The Best Dog Food for Cocker Spaniels in 2021: Reviews and Ratings of the Top Wet and Dry Brands

Cocker Spaniels are an increasingly popular dog. Their fluffy ears and large eyes make them absolutely adorable. This dog has spent years as one of America’s most popular breeds for a very long time. 

These dogs are a sporting spaniel, but they are quite small. They only stand at about 14 to 15 inches. Their coats come in a variety of colors and patterns, so there is someone to fit just about everyone’s tastes. They are sporting spaniels, so they are built sturdily and athletic. 

Cocker Spaniels are decently active dogs. They are eager playmates with children and other canines. They are quite sporty despite their small size. They are prone to some health issues though, including cataracts, hip dysplasia, and ear infections. These health problems are typically not diet-linked. 

To support their athletic nature, you need to feed them a protein-rich diet made of high-quality ingredients. These dogs’ digestive systems can be a bit sensitive, so you do have to be careful regarding the food you feed them. Below, we’ll discuss some of the best dog foods available for these Cocker Spaniels. 

Reviews of the Best Dog Food for Cocker Spaniels

Best Wet Foods for Cocker Spaniels

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• 39.3% Protein
• 32.14% Fat
• 17.8% Carbohydrates

Best Cocker Spaniel Food

Out of most wet foods on the market, this one by Nature’s Logic is one of the better options for Cocker Spaniels. This food is highly palatable and contains all the nutrients your pet needs to thrive. It is packed full of organ meat and muscle meat, which are exactly what your canine needs to thrive. Because protein and fat are both the two main macronutrients our pooches need to thrive, muscle meat and organ meat are great ingredients. 

We did like that this food is grain-free and gluten-free. It is very low in carbohydrates and made of over 90% animal ingredients. This kibble also contains many natural ingredients that are nutrient-rich. For example, eggshell is included, which contains a lot of calcium and is highly digestible. 

This Cocker Spaniel adult dog food is also free from many potentially harmful ingredients, including peas, lentil, wheat, soy, and potato. Instead of these somewhat common ingredients, this food contains mostly animal products, making it high in protein and fat. 

Recall Info: None

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• 56.8% Protein
• 34% Fat
• 2% Carbohydrates

Blue Buffalo is a well known dog food brand. They are newer, but have quickly taken the dog food world by storm. Sadly, this rapid expansion has caused some problems. Recalls are very common and are often serious as well. This is a major reason why we only gave this food four stars – we just aren’t confident that it is safe for your pup. 

Besides this problem, though, this food is rather good quality. It is high in animal protein. Chicken is the first ingredient. Other animal products are used as well, including various forms of broth and organ meat. Organ meat in particular is very nutrient-dense and high in many of the things out dogs need to thrive. It is free from by-products and similar ingredients.  

It does not contain any corn, wheat, or soy. In fact, it is made with almost exclusively meat and other animal-derived ingredients. For this reason, it is also very high in protein and fat, which are exactly what your dog needs to thrive. 

Recall Info: Lots

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• 50% Protein
• 22.22% Fat
• 11.11% Carbohydrates

This food contains deboned rabbit as the first ingredient, which is a rare and novel protein. Even most “rabbit” foods don’t contain a high level of actual rabbit – and it is hardly ever the first ingredient. This dog food contains deboned rabbit as the first ingredient, though. It does contain chicken and turkey, however. For this reason, it isn’t exactly suitable for dogs with allergies. If your dog is allergic to chicken, this dog food would not be a suitable option. 

Out of all the ingredients, there is a high level of deboned rabbit and other animal ingredients. It uses turkey broth instead of water. This increases the protein and fat content substantially. Because our dogs need mostly fat and protein to survive, this is a suitable food for most Cocker Spaniels. 

While this brand has been involved in some recalls, it is not nearly as many as some other dog food companies out there. Most recalls tend to be minor as well. 

Recall Info: Yes

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• 44.44% Protein
• 22.22% Fat
• 16.67% Carbohydrates

Taste of the Wild has many dog food lines and recipes. We decided to review their fish canned food recipe in particular, since it can be difficult to find a fish-flavored dog food that actually includes a lot of fish. It includes whitefish as the first ingredient. This is a cheaper fish, but it is very high-quality. It includes a lot of omega fatty acids, which can help your dog’s coat and skin. 

This food is very high in moisture. It may be useful for weight loss for this reason. It can help your canine stay fuller for longer, which can lower the amount of calories they consume. Overtime, this can lower their weight. It is best combined with increased activity, of course. 

We loved that this food is extremely high in protein and decently high in fat as well. This is exactly what our Cocker Spaniels need to thrive, which is exactly why it landed on our list. 

Recall Info: One

Best Dry Foods for Cocker Spaniels

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• 44.44% Protein
• 16.67% Fat
• 30% Carbohydrates

American Journey makes very good dog food. They use high-quality ingredients and most of their foods are very high in protein. They have no recalls thus far, but they are a very new company. For this reason, we do expect recalls in the future. Still, we highly recommend them for most Cocker Spaniels.

This food is extremely high in protein. It is higher than practically any other dry dog food out there. Furthermore, most of the protein comes from fish. Most fish recipes do not actually include much fish in them. However, this recipe is very different. It includes rainbow trout as the first ingredient and herring as the second. It does include turkey meal as the third ingredient, though this is a high-quality ingredient as well. 

We loved how much protein this food contains. Most of the protein comes from fish, so we can rest assured that it is full of amino acids. Because of the fish content, it contains a lot of omega fatty acids as well. 

This food also isn’t incredibly expensive. While it is more expensive than some of the low-quality options, it may be a good budget option for those that still want to invest in high-quality dog food. 

Recall Info: None

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• 29.2% Protein
• 18% Fat
• 43.8% Carbohydrates

While Merrick has had some recalls, they are generally a pretty good company. Most of their recalls are not serious, and they are decently rare. They also source their ingredients from good sources, so you can feed your dog a little more confidently. 

This particular recipe includes deboned chicken as the first ingredient. Chicken meal is the second ingredient. Despite what some people think, “meal” is not necessarily a low-quality ingredient. Instead, it is simply meat that has had much of the water content cooked out of it. This is important when making dry foods, since the end product cannot contain much water. 

This food does contain grains, but they are pretty high-quality. It uses brown rice, which is a whole grain that does have some nutritional value. For this reason, it isn’t a poor choice for your canine unless they are allergic to grains, which isn’t very common. 

This food is lower in protein than other options. This is one reason why we rated it significantly lower – it just doesn’t contain as much protein or fat as we would have liked to see. However, otherwise, it is a very good choice for your canine. 

Recall Info: Yes

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• 28.9% Protein
• 13.3% Fat
• 48.9% Carbohydrates

Firstly, this food contains a lot of chicken. Chicken is a solid option for most canines – assuming that your canine is not allergic to chicken. Chicken is a very common allergy. Feeding your dog too much chicken can cause them to develop allergies. For this reason, you may want to switch this food out regularly. It would do good in a food rotation that includes other meats. 

This food doesn’t include much meat, though. Potatoes and peas are included very high on the ingredient list. While these aren’t necessarily a poor choice, they are not the best choice for dogs. After all, our dogs were made to live on mostly meat – not peas and potatoes. 

Because they are high in peas and potatoes, the carbohydrates are very high as well. This is not suitable for our dogs. They need more protein and fat, not a diet that is nearly half made up of carbohydrates. 

Recall Info: Yes

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• 37.8% Protein
• 16.7% Fat
• 36.7% Carbohydrates

As we stated in a previous review, Blue Buffalo is prone to recalls. Many of their recalls are quite serious and can be life-threatening to the canines they affect. For this reason, we avoid rating it too high. The food just isn’t as safe as some of the other options out there. 

This food is also quite high in carbohydrates. While many of the ingredients included towards the beginning are meat of some sort, peas and pepa protein are included very high up on the list. Pea protein buffs up the protein content but doesn’t necessarily provide all the amino acids your dog needs to thrive. The protein content of this food isn’t very high anyway, so it is likely that it isn’t incredibly high in animal protein. 

As far as the meat ingredients go, they are quite high-quality. Deboned duck is the first ingredient. This is high-quality and quite rare. Even most duck-recipes do not include duck as the first ingredient. Of course, it also includes other animal ingredients as well, helping provide your pooch with a well-rounded diet. 

This food does include LifeSource Bits. These are simply a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Most foods include these however; Blue Buffalo has just found a way to market that inclusion effectively. Practically every dog food out there is fortified with vitamins and minerals. 

Recall Info: Lots

Best Puppy Foods for Cocker Spaniels

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• 45.6% Protein
• 20% Fat
• 25.56% Carbohydrates

Best Dry Puppy Food for Cocker Spaniels

Out of all the dry puppy foods we reviewed, this is the best option for most Cocker Spaniel puppies. It is considered a high-protein food. In fact, it has one of the highest protein contents on the market currently. It is also very high in fat, which is something our puppies need to thrive. 

While this company has been recalled at some point, these recalls are far and few between. They are not particularly serious either. We liked the inclusion of probiotics in this formula. Some puppies are prone to stomach problems. Including probiotics in their diet now can improve their health for years to come. A puppy’s gut flora is established during this early period. 

This food also contains a high level of omega fatty acids. This can help support your pup’s healthy skin or coat. Omega fatty acids and DHA are also important for development, which many puppies are still doing during this time. Cocker Spaniels will continue to develop for about 18 months – fueling that development is very important. 

Like so many foods on the market, this food does contain pea protein. This means that it is not as high in animal protein as you may want. Instead, much of the protein is from the included pea protein. 

Recall Info: Yes

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• 38.6% Protein
• 38.6% Fat
• 9% Carbohydrates

While this particular dog food is newer, we did find that it was suitable for most Cocker Spaniel puppies. In fact, it is one of the better puppy wet foods out there, which is why it made it onto this list. This company has been through recalls previously, but these are minor and actually affect their treats – not their dog foods.

It is made of 95% chicken products, including whole chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver. This makes it a very high-quality option for most puppies – as our dogs thrive off of mostly meat. Meat is even more important for puppies, as they are growing and developing. 

This food does not contain much besides meat. It really is mostly chicken. We do recommend switching thsi food with another flavor by the same company to give your pooch some variety. Feeding them the same type of meat day in and day out can cause food allergies. Cocker Spaniels are not particularly prone to food allergies, but they are still possible. 

The pumpkin included in this dog food is very nutritious. It is one of the better options for puppies, as it is quite nutritionally dense. 

Recall Info: Yes

Why You Should Trust Us

We rank every dog food using very scientifically-based guidelines. We do not base our reviews solely on marketing done by the company or reviews given by customers. Instead, we compare each dog food to specific scientific guidelines.  We carefully review the ingredients and calculate macronutrient contents of every dog food. Those that had better ingredients and were higher in protein and fat were higher rated than others. 

Furthermore, no dog food company can pay to have their food at the top of our list. We are honest and transparent with each ranking and want the best for your dog!

How much to feed your Cocker Spaniel

The exact amount of food you should feed your Cocker Spaniel depends on the specific food you’re choosing. Different foods have different levels of calories. If the food your dog is eating is very calorie-rich, they do not need as much food. However, low-calorie feeds will need to be fed more of. 

In general, most dogs will need about 1 ½ to 2 ½ cups of food a day as an adult. The exact amount will depend on the food, your dog’s body weight, and their activity level. It is best to base the amount on your dog’s weight at first. 

Then, keep an eye on your Cocker Spaniel’s body shape. You should only be able to see your dog’s last rib. There should be fat padding in between their ribs, but you should be able to obviously feel each of their ribs. If you can see more of your dog’s ribs, they may be underweight. If you cannot feel your dog’s ribs very well, they may be underweight. 

Feel free to mess with your dog’s food intake until you find the exact amount of food they need to stay healthy. This may change as they grow older. Senior dogs typically don’t need as much food because they are not as active. If you continue to feed them the same amount, it can cause excessive weight gain. 

Obesity is a bit common with these dogs, as they enjoy their food a little too much. They also aren’t very motivated to stay active; many become very lazy over the years. Because of this, you may need to make a point to help them get the exercise they need. Controlling their food intake isn’t always enough. 

Nutritional Requirement for Cocker Spaniels

At their core, Cocker Spaniels have very similar nutritional needs. They need a certain breakdown of vitamins and minerals. Luckily, the large majority of dog foods contain these needed vitamins and minerals. The AAFCO regulates dog food and requires that they contain a certain level of essential vitamins. If a dog food has the AAFCO seal of approval, then it contains the vitamins and minerals your pet needs. 

Many companies fortify their food with the appropriate vitamins. Others use nutrient-rich ingredients like flaxseed and blueberries. 

These dogs are generally considered medium dogs, not small breeds. Therefore, you should not purchase a small dog food for them. It won’t meet their needs. 

At the same time, these dogs need a specific macronutrient breakdown. We have a lot of scientific information regarding what macronutrients Cocker Spaniels need to thrive. One particular study found that all dogs need about 30% protein, 63% fat, and 7% carbohydrates. This was true across multiple breeds. In other words, they need a diet high in protein and fat. 

Sadly, there are not many dog foods that are low in carbohydrates on the market. Most are very high in carbohydrates, as carb-rich foods are generally very cheap. Peas, sweet potatoes, grain and other similar ingredients are all very high in carbs and very cheap. This is largely why companies use them so much. Grain-free dog foods are often full of peas and potatoes. 

You should ensure that your Cocker Spaniel is getting high-quality meat. Salmon, turkey, chicken, beef, and lamb are all great options. Generally speaking, any sort of whole meat is a solid option. Organ meats are nutritionally-dense as well, which makes them great options as well. 

Grains are not necessarily a bad option. Some dogs are allergic to gluten, which means that they will not do well on most types of grain. But, most dogs do just fine on grain.

Grain-free foods typically do not contain more meat than grain-inclusive foods. Instead, they usually just contain things like peas and potatoes instead, which are not any better for our canines. 

You need to pay attention to the ingredients in the dog food. The more meat at the beginning, the better the food generally is. 

Allergies Information

Cocker Spaniels are not particularly prone to food allergies. However, they are possible in any dog breed. 

Generally, food allergies are caused by your canine eating the same type of protein over and over again. Eventually, this causes the dog to become allergic to these specific proteins. Because of this, the most common food allergies are also the most common proteins found in dog food. These include grains, chicken, and beef. 

Your best bet to avoid feeding your dog the same protein source over and over again. This can be done in two ways. Firstly, you can switch your dog’s food regularly. Many dog food brands have different recipes, so you can easily switch between the major proteins regularly. 

Secondly, you could choose a dog food that includes many different proteins. That way, your dog isn’t really getting very much of any protein. This can prevent allergies. 

For dogs that already have allergies, a limited-ingredient dog food that does not contain the protein your dog is allergic to is your best option. This type of dog food may also be suitable for sensitive stomachs. Many of these foods have a novel protein, like venison.