Clumber Spaniel vs English Cocker Spaniel

Photo: Canarian

Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT

Side by side

Clumber Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel

Adult weight

Males 29.5–34 kg (65–75 lb); females 25–29.5 kg (55–65 lb)1

13–14.5 kg (29–32 lb)2

Height

Males 45.7–50.8 cm; females 43.2–48.3 cm1

No sourced figure

Lifespan

Median 12.3 years3

Median 13.3 years3

Fully grown

12 months, both sexes4

10 months, both sexes4

Group

Retrievers & water dogs1

Retrievers & water dogs5

Coat

Coat with feathering1

Coat with feathering5

Shedding

Sheds through the year

Grooming

Brushing a few times a week

Exercise

Plenty

Health

Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely)6

Dry eye (far more likely); Ear discharge (far more likely)7,8

Class

Companion

Family

Which suits you

Size

The Clumber Spaniel is much larger: about 30 kg (65 lb) as an adult, against 14 kg (30 lb) for the English Cocker Spaniel.

Lifespan

In UK vet records the English Cocker Spaniel lives longer: a median of 13.3 years, against 12.3 for the Clumber Spaniel.

Temperament

They differ most on affection (Clumber Spaniel: affectionate on its own terms; English Cocker Spaniel: a lap or leaning dog) and on independence (Clumber Spaniel: cooperative, with its own ideas; English Cocker Spaniel: keen to work with you).

Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.

Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Clumber Spaniel

Retrievers & water dogs · Large

In temperament the Clumber is calm, affectionate and steady, often reserved with strangers but rarely sharp. It has a reputation for a sense of humour and for carrying objects in its mouth.

English Cocker Spaniel

Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament it is cheerful and affectionate, and it is often called the merry cocker, a nod to its lively nature and busy tail. It is keen to please and closely attached to its people.

The Clumber Spaniel page →The English Cocker Spaniel page →

Breed traits

Day to day

Clumber Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel

Activity

A good daily walk and play

Intelligence

Differs

Easy-going, simple routines

Learns readily, likes games

Handler demand

Differs

Suits a first-time owner

Needs steady training

With people

Clumber Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel

Affection

Differs

Affectionate on its own terms

A lap or leaning dog

Loyalty

Bonded to its family

Independence

Differs

Cooperative, with its own ideas

Keen to work with you

Around the home

Clumber Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel

Sensitivity

Differs

Average

Needs a calm, predictable home

Voice

Differs

Quiet

Barks to alert, then settles

Prey drive

Chases; needs managing

Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes

Summary

Detail

The Clumber Spaniel grows to the heavier adult, about 30 kg against the English Cocker Spaniel's 14 kg.

Clumber Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel

More comparisons

Compare the Clumber Spaniel with

English Cocker Spaniel vs English Springer Spaniel American Cocker Spaniel vs English Cocker Spaniel Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs English Cocker Spaniel English Cocker Spaniel vs Golden Retriever English Cocker Spaniel vs Field Spaniel Clumber Spaniel vs Sussex Spaniel All breed comparisons →

Sources

1
FCI. Breed standard no. 109. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/109g08-en.pdf
2
The Kennel Club. English Cocker Spaniel breed standard. ↑
3
McMillan et al., 2024. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports 14, 531 (VetCompass). CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w
4
Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.8.2027S
5
FCI. Breed standard no. 5. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/005g08-en.pdf
6
O'Neill et al., 2025. Conformational eyelid disorders in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK - Epidemiology and clinical management. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326526
7
O'Neill et al., 2021. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK: an epidemiological study. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13382
8
Engdahl et al., 2024. English Cocker Spaniels under primary veterinary care in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1186/s40575-023-00136-x
9
Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
doi.org/10.1126/science.abk0639
10
Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/getting-dog/choosing-dog/finding-a-breeder
11
American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/screening-puppy-buyers-how-top-breeders-find-the-best-homes/
12
Salt et al., 2017. Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes. PLoS ONE 12(9): e0182064 (WALTHAM). CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182064

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