood with your Cocker Spaniel also allows him to socialize, improve his manners, and spend his pent-up energy.
Thus, this type of moderate exercise is important to care for his well-being and happiness. But you might wonder how long you should walk with your dog?
A healthy adult Cocker Spaniel requires to walk for a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes (1-2 miles) per day. Ideally, such an active dog breed should go out at least two times a day for walking. Thus, two or three daily walks between 10 and 20 minutes each should be enough for most Cocker Spaniels.
How To Provide Your Cocker Spaniel With Vigorous Physical Activity?
Apart from moderate walking, you have many other options to exercise your dog. If you want to spend all of his excess energy and keep him fit, physical activity is the way to go. If you have no idea how to work out with your Cocker Spaniel, here are some suggestions!
- Running.
For active people, running is an excellent opportunity to provide their dog with proper physical activity. Heading out on trails with your Cocker Spaniel can be extremely efficient to tire him out. It’s also great to strengthen your bond and improve your health together.
How Far Can A Cocker Spaniel Run?
Most healthy adult Cocker Spaniels should be suitable to run anywhere between 2 to 5 miles with some training and preparation. Thus, they are relatively good running partners. If your Cocker Spaniel is very energetic and athletic, he may be able to run up to 8-12 miles.
Here’s more information about running with your Spaniel!
- Dog Sports.
Running isn’t the only physical activity you can do with your Cocker Spaniel. There are many other dog sports such as agility training, swimming, and urban mushing (canicross, bikejoring & skijoring) you should consider to exercise together.
If you want to keep your pooch active and stimulated, there’s nothing better than including him in your favorite activity.
For example, you can take him with you on your next adventure if you’re an outdoor enthusiast like me. Hiking is an excellent way to provide purposeful activity and mental stimulation to your Cocker Spaniel while having fun!
- Interactive Games.
Another great way to burn up your dog’s energy is with fun activities. Playing fetch is probably the most popular one.
But there are still many other games you can enjoy together. Tug-of-war, tag, and hide & seek are great exercise ideas to keep a Cocker Spaniel active and stimulated.
If your dog has high prey drive, chasing bubbles can be an excellent solution to tire him out. Teaching and watching him running after and blowing up bubbles is very funny too.
Depending on the season, you can also have a lot of fun playing together with a garden hose, in leaves, or the snow.
- Play With Dog Toys.
My last but not the least suggestion to provide your Cocker with proper exercise is to purchase items designed for this purpose. Dog toys are extremely useful to keep him busy and in good shape.
For active working Spaniels with an innate urge to hunt, the Flirt Pole can be great as exercise equipment. It’s kind of a giant teaser cat toy, but for dogs. Chasing the lure will engage your dog’s prey drive and spend his energy efficiently.
To play fetch or tug-of-war with your Cocker Spaniel, you need specific dog toys. For the ball, I highly recommend the ChuckIt Ultra Ball. To make your retrieving games more enjoyable for everyone, you should also consider the ChuckIt Ball Launcher.
To play interactive tugging with your dog, this pack of 4 rope toys is an excellent choice. For heavy chewers, I would recommend something that’s more durable and virtually indestructible such as the Goughnuts Tug MaXX.
There are many other great dog toys to tire out and play with your Cocker Spaniel. With my recommendations, you should be alright to provide him with proper physical activity.
Nonetheless, stimulating your dog’s body isn’t the only thing that’s important to keep him healthy and happy!
What About Mental Exercise For Cocker Spaniels?
Mind enrichment is as essential as physical activity for dogs. With intelligent breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel, it’s even more important for you to entertain them mentally. Cognitive work mostly includes training, brain games, challenging toys, and scent work.
The main source of mental stimulation your Cocker Spaniel should have is through constant learning. That’s why teaching him new skills, commands, and tricks is essential for his mind enrichment.
Obedience and agility training are great ways to keep such a smart dog breed mentally satisfied.
The shell game, dog puzzles, or chew toys are also excellent ideas to challenge your Cocker Spaniel’s mind. With the right products, it’s not too difficult to keep him busy and stimulated.
My ultimate toy recommendations for mental exercise would be the Kong Classic and the Nina Ottosson Brick Puzzle.
Scent games such as “Find The Treats” and “Nosework” are other awesome ideas for cognitive enrichment. This type of activity will allow him to sniff around, relax his mind, and satisfy his natural desire to track scents.
Therefore, treasure hunts can be as fun and stimulating for Cocker Spaniel as it is for kids.
There are many other ways to provide your dog with proper mental stimulation. Just don’t make the common mistake of thinking that exercise is all about physical activity, fitness, and sports.
Challenging your Cocker Spaniel’s mind is also essential for his well-being and happiness!
Why Is Exercise So Important For Your Cocker Spaniel?
If you don’t meet any of your dog’s requirements, there will be consequences. First of all, physical activity and mental stimulation are essential for his overall health. Without proper exercise, Cocker Spaniels are more prone to obesity, diseases, and many other medical problems.
Besides your dog’s fitness, his well-being can also be influenced by how active and stimulated he is. If you don’t provide him with enough mental exercise, he’s very likely to get bored.
In this state, your Cocker Spaniel will find ways to entertain himself if you don’t. More particularly, this can lead him to develop destructive behaviors such as chewing, digging, barking, or even aggression.
Signs Your Cocker Spaniel Needs More Physical Activity or Mental Stimulation!
Understanding what your dog’s exercise requirements are is important, but the theory isn’t always accurate.
That’s why you should be aware of the possible symptoms that indicate he needs more time to spend his energy and/or to stimulate his brain properly. Here are some common signs Cocker Spaniels have when they lack exercise.
- Depression Symptoms.
- Destructive Behaviors.
- Excessive Barking.
- Restlessness or Hyperactivity.
- Stiffness.
- Unhealthy Weight.
- Etc.
Can You Over-Exercise Your Cocker Spaniel?
If you’re extremely active with your dog, you might wonder how much physical activity is too much. Obviously, it depends on his conditions and limits. However, most Cocker Spaniels should not do over 2 hours of vigorous exercise per day.
Working out for too long or too intensely can be dangerous for your dog. Even with an energetic breed such as the Cocker Spaniel, excessiveness is as bad as insufficiency. Thus, it’s important to find the right balance to exercise him properly.
Signs Your Cocker Spaniel Is Getting Too Much Exercise!
Dogs will always try to keep up with your pace even if it’s not safe for them. Thus, you need to know the indicators it’s time for your Cocker Spaniel to stop or calm down. Let me share with you some signs he can have if you over-exercise him.
Short Term Signs:
- Confusion/Incoordination.
- Excessive panting.
- Exercise-induced collapse.
- Extreme thirst.
- Decreased energy.
- Trouble breathing.
- Trouble walking or standing.
- Drooling.
- Wobbliness
- Etc.
Long Term Symptoms:
- Sore muscles.
- Damaged paw pads.
- Joint injury.
- Behavioral changes.
- Etc.
Last Thoughts About How Much Exercise Does Your Cocker Spaniel Need!
Finally, your dog may need more physical activity and mental stimulation than you thought. To keep an adult Cocker Spaniel healthy and happy, he should have at least 45 minutes of exercise per day. However, yours can require much more if he’s in good shape and has a lot of energy to spend.
I hope my article will help you meet your dog’s need to care properly for his well-being. Now it’s time to go out and try all the exercise ideas I’ve shared with you today. It would be awesome to see you both working out at the park or hiking mountains together.
Have Fun & Take Care!