When people think of the majestic Cocker Spaniel, they expect them to be expensive right away. While it’s possible, their actual average cost from a trusted breeder can run anywhere between $700 to $2,000.
If you’re on a tight budget, a lot of local shelters offer them for around $50 to $400. This price range highly depends on the dog's age and health conditions.
You also might not be able to track the dog's bloodline since it's a rescue dog.
Let’s take a look at the other factors and costs you need to consider before getting a Cocker Spaniel.
What Are the Factors That Affect a Cocker Spaniel’s Price?
Getting a Cocker Spaniel isn’t as pricey as other in-demand breeds, such as Pugs and Bulldogs. However, breeders can definitely get those price tags higher than the average range.
A Cocker Spaniel’s price can increase depending on the following factors:
- If the dog has a champion lineage or is American Kennel Club (AKC) registered
- You’re buying from a popular and trusted breeder
- The dog’s gender
- The colors of the dog’s coat
If one of the Cocker Spaniel’s parents is AKC-registered, the price will likely reach more than $2,000. The puppy would also still be coming from a champion lineage, even if it’s the grandparents from the mother’s side.
Furthermore, you can expect the price to increase if you’re getting it from a highly popular breeder. That high-quality care and puppy services will surely reflect on the price of the dog.
The Color of the Cocker Spaniel’s Coat
The common coat colors of the Cocker Spaniel include black and gold. If you’re looking for other rarer colors, you’ll end up paying more than the average range.
Here are some of the rare coat colors of a Cocker Spaniel:
- Merle
- Liver
- Blue roan
- Orange roan
- Tri-color (black, white, and tan)
If you’re getting any of these, you might be looking at a price range of $3,000 and above.
Other Costs to Consider
Once you get the initial payment out of the way, consider the costs of providing for the Cocker Spaniel. You’ll have to allot a budget for food, health care, entertainment, and the like.
These are the yearly average costs of owning a Cocker Spaniel:
Food Budget
Cocker Spaniels don’t need any special diet unless they have allergies or your vet recommends it. More often than not, you should be good with quality dog food for medium-sized dogs.
Trusted dog food brands such as Pedigree, Blue Buffalo, and Purina can serve as your puppy and adult dog food. A puppy can consume up to 100 lbs of dog food, while an adult can go for 140 lbs.
This brings us to an average annual cost of $100 to $130 for puppies. As for adult dogs, it’ll be around $120 to $150, depending on the brand of dog food.
Health Care and Potential Vet Costs
It’s best to visit your vet at least once or twice a year to keep your Cocker Spaniel healthy. An average checkup can cost $50 to $100, depending on the needed procedures.
Assuming that there are no concerns, vet costs and health care can go for around $100 to $150 per year.
However, Cocker Spaniels have a few common ailments to watch out for. Here’s a list of health issues these dogs are prone to and how much it costs to treat them:
- Allergies – $200 to $1,500
- Skin infections – $1,000 to $5,000
- Dental problems – $300 to $800
- Obesity – $500 to $900
- Eye infections – $1,300 to $3,000
You can prevent any conditions from worsening by asking your seller for the dog’s medical history. Regular vet checkups are also a good idea so that you can seek advice for your dog.
Grooming Fees
Cocker Spaniels have long hair that needs regular grooming and maintenance. If left ungroomed, these dogs may develop various skin and eye infections.
You can keep their coats at a healthy length by going for 4 to 8 grooming sessions per year. The annual cost of grooming can get you around $300 more or less.
If you know how to groom your dog safely and properly, you can save a few hundred bucks.
Insurance Costs
Since the Cocker Spaniel is prone to a few health issues, you can consider getting dog insurance. This can help trim down your expenses, especially if a condition needs surgery.
If you’re planning to get dog insurance, you’re looking at an annual cost of $240 for accidents only. For accidents and illnesses, it can go up to $584.
While that may be a large sum of money, it still beats having to spend thousands of dollars.
Playtime and Entertainment
Buying toys for your dog is a great way of stimulating their brains, as well as keeping them busy. Since every dog is unique, try to observe its behavior first before buying a toy.
If you notice that they chew on a lot of things, get them a chew toy that’s durable enough. You can also go for some fetch toys so that you can be part of their playtime.
On average, this could cost you around $30 to $60 per year. Take note that this is only under the assumption that their toy breaks or gets lost every year.
Training Budget
While hiring a professional trainer can be a good idea, it’s not necessary for a Cocker Spaniel. You can always train the dog yourself to save money and get some time to bond as well.
A walk in the park or short training sessions indoors will barely cost you any money. However, if you’re still considering professional training, sessions can go for $100 to $200.
Pet Sitter Fees
Cocker Spaniels are sociable dogs that are great companions for the whole family. While it’s best to stay with them as much as possible, you can consider hiring a pet sitter.
It may not be a good idea to leave them alone as they might develop anxiety. If you travel a lot and can’t bring them, a pet sitter will cost you $250 to $375 per week.
If you have a friend or family member who can look after them while you’re away, that’d be better.
Calvin is the co-founder and one of the main contributors to dogtemperament.com. He has been an avid dog lover all his life. He enjoys researching and sharing great ideas on how you can avoid common pitfalls of dog ownership and build the most loving and enjoyable relationship with your dog.
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