Board & train
Board and train for Cocker Spaniels
Cocker Spaniels tend to be sweet, soft and eager, with ears that dip in the water bowl and a nose that leads every walk. Many also carry a sensitive streak, and a few will stiffen over a stolen sock or a favourite spot on the couch. Training a Cocker means steady structure without heavy hands, and a calm, honest look at any guarding before it grows.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Sweet but sensitive
House-training, nose-down walks and the sock under the couch.
Many Cockers arrive with accidents indoors, a walk that follows every scent sideways, and sometimes a growl over food, toys or a resting place. Daily one-on-one work builds a predictable toilet routine, crate comfort and loose-leash walking with markers and rewards. Guarding is handled with management first: no grabbing items back and no punishing a growl, since a growl is useful information. Trades are taught calmly instead.
Puppy Fundamentals, three weeks at $2,775 plus GST, works on crate comfort, leash manners, place and calm socialization, and the welcome package includes a crate-training guide. On-Leash Foundations, two weeks at $1,865 plus GST, works on heel and walking around distractions. Where guarding is intense or a bite has happened, Behaviour Rehab starts with a full assessment. Our Cocker Spaniel training guide covers the training method.
- Predictable toilet and crate routine
- Walking without the sideways sniff
- Trades instead of grabbing back
- Gentle handling for ears, paws
Gentle at home
Soft structure a Cocker keeps when the routine moves house.
What transfers home is the rhythm: regular toilet trips, crate naps, a place bed, and walks that start with a sit at the door. The handover lesson shows you the cues, the reward timing and how to trade for a stolen item without a tug of war. Soft dogs often read tension in a voice, so we coach a calm, even tone. Lifetime phone and email support comes with On-Leash Foundations.
At home, the owner keeps chews and food in quiet spots, keeps children out of training and away from guarded items, and sticks to the toilet schedule. If guarding grows or a growl turns into a snap, stop and reassess with a professional. The consultation is where we hear the whole story, then recommend a program, and we tell you plainly if a smaller one suits your Cocker.
The programs
Programs and prices
NE · 2-week board & train
On-Leash Foundations
If every walk is a wrestling match, pulling, barking, zig-zagging, this two-week program rebuilds the walk from the ground up with foundational on-leash obedience..
Includes handover lesson, follow-up session, lifetime support, slip lead + collar
N · 3-week board & train
Puppy Fundamentals
Your puppy's first months decide the habits of a lifetime.
Includes handover lesson, follow-up session, slip lead + collar
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Is cocker spaniel board and train good for house-training?
Puppy Fundamentals works on crate comfort and a structured routine, which supports house-training, and your welcome package includes a crate-training guide. The handover lesson shows you how to keep the schedule going at home.
Can board and train cocker spaniel programs help with resource guarding?
Mild guarding is managed carefully and worked on with trades, never by punishing a growl. Intense guarding or any bite history calls for Behaviour Rehab, which starts with a full assessment.
How much does a cocker spaniel training program cost?
On-Leash Foundations is $1,865 plus GST and Puppy Fundamentals is $2,775 plus GST. Behaviour Rehab is $4,850 to $5,760 plus GST after assessment, and Private Training is $150 plus GST per hour.
Will training make my sensitive Cocker nervous?
Skills are taught with markers and rewards first, and any tool is matched to the dog and introduced properly. We watch a soft dog's body language closely and adjust the pace to suit it.
Keep reading
Gentle structure for your Cocker
Tell us about toilet habits, walks and anything your Cocker guards. We will recommend the program, including a smaller one.
From real owners
Rated 5.0 on Google.
Real Northline dogs