How Much Does A Cocker Spaniel Cost – Cocker Spaniel Price
Cocker Spaniels are one of the oldest recognized dog breeds out there. Adorable and friendly, it is easy to see why anyone would love to make them an addition to their household. Yet, they are not the cheapest dog breed to own.
Knowing what you are looking at as far as Cocker Spaniel cost is really important before you decide to go ahead and buy one.
After the initial cost of buying the dog, Cocker Spaniels will require grooming, food, and vet visits, all of which will continually come out of your pocket throughout your dog’s life.
This is what you need to know about the cost of a Cocker Spaniel.
The Average Cocker Spaniel Price
To begin with, let’s look at what the average cost of adopting a Cocker Spaniel is. On average, a Cocker Spaniel will cost between $500 and $1,500 to adopt as a puppy. The average cost of a Cocker Spaniel puppy is about $800.
The less expensive Cocker Spaniels are that price, because they usually are not from a reputable breeder and do not have AKC papers to work with. You might even be adopting one from a shelter. Shelter fees can be low, but are usually higher when it comes to puppies.
On the higher end of the spectrum, you will find a dog that is good for breeding and might even be good to take to shows. These dogs will have a lineage, papers, and registration that shows that they are high-quality, purebred Cocker Spaniels.
The more average cost is a dog that is likely purebred, but probably doesn’t have the papers to show it.
Factors That Can Affect Cocker Spaniel Price
While we may have mentioned it can be expensive to own a Cocker Spaniel, it would be best if we broke down why exactly that is so that you can see where all of the cost comes from.
Breeder Reputation
Adopting your Cocker Spaniel from a reputable breeder is going to cost more than adopting your dog from a shelter or backyard breeder.
AKC Papers – Purebred vs. Mixed: When you have an AKC papered dog, you can use your dog for breeding or for shows, which will automatically drive up the cost of your dog.
Dog Bloodline
If your dog has a long bloodline and lineage, the dog’s history can be confirmed, making the dog cost more money than a dog with an unknown lineage.
Gender
You might be surprised to learn that male dogs are less expensive than female dogs are. This is because females can be used for breeding puppies. While males are involved in the process, it is still the female that has the puppies.
Coat Color
Some Cocker Spaniel colors do cost more than others. The breed can come in just about every color imaginable, but the blue and black coats are the most common and the easiest to breed with.
This is because the golden color is recessive and requires both parents to have the color to have it.
Age
Age is a huge factor in the cost of a Cocker Spaniel. The most expensive age to adopt a Cocker Spaniel is between 8 and 12 weeks old.
This is the typical age that puppies are adopted out and they are the preferred age as well. They have not had any training at this point and will still be impressionable, making them preferable to adults who would already be set in their ways. The older the dog is, the cheaper the adoption fee is.
Location
Where you live will also affect the cost. If you have to travel to adopt the dog, your cost will be higher than just going to a local breeder.
Vaccines & Medical Expenses
Vaccines are pretty standard for all dogs, but if your Cocker Spaniel has a medical condition, he will cost more to take care of.
Where To Buy A Cocker Spaniel Puppy
Adoption & Rescue Shelter
If you are able to find a Cocker Spaniel puppy through a rescue shelter or other adoption service, you will be saving yourself some money, but there are still cons to it.
Looking at the pros, you are likely going to pay as little as $300 to $500 for your puppy and your puppy will already come spayed.
On the con side of things, you will not know your puppy’s history and will not be able to have a guarantee that the dog is even a Cocker Spaniel. If you do not mind the uncertainty, it is always a positive thing to rescue a dog.
Reputable Breeder
On the other side of things, you have reputable breeders. This is the best way to ensure that you are getting a purebred Cocker Spaniel. These dogs will come with papers to prove that they are full-bred dogs. This also means that they will be the most expensive of the group.
The highest end of the prices when adopting a puppy from a reputable breeder is about $3,500. Generally, these dogs will cost about $1,500, but if you are looking more for a show dog or one that could be used for breeding purposes, the dog will cost more.
The pro for adopting a purebred is that you know for sure the dog is a Cocker Spaniel and you will have papers to prove it. The con is really the cost of it all. If you are not going to breed or show the dog, you can get a Cocker Spaniel from another source.
Backyard Breeder
A backyard breeder is a person, who has bred a litter of dogs, but the dogs do not have any papers and they are not reputable. This means that the dog is not guaranteed to be purebred and the breeder is likely doing it for the profit of the situation.
Nonetheless, they are going to cost less than a reputable breeder, coming in between $800 and $1,000 for a Cocker Spaniel puppy.
This type of sale is not allowed everywhere, because this type of breeding is discouraged. If you do go with one, you might get a purebred Cocker Spaniel for a better price, but then again, you might not be getting what you are paying for.
Pet Stores
The final place that you can adopt a Cocker Spaniel puppy is a pet store. It is becoming less common to see puppies in pet stores, because they often come from puppy mills.
A puppy mill is a place where dogs are kept in poor conditions and continually bred for profit.
If you can be sure about where the puppy is coming from, a pet store might be ok. They are going to cost more than a shelter, but should be less than a breeder. You can expect to pay somewhere between $500 to $800 when adopting from a pet store.
Initial Costs Of Cocker Spaniel Ownership
After you buy your Cocker Spaniel, there will be some other costs that you will need to consider for your Cocker Spaniel.
One of the best investments that you can make is to have your dog microchipped. A microchip will allow your dog to be scanned by a vet if you are ever separated from your dog, allowing you to be reunited.
The initial investment of a Cocker Spaniel is somewhere around $650. This will include the food, treats, microchipping, dog beds, and any other gear that you might want to have for your pup.
You will also need to take your new puppy into the vet right away to make sure that he has received all of his vaccinations.
Reputable breeders will have already had the puppy’s initial rounds of vaccines completed and should be able to give you the paperwork on that.
Ultimately, the initial costs will depend on where you got your dog from and any other purchases that you decided are needed. It varies a lot from person to person.
| Type Of Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Puppy Dog Food | $50 |
| Treats | $25 |
| Dog Bed | $30 |
| Dog Crate | $40 |
| Toys | $35 |
| Dog Collar & Leash & Bowls | $40 |
| Grooming Supplies (Shampoo, Brush, Nail Clippers) | $40 |
| Cleaning Supplies (Waste Bags, Carpet Cleaner, Popper Scooper) | $35 |
| Microchip | $30 |
| Initial Vaccines | $150 |
| Dog License | $30 |
| Total | $505 |
First-Year Expenses Of Owning A Cocker Spaniel Puppy
Since we already mentioned that the breed can be pricey, it is important to know what you are looking at as far as first year expenses go.
First year expenses include things like having your dog spayed or neutered, flea and tick medicine, heartworm prevention, microchipping, licenses, and anything else that you might find that adds onto your dog.
The average total for first year expenses is about $2,600. This is only the average cost, however, and the price might be higher depending on anything else that you might find that your dog needs, like grooming, training, boarding, and dog walking. Extras are not something that is always needed, however, and your individual situation will affect that.
Keep in mind that this price also does not include the purchase of the dog, which varies by where you are adopting your dog from.
You will also need to feed your dog puppy food during the first year, which can cost more than adult dog food does, so that will also increase the cost of your first-year expenses.
| Type Of Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cocker Spaniel Puppy | $800 |
| High-Quality Dog Food | $550 |
| Initial Expenses | $505 |
| Treats | $140 |
| Toys | $210 |
| Grooming Supplies | $170 |
| Spaying & Neutering | $250 |
| Veterinaran Visits & Vaccinations | $240 |
| Total | $2865 |
Monthly Expenses Of Owning An Adult Cocker Spaniel
When looking at what you can expect as far as your dog’s cost will go for the rest of his life, we have found that the average cost of owning a Cocker Spaniel throughout his lifetime comes out to about $18,000.
Typically, you are looking at about $1,400 a year in your dog’s expenses, but that number might go up based on your individual needs.
Cocker Spaniels usually require quite a bit of grooming in order to keep their fur from being matted. Dedicated owners might be able to handle the daily brushings themselves, but many owners opt to have their dogs professionally groomed to help keep the tangles down.
As far as about how much money you can foresee spending each month on your Cocker Spaniel, the total comes out to around $117, between the food, preventative medicines, and other incidentals.
If you do opt for grooming and other optional expenses, you will find that the monthly price of owning your dog will increase. It is better to prepare for grooming and training, so you don’t have any surprise fees later on.
| Type Of Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Dog Food | $55 |
| Treats | $20 |
| Toys | $15 |
| Dog Supplies | $20 |
| Grooming Supplies | $25 |
| Pet Insurance | $30 |
| Training Clases | $120 |
| Dog Walking | $50 |
| Total | $335 |
Cost Of Feeding A Cocker Spaniel Puppy & Adult
It is also important to know how much you are likely to spend on food for your Cocker Spaniel. The breed does have a big appetite, but depending on the size and age of your Cocker Spaniel, the cost will vary.
The average large bag of dog food costs somewhere around $30, but this is usually for the typical name brand, grocery store kind of dog food.
If you are looking more for a top of the line dog food, you might spend as much as $150 a month on food. A 30 pound bag should last you a month with your Cocker Spaniel. On average, however, you are looking at about $400 a year.
The breed is not picky as far as flavour goes, but they can easily over-indulge, so make sure that you are measuring his food into meals throughout the day.
A puppy will eat three meals a day, whereas an adult should eat two meals a day. A puppy will eat about 100 pounds of food and an adult will eat 140 pounds of food a year.
Optional Cocker Spaniel Expenses
Spaying & Neutering
Having your dog spayed or neutered is one optional expensive. Unless you are breeding your dog, however, we definitely recommend that you have this done.
Spaying or neutering usually costs between $300 and $500. It is a one-time expense, but it will increase the safety of your dog and get rid of any risk of your dog causing or becoming pregnant unexpectedly. Dogs that are not fixed can run off in search of a mate, putting themselves in danger.
Training
Training is completely optional, but always a good idea. They breed is smart, so you might not need a professional trainer to help with obedience, but if you do, you are looking at a cost between $150 and $200 for a group class.
The nice thing about training is it is a one-time kind of expense. Once your dog has been trained, you will not need to train him again.
Grooming
Cocker Spaniels need to be groomed. While you can handle most brushing at home, a Cocker Spaniel usually needs to be professionally groomed every other month.
Most owners cannot manage the grooming alone. Most grooming visits cost about $50 a visit, but it might be more, depending on the other services that are being offered. Grooming usually involves a wash, brushing, and likely a hair trim to keep the wildest hairs under control.
DNA Testing
DNA testing is also an optional expense. You will not need to do this if you have adopted your dog from a reputable breeder, because you will already have your dog’s lineage to go off of and do not need to track it down.
This is an option if you have adopted a rescue or cannot verify your dog’s background. DNA tests cost anywhere from $50 to $150, depending on the company you go with
Dog Walker & Dog Sitter
If your pup is going to be alone a lot during the day, you might need to invest in a dog walker or a dog sitter. A dog walker usually will come by your house once during the day and take your dog out for some exercise and a chance to relieve themselves.
Dog walkers can cost about $100 a week. Dog sitters usually stay with your dog and the price will vary depending on how long the sitter needs to be with your dog.
Is Cocker Spaniel Insurance Worth It?
In recent years, pet insurance has become more and more prevalent. Many vet offices have started to accept it as well. We have looked into whether insurance might be worth it for a Cocker Spaniel owner.
On average, pet insurance costs about $50 a month, but the price will vary based on company, location, and your dog’s age. Generally, that comes out to about $600 a year. Pet insurance usually will cover your vet visit fees, vaccinations, and should have some coverage for emergencies.
The biggest con to purchasing insurance for your Cocker Spaniel is that many companies will not cover congenital diseases.
Since Cocker Spaniels have a higher risk of developing certain health conditions, you might not be able to get treatment for those conditions covered. Some insurance will cover hereditary conditions, but make sure you study the fine print before purchasing it.
You also should make sure that your vet will actually accept the insurance. Sometimes you might be able to pay out of pocket to your vet and then the insurance will come back and reimburse you, but you need to find that out before buying it and winding up disappointed and still without insurance.
Cocker Spaniel Common Health Issues & Treatment Cost
Cocker Spaniels are generally a healthy dog breed, but they do have a higher tendency toward certain health conditions, including the following:
Hip Dysplasia: This is a condition where the hip joints have not developed correctly. While it might not bother your dog as a pup, his mobility will decrease with age.
Heart Disease: Keeping your dog on a heart-healthy diet can help with this condition, but there is no cure for this.
Entropion: This is an eye condition where there is too much eyelid and the dog’s eyelashes roll inward, causing pain and injury. This is easily treated with outpatient surgery.
Patellar Luxation: This is another joint condition, but instead of the hips, this one is related to the knees.
Hypothyroidism: This condition is where the thyroid is not working as well as it should. It can be treated with medication.
Cataracts and Glaucoma: Both of these eye conditions can result in blindness, but there are a few treatments out there. Cataracts can sometimes be corrected with surgery.
Corneal Dystrophy: Another eye condition that will result in blindness. There is no cure for this ailment.
Canine Cancer: Perhaps the most dreaded diagnosis for a dog is cancer. Some are treatable, but many are not.
Final Words
The Cocker Spaniel price when it comes to puppies is not going to be very different than other dog breeds out there. The price varies a lot depending on where you are getting your dog from, but the puppies do not cost more than other breeds out there.
The higher price of a Cocker Spaniel comes down to their grooming and healthcare needs. They do have a risk of developing a few different diseases, which will be expensive over time. Most owners cannot handle their grooming needs either, which is another added cost.
This is a happy and adorable breed to adopt, as long as you know ahead of time the kind of prices that you might be dealing with as your dog ages.
Knowing what kind of maintenance is needed might help you determine whether this is the right breed for you.
