English Cocker Spaniel vs Lagotto Romagnolo

An English Cocker Spaniel
Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT
A Lagotto Romagnolo
Photo: Alberto Ziveri

Side by side

English Cocker Spaniel
Lagotto Romagnolo
Adult weight
13–14.5 kg (29–32 lb)1
Males 13–16 kg (29–35 lb); females 11–14 kg (24–31 lb)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 43–48 cm; females 41–46 cm2
Lifespan
Median 13.3 years3
No sourced figure
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Retrievers & water dogs5
Retrievers & water dogs2
Coat
Coat with feathering5
Curly coat2
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
Dry eye (far more likely); Ear discharge (far more likely)6,7
No sourced figure
Class
Family
Companion

Which suits you

Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the English Cocker Spaniel sheds through the year, the Lagotto Romagnolo holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (English Cocker Spaniel: a lap or leaning dog; Lagotto Romagnolo: affectionate on its own terms) and on independence (English Cocker Spaniel: keen to work with you; Lagotto Romagnolo: cooperative, with its own ideas).
Alike
The English Cocker Spaniel and the Lagotto Romagnolo are much the same size as adults, both about 14 kg (30 lb).
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

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.

Lagotto Romagnolo
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament the breed is affectionate with its household, keen and attentive. It keeps the working nose of a truffle dog and a strong urge to dig, and it is alert enough to announce visitors.

The English Cocker Spaniel page →The Lagotto Romagnolo page →

Breed traits

Day to day
English Cocker Spaniel
Lagotto Romagnolo
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
English Cocker Spaniel
Lagotto Romagnolo
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Keen to work with you
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
English Cocker Spaniel
Lagotto Romagnolo
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 14 kg.
English Cocker Spaniel
Lagotto Romagnolo
051015202m4m6m9m12m18m
051015202m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the English Cocker Spaniel with
English Cocker Spaniel vs English Springer SpanielAmerican Cocker Spaniel vs English Cocker SpanielCavalier King Charles Spaniel vs English Cocker SpanielEnglish Cocker Spaniel vs Golden RetrieverEnglish Cocker Spaniel vs Field SpanielLagotto Romagnolo vs Portuguese Water DogAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·