How much to feed a Cocker Spaniel: daily portions for a slim figure
An adult, neutered Cocker Spaniel weighing 14 kg needs about 810 kcal a day with normal exercise – roughly 225 g of dry food or 810 g of wet food. A calm female of 12 kg needs about 630 kcal (175 g), an active male of 16 kg around 1,120 kcal (310 g). Being overweight is one of the most common diagnoses in Cockers – if in doubt, start with the lower row and adjust after weighing.
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Adult weight
- Weight:
- approx. 13–14.5 kg
- Height:
- Male 39–41 cm, female 38–39 cm
According to FCI standard no. 5 (English Cocker Spaniel); for weight, the standard does not distinguish between males and females.
Activity type
Flushing dog from FCI Group 8 (retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs) – whether it is worked in the field or kept as a family dog determines the ration.
Breed watch points
Overweight, pancreatitis, ears
Calculate how much to feed your Cocker Spaniel
Enter the weight and choose the type of food – the result updates instantly.
Leave empty = typical value of 360 kcal (usually 330–400 kcal/100 g). If the pack says MJ/kg, calculate MJ/kg × 23.9.
Result
225 g
Dry food per day
≈ 810 kcal · 2 meals of 115 g
Get it worked out for your dogRecipes with grams per ingredient in the DoggoMeal app- Range per day
- 205–245 g
- Meals
- 2 per day
- Per meal
- 115 g
- Energy
- 810 kcal (730–890)
How the figure is calculated
Resting energy requirement 70 × 14 kg^0.75 ≈ 507 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 810 kcal per day.
810 kcal ÷ 360 kcal per 100 g (typical dry food) × 100 ≈ 225 g.
- A starting point – check the weight every 1–2 weeks and adjust the amount in small steps. Treats count too.
Cocker Spaniel feeding chart by weight and activity
Adult, neutered dog. Dry food with 360 kcal, wet food with 100 kcal per 100 g.
| Activity | kcalper day | Dryg per day | Wetg per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 kg | |||
| Calm | 630 | 175 | 630 |
| Normal | 720 | 200 | 720 |
| Active | 905 | 250 | 905 |
| 14 kg | |||
| Calm | 710 | 195 | 710 |
| Normal | 810 | 225 | 810 |
| Active | 1,015 | 280 | 1,015 |
| 16 kg | |||
| Calm | 785 | 220 | 785 |
| Normal | 895 | 250 | 895 |
| Active | 1,120 | 310 | 1,120 |
How it is calculated: Calm = factor 1.4, Normal = 1.6 (neutered, 1–2 hours of walks), Active = 2.0. Entire (unneutered) dogs with normal exercise come out about 12 per cent higher (factor 1.8).
Example for 14 kg: resting energy requirement 70 × 14 kg^0.75 ≈ 507 kcal × factor 1.6 = 810 kcal a day, divided by 360 kcal per 100 g = 225 g of dry food. If your pack states a different value, enter it in the calculator above.
Overweight: more common in Cockers than on average
A VetCompass study of English Cocker Spaniels in British veterinary practices (2023) found being overweight to be the third most common diagnosis: 9.9 per cent of the dogs were affected, compared with 7.1 per cent of all dogs over the same period. Females were affected considerably more often than males (12.6 compared with 7.7 per cent). The average weight of adult Cockers was 15 kg, above the 13 to 14.5 kg of the breed standard. In a large overweight study of 22,333 dogs, the Cocker Spaniel had 1.32 times the odds of being overweight compared with crossbreeds.
The authors of the Cocker study recommend checking body condition regularly. For the daily ration this means: calculate with the weight at a good body shape. A Cocker weighing 17 kg that should weigh 14 kg gets about 505 kcal a day for weight loss – roughly 140 g of dry food.
- Weigh the food and deduct treats from the daily ration.
- Weigh your dog every two weeks and feel its ribs.
- Offer part of the ration as a search game – it suits a flushing dog and makes the meal last longer.
Pancreas and fat: what to watch out for
The MSD Veterinary Manual describes a distinct, probably autoimmune form of chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) in the English Cocker Spaniel and lists the Cocker among the breeds in which pancreatitis is more common. The evidence is not entirely consistent: in the VetCompass study, pancreatitis was not among the most common diagnoses. Chronic forms often show only mild, recurring signs such as poor appetite, diarrhoea, vomiting or tiredness.
According to MSD, a common trigger in dogs is eating something not meant for them – fatty scraps from the table or the bin, for example. Once pancreatitis has been diagnosed, low-fat food is crucial to successful treatment according to MSD; how low in fat is decided by the vet.
Cocker puppies: track their weight over the first years
According to the VetCompass study, English Cocker Spaniels grow quickly in their first year and keep gaining weight until about their fourth year. So weigh not only the puppy but also the young adult dog regularly, and adjust the ration as soon as the waist disappears.
According to the MSD Veterinary Manual, the skeleton of medium-sized breeds is mature at 8 to 12 months. Up to about three months the puppy gets four meals, after that three. Get it used early on to rewards coming out of the daily ration.
The puppy feeding calculator works out the exact amount by age and current weight.
Recipes with grams per ingredient – for your Cocker Spaniel
In the DoggoMeal app you create a profile for your Cocker Spaniel – with weight, age, activity and allergies. From this, the app calculates recipes with grams per ingredient, daily calories and portions.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
Free · no subscription · every feature included
Common questions about feeding your Cocker Spaniel
How much food does a Cocker Spaniel need a day?
A neutered Cocker Spaniel weighing 14 kg with normal exercise needs about 810 kcal a day – roughly 225 g of dry food with 360 kcal per 100 g or 810 g of wet food. Treats are part of this amount.
How heavy does a Cocker Spaniel get?
The FCI standard for the English Cocker Spaniel gives about 13 to 14.5 kg at 39 to 41 cm (males) or 38 to 39 cm (females). In British veterinary practices, adult Cockers weighed 15 kg on average, males more than females.
Does a Cocker Spaniel need low-fat food?
After a diagnosis of pancreatitis, yes: according to the MSD Veterinary Manual, low-fat food is crucial to successful treatment, and the vet sets the limit. For all Cockers: no fatty scraps from the table, because eating unsuitable food is considered a common trigger.
Does my Cocker get ear infections because of a food allergy?
Not necessarily. In the VetCompass study, ear infections were the second most common diagnosis in English Cockers, whereas atopic dermatitis and allergies were rarely diagnosed. The authors therefore do not see allergies as the main cause, but do not rule out that they are underdiagnosed. Have the ears examined before you change the food.
How often should I feed a Cocker Spaniel?
Adult Cockers usually get two meals a day, puppies four up to about three months and three after that. The daily amount is only divided up, not increased.
Sources
- FCI-Standard Nr. 5: English Cocker Spaniel (englische Fassung) – Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
- Demography and disorders of English Cocker Spaniels under primary veterinary care in the UK (Engdahl et al., 2023) – Canine Medicine and Genetics
- English Cocker Spaniels under primary veterinary care in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections (Engdahl et al., 2024) – Canine Medicine and Genetics
- Study reveals extent of dog obesity crisis – Bericht zur VetCompass-Studie Pegram et al., J Small Anim Pract 2021 – Vet Times
- Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats – MSD Veterinary Manual
- Feeding Practices in Small Animals – MSD Veterinary Manual
Calculation method
- Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006) – National Research Council (NRC), National Academies Press
- Global Nutrition Guidelines – World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food – FEDIAF – European Pet Food Industry Federation
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