Finding the best food for a Cocker Spaniel puppy doesn’t need to be a tricky task. But, it is important that you’re finding the right puppy food for your breed. Just like us, dogs have preferences when it comes to their chow. As well as this, some breeds may experience allergies, intolerances and require different portion sizes. Luckily, Take a Break Pets has recruited the help of veterinarian Dr Linda Simon to help us out with this ultimate guide to the best food for a sprocker puppy.
Much loved, Cocker Spaniels are a lively breed, known for being 'happy' dogs because their tails are always wagging. From pups, they love to play, making them great pets. For them to stay active, you need to make sure a Cocker Spaniels’ food is up to scratch with all the required nutrients. Of course, taste is an important factor when it comes to chowing down. So, we’ve included only the tastiest and most nutritious puppy food in our round-up. From dog treats to wet puppy food, we have it all…
Best food for Cocker Spaniel puppy at a glance:
• Best dry food for Cocker Spaniel puppy: James Wellbeloved Dry Puppy & Junior Dog Food - view on Amazon UK
• Best wet food for cocker spaniel puppy: Pooch + Mutt, Puppy Wet Food - view on Pooch & Mutt
• Best overall: Royal Canin, Breed Health Cocker Dry Puppy Food - view on Pets at Home
• Best hypoallergenic food for Cocker Spaniel puppy: James Wellbeloved Wet Puppy Food - view on Amazon UK
As mentioned earlier, we reached out to Pooch & Mutt’s resident veterinarian, Dr Linda Simon for some guidance. As a general rule of thumb for puppies, she said: “All puppies need a complete puppy food, as puppy food contains more calcium and calories than adult dog food.” However, Spaniels tend to be more active than other breeds so they “benefit from foods with plenty of carbohydrates, like sweet potato.” Luckily, there are great superfood options that will use natural ingredients and contains prebiotics which can “help prevent sloppy stools,” which is common.
On the list of what to buy your puppy, food comes as a priority as it provides nourishment. Below, we’ve rounded up the ultimate guide to food for cocker spaniel puppies. We’ve chosen reputable brands that use natural ingredients to ensure your puppy is eating well. From wet to dry puppy food, our guide will ensure your Cocker Spaniel puppy is wagging its tail in delight.
Best food for Cocker Spaniel puppy
Best overall
www.petsathome.com
The Royal Canin, Breed Health Cocker Dry Puppy Food - 3kg is suitable for Cocker Spaniel puppies up to 12 months old. it contains a patented complex of antioxidants - including vitamin E - to help support your puppy's natural defences. Enriched with a bunch of nutrients, this mix will help nourish your pup's coat, support your pup's digestive health and is tailor-made to support the needs of the breed. The dry kibble helps reduce tartar, also.
Customer Review: "Tried this food, especially for Cocker Spaniels as our new puppy had bad stomach problems with what he was previously being fed. He loves this and tummy problems cleared within 24 hours. Won't feed him anything other than Royal Canin now. I do though feel annoyed that it's more expensive at Pets at Home than the suggested retail price at Royal Canin. We have found it cheaper elsewhere."
Pros
- Subscribe and save with Pets at Home
- Contains a complex of antioxidants
- Prebiotics support digestive health
Cons
- Only dry variation
| Ingredients | Dehydrated poultry protein, maize, animal fats, vegetable protein isolate, beet pulp, wheat, wheat flour, rice, maize gluten, hydrolysed animal proteins, maize flour, fish oil, minerals, soya oil, yeasts and parts thereof, fructo-oligo-saccharides, psyllium husks and seeds, hydrolysed yeast (source of manno-oligo-saccharides), yeasts extracts (source of betaglucans), borage oil, marigold extract (source of lutein), hydrolysed crustaceans (source of glucosamine), hydrolysed cartilage (source of chondroitin). |
| Suitability | Up to 12 months old |
| Preparation | Dry |
Best dry food for Cocker Spaniel puppy
James Wellbeloved has formulated a balanced, nutritious meal for your pup with the James Wellbeloved, Grain Free Dry Puppy + Junior Dog Food - 1.5kg. If your young Cocker Spaniel prefers a dry meal, then why not grab a 1.5kg bag? It'll last, for sure. Made with turkey and a whole host of natural ingredients, this is a great option to help your puppy, grow, develop and stay happy through its formative years. Packed with Omega 3 and 6, prebiotics, antioxidants and DHA, this dry food is grain-free and fantastic for a fussy pup with a tricky tummy.
Customer Review: "My dachshund puppy has a sensitive tummy and my friend recommended a grain-free diet - best decision ever! This food has made my pup who was toileting 6-7 times per day down to 3! He also loves the taste of this food - always excited at meal times."
Pros
- Sourced and made in the UK
- Prebiotics and antioxidants for the gut and immune system
- Supplemented with natural DHA
Cons
- No variation in flavour
| Ingredients | Turkey (meal, fat, gravy), potato flakes, pea starch, pea protein, whole linseed, tomato pomace, peas, sugar beet pulp, alfalfa meal, carrots, seaweed, fish oil, chicory extract, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, yucca extract, green tea extract, rosemary extract, pomegranate extract. |
| Suitability | Puppies/Junior Dogs from 2-12 Months |
| Preparation | Dry |
Best wet food for cocker spaniel puppy
www.poochandmutt.co.uk
For the Spaniel puppies, we recommend this Pooch + Mutt, Puppy Wet Food (Pack of 12), which is bursting with goodness from fresh free-run chicken and nutritious vegetables - all sourced from British farms. Not only is it high in protein, but this food is rich in added prebiotics to aid healthy growth, development and digestion. This Pooch & Mutt recipe has been formulated with no artificial flavours, colours, preservatives, grain, cereal, gluten, beef or soy. Happy and healthy!
Customer Review: "Willow gobbled up the wet food, unlike her previous food which she just picked at when she felt like it. I love the fact that the ingredients are all nutritious and natural. My dog has more energy and her coat is becoming so glossy."
Pros
- 100 per cent recyclable packaging
- Locally sourced in the UK
- Rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and prebiotics
Cons
- Not as easy to keep fresh once opened as other products
| Ingredients | Fresh chicken, carrot, potato, parsnip, dried egg, prebiotics, dried seaweed. |
| Suitability | All puppies for up to one year. |
| Preparation | Wet |
Most nutritious food for a Cocker Spaniel puppy
www.petsathome.com
The AVA, Optimum Health Medium Breed Dry Puppy Food Chicken 15kg contains highly digestible chicken protein and is a specially-tailored and hypoallergic blend with no added grain. A natural source of Omega 3 and 6, Glucosamine for joints and Calcium for healthy teeth and bones, it's kitted out with so many added extras to keep your pup healthy. Suitable for medium-breed puppies from six weeks to one year old, this mix is suitable for a Sprocker puppy.
Customer Review: "I have 3 dogs of various sizes and ages and they all graze. This dog food brand is excellent. My labs have very shiny coats, healthy and it's keeping my 16-year-old poodle going too."
Pros
- Advanced, nutritious formula
- Hypoallergenic and digestible
- Specially-tailored kibble shape
Cons
- Some customers have had issues with the packaging
| Ingredients | Chicken (Meal, Fresh, Fat, Gravy), Brown Rice, Maize, Beet Pulp), Whole Dried Egg, Salmon Oil, Brewers Yeast, Minerals, Pre-biotic Fructooligosaccharide, Beta-glucans, Pre-biotic Mannan oligosaccharides, Yucca Extract, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Cranberry Extract, Green Tea Extract, Pomegranate Extract, Rosemary Extract |
| Suitability | Medium breed puppies from 6 weeks to 1-year-old. |
| Preparation | Dry |
Best premium wet cocker Spaniel puppy food
Looking for wet food for your Cocker Spaniel puppy that is made with natural ingredients and no added sugar? The Lily's Kitchen, Puppy Recipe with Chicken Wet Dog Food - 6 x 400g is a nutritionally complete, grain-free dog. It contains chicken, which is an excellent source of protein and selenium, potatoes for potassium to support all-around health, and carrots, rich in antioxidants to keep your pup as fit as a fiddle.
Customer Review: "My dog has been eating this since she was a puppy, it’s the only food she never goes off, we will be switching her soon to the adult version."
Pros
- Made using 67 per cent chicken
- Suitable for puppies from 8 weeks old
- Natural ingredients
Cons
- Some reviewers have mentioned can have arrived dented on arrival
| Ingredients | Fresh chicken, potatoes, carrots, minerals, salmon oil, botanicals and herbs |
| Suitability | All puppies |
| Preparation | Wet |
6.
Tails.com
Best tailored Cocker Spaniel puppy food
tails.com
You can get food specifically made to the exact needs of your individual puppy with a Tails.com subscription. The tasty vet-approved kibble is packed with proteins and healthy grains that are gentle on the tummy and boosted with vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and antioxidants that are essential to your pup's growth, too.
Customer Review: "She has been having Tails food now since she was 16 weeks and thrives on it. She is a really healthy dog and loves the food"
Pros
- Fortnightly deliveries until they are 14 weeks old, then monthly deliveries
- Adjusted to their needs as they grow
- Comes with an adjustable scoop
Cons
- Recommended portions are on the smaller side
| Ingredients | Various |
| Suitability | Subscription eligible from 6 weeks |
| Preparation | Dry |
Best hypoallergenic puppy food for Cocker Spaniels
Why not pick the James Wellbeloved, Wet Puppy Dog Food, Lamb in Gravy - 10 x 150g? Hypoallergenic wet dog foods are made from ingredients that are less likely to cause allergies and intolerances, as well as using highly digestible single proteins. This mix is an excellent choice for pets with sensitive tummies or allergies from birth. Made from natural ingredients, with added vitamins and minerals, including Omega 3 oils to help promote a healthy, glossy coat. These are tasty meals, free from added artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Customer Review: "I have a malamute puppy and after searching for such a long time I finally found a product with only positives. Honestly couldn’t recommend this enough, he absolutely loves it. I mix half wet and half kibble from the same brand with a pump of salmon oil (salmon oil only once a day). Firm stool gives him lots of energy and he always begs for more."
Pros
- Great for fussy dogs
- Full of moisture
- Balanced minerals
Cons
- Smaller portions
| Ingredients | Lamb, rice, minerals, dried carrots, dried peas, dextrose, dried beet pulp, sunflower oil, linseed oil, alfalfa, seaweed, fish oil, tomato powder |
| Suitability | From two months |
| Preparation | Wet |
Best meat and rice puppy food for Cocker Spaniels
Harringtons, Puppy Food Rich in Turkey and Rice - 10kg is a dry puppy food that's packed with omega 6 and 3 oils. Plus, it has no soy, wheat or dairy so it's all good for those sensitive stomachs. This dry dog food is available on Amazon's Subscribe and Save so it's ideal if you're feeding more than one pup and need to buy in bulk.
Customer Review: "Very good value and quality dog food. My pomeranian puppies love it and the odour isn’t as bad as other brands. The biscuits are very small so it’s very good for ‘toy dog’ size."
Pros
- Great value food
- Tasty, nutritious formula
- Subscribe and Save with Amazon
Cons
- Only one variation
| Ingredients | Turkey and meat meals, rice, maize, maize protein, oats, peas, poultry fat, beet pulp, poultry gravy, linseed, salmon oil, minerals, seaweed, FOS, yucca extract |
| Suitability | From 2 months |
| Preparation | Dry |
VERDICT: What is the best food for Cocker Spaniel puppy?
Feeding your Cocker Spaniel puppy has become that much easier. We've picked Royal Canin's Cocker Dry Puppy Food, which is suitable for pooches up to 12 months old. We were impressed by its tailored kibble-sized pieces to help with your Sprockers' dental health, as well as their digestion. After all, this breed is prone to a sensitive stomach.
Not only that, but it contains a patented complex of antioxidants - including vitamin E - to help support your puppy's natural defenses. Enriched with a bunch of nutrients, this mix will help nourish your pup's coat, too.
FAQs
How much food does a Cocker Spaniel puppy need?
“Food requirements will depend on the pup's weight and activity levels, as well as on the type of food they’re eating,” says Dr Linda Simon. It’s all too easy to overfeed or underfeed your pooch.
Thankfully, many of our picks above keep things easy for us by having a feeding guide, which can be found at the back of the packet or online. Dr Linda Simon says: “It will give a feeding guideline that usually takes into account the pup’s current weight and predicted adult weight.”
Which health problems are common in Cocker Spaniels?
Cocker Spaniels can be great pets, says the PDSA, but “unfortunately like so many other purebred dogs, they are at risk of certain problems and conditions relating to their breed.” If you have a Cocker Spaniel or are thinking of getting a puppy, make sure you screen them for potential issues and, if possible, source your new furry friend from a reputable breeder (i.e. Kennel Club Assured).
Atopy – can affect your spaniel, with allergies causing skin and ear infections. Food ingredients such as grain, and rich meats can cause itchy skin. Luckily, sensitive and grain-free dog food can help.
Ear problems – such as an ear infection, which is an irritating overgrowth of bacteria or yeast in the ear. Further, this can be spotted by excessive ear scratching, pain and head shaking.
Dental – can be a painful problem, which can lead to more serious health issues.
Auto-immune conditions
Eye problems – which include inherited conditions; luckily, there is BVA/KC testing for this.
Hip dysplasia – is where the hip joint doesn’t fit together correctly, which can lead to arthritis. For support, we suggest joint supplements and screening through the BVA’s Hip Dysplasia Scheme.
Inherited conditions – which include familial nephropathy, adult-onset neuropathy and acral mutilation syndrome. There is CombiBreed health testing available for these conditions.
Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Take a Break, specialising in pet health. When she’s not barking about dog supplements, she’s online devouring cat content.