labrador/cocker spaniel??

moneylover

We will get a dog later this year when I am not working and am doing my homework!
I love labradors and I love cocker spanielsl. How on earth do I choose! They are both extremely popular breeds so am hoping some of you have struggled too or can tell me why you love your labrador or cocker spaniel so much or why you chose him or her!

Pros spaniel - would prefer a medium sized dog. So beautiful when groomed and well looked after. Very loving. Can manage with a bit less exercise than a lab.
But: shedding a big problem? Very clingy by nature - or does that depend on training
Need quite a lot of professional grooming. Can be a bit smelly?

Labradors - its the yellow I love. Beautiful and loving dogs. Normall y a placid temperament. Less grooming
But: a large dog especially to take in car. Needs a lot of exercise. Also sheds a lot but prob not as much as a spaniel.

None of the pros and cons worry me hugely which is why its difficult. Please tell me your views!!

Kaelea

you could go half and half and get a cockador


what will these breeders come up with next I wonder :rotfl:

Pinkdebster

Hiya

We actually looked at getting a cockador before finally settling on a labrador!! He is, without doubt, the very best thing we ever did!!! He is SOOOO intelligent, very, very loving and just a joy to have around. We got him at eight weeks and he is now just turned a year. Everyone we meet says he really does have the sweetest nature of any dog they know (maybe we just got lucky!) - I was worried about having a "big" dog too but I never really notice his size!!! I was also worried that a big dog wouldn't be a "cuddly" dog but, again, that hasn't happened.

He DOES shed his fur!! A lot when he was getting his winter coat so I'm expecting the same in the summer!! That was hard - I thought at one stage I'd need to be surgically removed from the hoover!

Exercise - he has an hour in the morning and an hour at night - but I'd have done the same regardless of what breed I got. In between these walks, he just sleeps!! Literally, I have to wake him to go out in the afternoon! A neighbour has a spaniel and the little guy is adorable - however, he really does need a lot of exercise as he is constantly on the go.

Whatever you decide, I'm sure you'll have a lovely life together.........let us know though!!

tizerbelle

When I got my two muttleys, my choice was effectively made for me as I was looking for two older dogs to adopt and they came as a pair - a cocker and a boxer/rottie cross and they matched what I needed and the home/lifestyle I could offer. Having owned a cocker spaniel now and having grown up with labs, I pretty much know that if I ever get another dog (and don't go the rescue route) it will be a cocker spaniel without a doubt. Can't explain why, it's just how I feel.

Amanda65

Kaelea wrote: »

you could go half and half and get a cockador


what will these breeders come up with next I wonder :rotfl:

A friend of mine got a Jackadoodle (jack russell / poodle) that they paid quite a lot of money for. When she moved to the country she took it to be local country vets to be registered and the conversation went

Vet - "What have we got here then?"
Friend - "He's a Jackadoodle"
Vet - "A mongrel then" :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Emmamumof2

We have two cocker spaniels and my in laws had a retriever up to 2 years ago - I dont think mine shed anymore than the retriever did - in fact she was quite bad - mine are really clingy to my OH they are always "under his feet" because they love him so much! They are really good natured though and never been untoward with my two kids although obviously we've never let them pull the dogs about. They dont need masses of exercise, maybe because we have two and they chase each other on the garden. Oh and my two never smell (!) we keep them nice and short and their ears are always cut nicely - occassionally have to wipe their eyes but they aren't smelly at all.

manda1205

We have a black labrador bit*h, we chose her cos we loved labradors, brilliant with my DD and nieces and nephews, she's a little mad, but thats prob our input as well as her own, lol. She was fairly easy to train and is brilliant off lead, as for exercise she has about an hour every day, but she'd gladly do a lot more, IMO they would be no different amount of exercise as a cocker, and for size, because we have a bi*ch she is actually not that big, not much bigger than a springer (cant remember are cockers the same size as springers?), I know the boys can be a lot bigger, its worth looking at the mum and dad, working stock labs are generally smaller and broader. We used to have a fiesta and she got in the boot of that no probs.

abisum

I recommend the cocker spaniel. It's distinguished look when it is well groomed is really what i love about the breed. You don't really have to rely on professional groomers when it comes to cocker spaniels though.

puppypants

Why oh why do people pay a lot of money for these so called "designer" dogs when in fact they are just mongrels!!!! Makes me seethe!

rising_from_the_ashes

moneylover wrote: »

Pros spaniel - would prefer a medium sized dog. So beautiful when groomed and well looked after. Very loving. Can manage with a bit less exercise than a lab.
But: shedding a big problem? Very clingy by nature - or does that depend on training
Need quite a lot of professional grooming. Can be a bit smelly?

Labradors - its the yellow I love. Beautiful and loving dogs. Normall y a placid temperament. Less grooming
But: a large dog especially to take in car. Needs a lot of exercise. Also sheds a lot but prob not as much as a spaniel.

'Fraid I'm going to disagree with you on a couple of points:

• Spaniels need way more exercise than labs! (the latter are actually quite lazy and happy with a couple of good walks per day whereas spaniels need loads of exercise or you can run into problems)
• Labradors shed pretty much all year round (it just gets worse at certain points in the year!)

- Spanels I have friends who have them and know I'd never have one as they need so much exercise and stimulation. Although they can be extremely affectionate, I also know 4 people who've "lost" theirs through "rage syndrome" (aggression) - I'd suggest you Google this before you commit to one as it's the most heartbreaking thing if it does happen.


+ Labs they really are the most versatile, fantastically brilliant dogs. They love their walks but are just as happy to be curled up on the sofa. They are loyal, affectionate and easy to train and will give you so much pleasure back - I can honestly say, that my current "old boy" has made me smile at some point in every single day that I've had him (5 years).

Are their any breeders of either dog near you - maybe see if you could go and spend a day with them and get some more info.

Good luck

libbyc3

have to comment as i have one of each!

my lab is beautiful! after the 1st 2 years when I must admit he was very bouncy he has been the calmest, most wonderful natured dog you could wish for. easy to train, fantastic with kids, everyone loves him! but yes - the shedding is horrendous.

my cocker - another story! nightmare to train. needs far more stimulation and is very clingy. yes she does smell and her fur gets matted really easily, so professional grooming is a must for me. she's a food thief - to the point i have seen her jump onto my labs back to get onto the kitchen side to steal!!! having said all that, she is very loving, wonderful with the kids and very very comical.
I will never get another cocker though!