Suitabilty of a cocker spaniel

moneylover

Dear All

I love MSE, its helped me make many small decisions in my life.

But this is a big one - am a suitable owner for a cocker spaniel?

My husband and I are early 60s, healthy and just retiring. We are having our first dog for many years as working life has got in the way of pet caring.

My first choice would be a golden labrador - a biddable, loving and best friend type dog. For me its characteristics are just right. BUT too big for us now, they are so strong I think they should have younger owners and be part of family life going for massive walks at weekends etc. There would be some of that but maybe not enough for a young labrador.

Second choice is a cocker spaniel - right size of dog, oodles of personality, like exercise but dont need as much as a lab.

BUT I havent known anyone who has had one for a long time, so its past memories of the breed plus their looks melt my heart (only one small reason to have a particular breed!)

Various friends and workmates try to put me off, they just dont like them...
I am going to list the comments and would love to hear what people who own these beautiful dogs think. I have read plenty, but that isnt the same thing at all...

So all comments welcome, BUT, I know for sure that I am planning on a pup from a reputable breeder, rather than an older dog from rescue. I know there are lots of arguments in favour of this, but I have made my mind up in this regard and do not need the arguments rehearsed. So please respect me in this regard

Here we go -
Cocker spaniels are:

too busy and on the go, never rest, don't want to sit on your lap

Utterly demanding

Highly strung

Clingy

Stubborn

Hard to get one with a really good temparment

Need hours of exercise or you never get any peace

Can't be left on their own for more than about an hour

Don't like to be left with other people

Cocker rage (oh, how I love this old chestnut!)

Would much rather have a big dog like a Lab than a hypersensitive smaller dog

etc...basically no -one says "how lovely, wish it was me getting a dog".

None of these people have ever had a cocker its all just vague experience of other people's cockers. However not to be ignored completely.

So, over to owners to tell me about their cockers, good and bad ...

My next choice, if not a Cocker , is a King Charles spaniel. Now thats a completely different sort of dog! Small, affectionate, nothing against it apart from the health problems which seem quite major. Much more of a lapdog though than a Cocker. I would prefer a cocker.

Its such a responsibility, I sometimes think that Iam putting more thought into this than I did about making the decision to have children!

All comments will be very gratefully received. Thank you if you have got this far with this very long posting!

Fosterdog

I've never had one myself but do have some experience with them, from my experience I've deleted all of the comments that go against what I know of them.

moneylover wrote: »

Here we go -
Cocker spaniels are:

too busy and on the go, never rest

Need hours of exercise or you never get any peace

Basically they are friendly, fast paced, loving, cheeky, trainable. Yes they can have issues but all breeds have some cons alongside their pros. Also every dog is different so while getting a dog from a reputable breeder from parents with good temperaments will reduce the chances there is no guarantee that a dog will be just like it's parents and siblings.

A friend had two for years (recently lost them at 15 and 17yrs old), they were devoted to their family, good with kids, loved to play, loved to cuddle up on your lap, easy to train, friendly with strangers invited into the home but also gave a warning bark to strangers at the door before they were introduced. They were constantly on the go, they competed in agility and obedience to help keep them focussed but they would be on the go from morning until evening when it was time to cuddle up.

No dog should be entered into lightly but as long as your prepared it's your choice what you go for. Try contacting some breeders, they often have waiting list for pups of over a year so by getting in there early you can maybe visit a few times and spend some time with their dogs to get a feel for if they are the right breed for you. Call the breed club and see if there are any dog shows coming up in your area and go along to meet some there.

shegirl

My parents bred cockers and I was brought up with them.

I've never known any to be anything but friendly,loveable dogs who will roll over for a tickle if you so much as go near them!

As for 'cocker rage' I'd say there is 'red rage' which can occur in a golden cocker.

They are playful,adept at stealing food (still don't know how Sonny managed to steal bacon from the grill with nobody noticing!) and love walks,running around and toys.They also have their mellow moments.

In my experience they aren't as devoted as a retriever and aren't at all clingy.

All that said,as much as I loved them when I was a kid,they're not a dog I'd have myself.

I wouldn't say they're the most social dog either and they gave their attention to the family rather than showing much interest in others.

shegirl

Just to add: they didn't need a huge amount of exercise and certainly not to get a moments peace.Are they confusing them with Springers?

I have never known one to be highly strung either and ours were always rather laid back.None of them so much as batted an eyelid to me dressing then in my clothes (Sonny looked so pretty in a dress,poor boy:rotfl:) and lifting them into my old pram to play babies with them:o:rotfl:

Primmer

I have a working breed cocker spaniel, he is amazing and so much fun. Being a working strain he is high energy but it is still possible to tire him out. Whilst he does get lots of long walks, what we find tires him out is visits to friends and family where he is on his best behaviours, trips to garden centres and pet friendly shops, craft fairs etc.
He is very affectionate and will snuggle on my lap in the evening.
With regards to a lot of the comments i believe a lot depends on how you bring them up and therefore what they get used to. We can leave our dog no problem, obviously if it's too long we arrange for someone to let him out or walk him. He has a great temperament, is great with our nieces and nephews and is pleased to see everyone, a real happy little dog.
I would definitely recommend the cocker spaniel!

zaksmum

moneylover wrote: »

Dear All

I love MSE, its helped me make many small decisions in my life.

But this is a big one - am a suitable owner for a cocker spaniel?

My husband and I are early 60s, healthy and just retiring. We are having our first dog for many years as working life has got in the way of pet caring.

My first choice would be a golden labrador - a biddable, loving and best friend type dog. For me its characteristics are just right. BUT too big for us now, they are so strong I think they should have younger owners and be part of family life going for massive walks at weekends etc. There would be some of that but maybe not enough for a young labrador.

Second choice is a cocker spaniel - right size of dog, oodles of personality, like exercise but dont need as much as a lab.

BUT I havent known anyone who has had one for a long time, so its past memories of the breed plus their looks melt my heart (only one small reason to have a particular breed!)

Various friends and workmates try to put me off, they just dont like them...
I am going to list the comments and would love to hear what people who own these beautiful dogs think. I have read plenty, but that isnt the same thing at all...

So all comments welcome, BUT, I know for sure that I am planning on a pup from a reputable breeder, rather than an older dog from rescue. I know there are lots of arguments in favour of this, but I have made my mind up in this regard and do not need the arguments rehearsed. So please respect me in this regard

Here we go -
Cocker spaniels are:

too busy and on the go, never rest, don't want to sit on your lap

Utterly demanding

Highly strung

Clingy

Stubborn

Hard to get one with a really good temparment

Need hours of exercise or you never get any peace

Can't be left on their own for more than about an hour

Don't like to be left with other people

Cocker rage (oh, how I love this old chestnut!)

Would much rather have a big dog like a Lab than a hypersensitive smaller dog

etc...basically no -one says "how lovely, wish it was me getting a dog".

None of these people have ever had a cocker its all just vague experience of other people's cockers. However not to be ignored completely.

So, over to owners to tell me about their cockers, good and bad ...

My next choice, if not a Cocker , is a King Charles spaniel. Now thats a completely different sort of dog! Small, affectionate, nothing against it apart from the health problems which seem quite major. Much more of a lapdog though than a Cocker. I would prefer a cocker.

Its such a responsibility, I sometimes think that Iam putting more thought into this than I did about making the decision to have children!

All comments will be very gratefully received. Thank you if you have got this far with this very long posting!

I know you say "cocker rage" is an old chestnut that you love...but someone on here very recently had to have a much loved cocker PTS because of just that.

She was heartbroken.

Good luck with whatever you decide though.

pawsies

Have you thought about going to Discover Dogs in November?

All the professionals of different breeds will be there to highlight the good and bad of each breed and you can see the breeds for yourself.

Personally I would go for a less common breed due to health issues- field spaniel? boykin spaniel? sussex spaniel? (although I know of a sussex with aggression issues). welsh springer?

Also decide whether you want the English or American Cocker. Both different in appearance.

niandsa

Just to throw something completely different into the mix as you mentioned you would love a Labrador, how about a miniature labradoodle? Ours is 19 weeks old and full of fun! The breed has many of the lab characteristics as well as those from the miniature poodle. She currently weighs 9kg and we are expecting her to grow a little bigger than a cocker spaniel.

I know cross breeds are not for everyone but we love her! And she is much cheaper to insure than a pure bred!

jo78

Hi
we have not long got our cocker spaniel Poppy she is twelve weeks old and is fab
She sleeps from 10:30 through to 6:45 (when hubby gets up for work )
She is doing great with toileting outside
Loves snuggling up on the couch in my arms on her back just like a baby
She is fab with my three kids oldest 12 youngest 2
Training is going ok
And I don't have any bad points to add
But i was the one who did not want a dog lol but now I wouldn't be without her x if I Can figure out how to put a picture on later I will ( coz she is beautiful )
I think people do get spaniels mixed up though our neibours have a springer and he is mad lol

krlyr

niandsa wrote: »

The breed

No offence, but they're not a breed - as you say, they're a crossbreed and I struggle to buy in to why a reputable breeder would go down the "doodle" route unless they were really, truly convinced that we need an extra breed that offers more than any of the existing purebreeds can offer, and is prepared for the years of work needed to establish a new breed that breeds true generation after generation. If they're not throwing themselves into it with that goal in mind then I can't think of many other reasons to breed these crosses other than to jump on the bandwagon and make a quick buck

Pthree

niandsa wrote: »

Just to throw something completely different into the mix as you mentioned you would love a Labrador, how about a miniature labradoodle?

Really??

How do they do that? I know you get miniature / standard poodles, but mini labs??

Or do they take normal size labs and cross them with miniature poodles?
And then I guess its fingers crossed that pups are on the small side so they can flog them as minis?

Or is someone going to wow me totally and tell me you actually can get miniature labs....?