Chewing & Toys

Best Chew Toys for Cocker and Springer Spaniels

Our picks for busy, mouthy Cockers and Springers, and how to use them so your spaniel actually settles.

By 6 min read
Cocker spaniel licking a blue Freezbone treat cup indoors

Live with a Cocker or a Springer and you live with a dog who always has something in their mouth. A sock, a glove, a stick twice their length, this morning's post. Spaniels were bred as working gundogs, and that busy, mouthy, nose-down energy does not switch off just because they now live in a semi in Swindon. The best chew toys for spaniels give all that drive somewhere useful to go.

This guide covers what makes a good toy for a Cocker or Springer Spaniel, our picks by size and chewing style, and how to use them so your spaniel settles rather than ricocheting round the kitchen.

Spaniels need toys that stand up to a mouthy dog, suit a medium build and give their nose and brain a job. A fillable natural rubber toy, filled and frozen, does all three. Our top pick is the FreezSwirl, made for dogs of 10 to 40 kg; Springers who chew hard may suit the tougher Freezbox. Toys support daily walks and training, they never replace them.

What are the best chew toys for Cocker and Springer Spaniels?

Most spaniels are carriers and lickers before they are demolition experts, though plenty of young Springers will happily test that theory. Look for thick natural rubber, a size that suits a medium dog and a shape with somewhere to pack food.

Our pickWhy it suits a spanielBest for
FreezSwirlA 170 mm swirl that holds liquid or solid fills, made for dogs of 10 to 40 kgEveryday settling after a walk
Freez Doughnut (large)Built for strong chewers; the large size suits dogs of 10 to 20 kgCockers and smaller Springers
FreezLavaIntricate grooves that liquid fills drip into, so there is more to work at; suits dogs up to 64 kgClever dogs who empty toys fast
FreezboxOur most rugged toy, ultra-durable natural rubber made for relentless chewersSpringers who chew hard
FreezBallOur most-reviewed toy, made for moderate chewers and sold in four sizesDogs who love to carry a ball about

Why are spaniels so mouthy?

Both breeds were developed to work in the field: hunting through cover, flushing birds and bringing game back to hand. Carrying things is wired in, and so is a nose that never stops.

So when your spaniel meets you at the door with a slipper, they are not being naughty. They are doing the job they were bred for, with whatever happens to be lying about. The trick is to give them better things to carry, chew and lick.

A spaniel without a job will always find one. It usually involves your shoes.

Cocker or Springer, working or show?

The English Springer is the larger of the two, so check the size guide before you buy rather than picking a toy by breed. Both breeds also come in working and show types. Working-type dogs tend to be even busier and more driven, so they usually need more exercise, more training and longer-lasting enrichment.

What does a busy spaniel need every day?

A chew toy fills the gaps. These four things do the heavy lifting.

A proper walk

  • Spaniels are built for long days outdoors, rain or shine
  • Give them time to run and use their nose, not just a lap of the block
  • Expect muddy ears from autumn onwards

Something for the nose

  • Scent games suit spaniels perfectly
  • Hide treats round the garden or the house and let them hunt
  • Scattering part of their dinner on the lawn counts too

Training, little and often

  • Spaniels are bright and keen to work with you
  • Short sessions of recall, retrieve and settle keep their brains busy
  • Stop while they are still enjoying it

Proper downtime

  • A busy dog still has to learn to switch off
  • A frozen toy on a mat after a walk teaches them that calm time is good time

For ways to build a frozen toy into training, see our five ways to use a Freezbone in training.

How do I use a chew toy to settle my spaniel?

Timing matters more than the toy. Hand over a frozen toy straight after a walk or a training session, when your spaniel is pleasantly tired but still buzzing. That is when a long licking session helps them come down instead of zooming round the sofa.

“Easy to use, the material it is made of smells nice, and it kept my high energy Brittany Spaniel entertained until the lickables ran out.”
Jessica F., verified buyer

Good fills for spaniels are the ones that smell strongly and take a while to work out:

  • Soaked kibble with a splash of stock made without onion or garlic
  • Mashed banana with plain yoghurt
  • Tinned sardines in water, mashed into plain yoghurt
  • A thin layer of xylitol-free peanut butter to seal the top

For more ideas, try our frozen treats from UK supermarket ingredients or the Freezbone recipe videos.

Freezbone tip

Long ears and deep fills are a messy mix. If your spaniel's ears keep ending up in the yoghurt, choose a toy with grooves rather than one deep cavity, or keep the ears back with a snood while they eat. Freeze overnight so the fill is solid all the way through.

“She love it as this is the only time she sits still.”
Sian M., verified buyer

If your Springer is the type who treats every toy as a personal challenge, go for the toughest option we make.

Which chew toys should spaniels avoid?

Good choices

  • Thick natural rubber in one solid piece
  • A size that matches your dog's weight
  • Something to fill, so there is food to work for
  • Easy to wash after a messy fill

Best avoided

  • Plush toys left unsupervised: stuffing and squeakers get swallowed
  • Very hard nylon bones and antlers, which can crack teeth
  • Cooked bones, which can splinter
  • Sticks, which can splinter in the mouth
  • Balls small enough to swallow

For more on keeping strong chewers safe, read our honest guide to what aggressive chewers actually need.

Do spaniel puppies need different toys?

Puppies

Spaniel puppies explore the world with their mouths, and teething makes it worse. Pick a smaller size, keep sessions short and supervised, and use soft, simple fills. A frozen toy is a much better thing to chew than your skirting boards.

Adolescents

The teenage months are when many spaniels are at their busiest and most mouthy. Stay consistent with training, keep the walks interesting, and move up a size or to a tougher toy if yours starts testing the rubber.

Older spaniels

As they slow down, many older spaniels still love a lick and a chew. Choose softer fills and gentler sessions, and ask your vet if you notice any changes in their teeth or appetite.

Living well with a spaniel

A happy spaniel is a busy spaniel. Give them a proper walk, something to sniff out, a little training every day and a frozen toy to help them switch off afterwards, and you will see far less of the slipper thief. When the weather is grim, our ideas for dark evenings indoors keep that clever nose working.

Frequently asked questions

  • A fillable natural rubber toy that suits a medium-sized dog. Our top pick is the FreezSwirl, made for dogs of 10 to 40 kg; the large Freez Doughnut, for dogs of 10 to 20 kg, is another good fit. Fill it, freeze it and hand it over after a walk.

  • Some are, especially young, working-type dogs. Many are more carriers and lickers than destroyers. Watch how your dog uses a toy: if they start working on the rubber itself, move to a tougher option such as the Freezbox and always supervise.

  • Spaniels were bred as gundogs to find and retrieve game, so carrying things comes naturally. It is not naughtiness. Give them their own toys to carry and chew, and reward them for bringing things to you.

  • Use their nose. Hide treats round the house, scatter part of their dinner, practise short training sessions, and finish with a frozen toy on a mat so they learn to settle.

  • Yes, with supervision. Choose a smaller size, use simple soft fills, keep sessions short and take the toy away once it is empty. Check with your vet if you are unsure what suits your puppy.

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Written by Freezbone Team

We design freezable, refillable chew toys and test every fill and routine on our own dogs before we write about it. Freezbone LTD ships across the UK.

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