Cocker Spaniel - a good family dog and temperament for child with Aspergers

[Galaxymum]

Just seeking some advice from all you experienced dog owners. I was brought up with Cairn Terriers, Westies and Jack Russells. So no experience of non-terrier breeds. We're looking to get a puppy later in the year and DD is just 7 and has Aspergers. I think a dog in the family (we had an old Cairn till last year) would help her take responsibility with walks and grooming with me and I need company at home.

I keep coming back to Cocker Spaniels and wondered on their temperament with children. We had some bad experiences with our Cairn and it's knocked me off terriers. I also was knocked over by a lab in the park. So seeking a middle sized to small dog with a good temperament, but playful and cope with a child.

Is a cocker spaniel a good choice?

[tabulahrasa]

Cockers are nice, but they're very busy...will that be an issue for her?

Also, my DS is 17 and has AS - he really really didn't cope with the puppy stage well at all, all the biting and chasing was a massive issue for him, to the point where he was unwilling to be in the same room as the puppy.

[madoldbird]

My DS is 4 and has autism and other additional needs. We have an 11 month old working cocker who is fantastic with him. They are wonderful dogs in general, and he adores everry member of the family, but is extremely long suffering and intuitive with DS who is frequently found lying on him, fiddling with his ears, trying to put his lead on etc etc. Yes, there were issues in the early weeks with the biting, tearing about and general puppy stuff, and DS initially ignored him totally and appeared fairly unimpressed. That soon passed though.

I would strongly recommend crate training - it is essential the puppy has a safe place to go, but equally important for the child id they are feeling overwhelmed / distressed etc. We have been amazed at how our gorgeous cocker has bonded with DS and how incredibly intuitive he is.

[LadyTurmoil]

As tab says, would you think about getting a slightly older dog, who's past the puppy biting and general madness stage.

You could find rescues who have dogs in a foster family setup, usually with other dogs/cats/children, who will be able to give you an honest assessment of what the dog is like and how he/she is likely to interact with your daughter. I don't think it's the breed that is of vital importance, more the temperament of the dog. Good luck!

[madoldbird]

P.S Have just read my post, please note I am not recommending crate training children (although...)

[scarlettsmummy2]

Cocker spaniels are notoriously possessive so could be snappy. I had heard that they are responsible for most bites by dogs to children, although that could be an urban rumour.

[topbannana]

Really scarletts? I have never heard that and have just recommended them in another thread due to their great temperament
I think as a PP said that the extreme busyness is a consideration in your situation OP. Our 18 week old literally never stops unless he is asleep. This can become quite tedious, even to somebody without AS. Also the LandShark was not named for nothing. The nipping has been far worse than I have previously remembered, though in fairness it's been a few years since my previous pups.

[topbannana]

I should have said, ours are working cockers so quite different from show types :)

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

If you can give terriers another chance a Border could be perfect.

Mine is not in the least bit snappy and would play all day.

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

Meant to say that the four cockers I have known have been quite possessive too. Three if the four had a tendancy to do it with people where as the other I know is more food and toys. They are/were nice dogs though.

[MissBeehiving]

Working Cockers are very very active. Show Cockers, less so but very busy . Dsis has a show cocker and she is lovely but very possessive/defensive of the family and her territory. I have a Border and they are great family dogs - ours is very very placid (except when it comes to rats) and has never snapped at anyone.

[LadyTurmoil]

If you do go for a spaniel type, this one will melt your heart...

[Floralnomad]

Have you considered miniature schnauzers ,lots of young families around here have them so I assume they're good with children , the rest seem to have cavaliers .

[Galaxymum]

Thanks everyone for the comments. There is a lot to think about - I've never had experience of a spaniel. I love Cavaliers but DH is set against them as he worries about their health issues. I think they are much calmer though? I do seem to be falling for spaniels! But have to keep my head. Yes, I am considering an older dog.

Crate training seems such a good idea. I will definitely keep that in mind.

[MumnGran]

Have a look at Field Spaniels - such as these.
They are a specific breed (not working cockers ....sometimes mis-named as field spaniels.
Not commonplace, but superb to own.
Lots of info here

[RobotBananas]

Yy to field spaniel. Amazing dogs.

[outtolunchagain]

Have a look at the forum pages on www.cockersonline.co.uk there is loads of advice re children. We have a show cocker ,now 4 he is a fantastic family dog however I would say that they are not the easiest of puppies because they do go through a definite bitey chasing phase , but it does pass and then they are wonderful .ds2 has additional needs and we also have two other boys they all adore the dog ,

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

We have a working cocker, she's 18 months now and just starting to calm down a little.
We have 3 boys ages 6,2 and 8 months.

Fantastic dog. Doesn't bark, very quick to toilet train and basic training in general, walks well on a lead, fantastic recall, not possessive with anything other than food.

The boys have always been all over her and we've been very lucky that she hasn't nipped or even growled at them ever.

Gorgeous temperament. Very loving. Fantastic dog to have with the kids, especially our eldest who just runs and runs with her when they're out together. Can't recommend cockers enough.

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

And a crate is a must imo if there's little ones around. Somewhere the dog can have a bit of sanctuary if she wants

[Vibbe]

I have an English cocker spaniel - show line. She is a lovely dog - she's 2 years old now. Very chilled, very happy and very easy to work with. Mild and loves people, including children. She gets kisses and hugs from kids and adults in the neighbourhood - she doesn't care if she knows them or if they are strangers, she just loves it.
I take her out 3-4 times daily, just 10-20 minute walks each time. And then spend around 30 minutes training her every day - fetching, different obedience training and maybe some food search. If we meet any of the dogs from the neighbourhood, they play until we have to go/dogs get tired.

My parents have a field spaniel. I think it's a cocker, but I can't remember right now. She's around 7 years old now, and requires a massive amount of exercise every day. If not, she's almost crawling on the walls. She chilled a bit around 18 months, but still needs 1-2 hours of exercise daily to be chilled around the house.
She's just as mild and lovely.

My parents were dog sitting my dog last summer, and they were surprised how big the difference is.

None of the dogs have ever growled or nipped anyone, and have no problems with possessiveness. They hardly ever bark, although my parents' dog sings along to the church bells.
Both are velcro-dogs though, so if you're not keen on having a little 4-legged shadow following you, don't get a spaniel.

I went for the show dog because of the energy levels. My dad was hunting for many years, so he used the dog as a hunting dog. Now, they don't go hunting, but my dad still trains her every day, goes on the bike with her running next to him and goes to the beach to get her fetching in water.

My very first dog was a cairn terrier, and he was lovely - but so different from a cocker.

[IcedTeaOneSugar]

Field Spaniels are beautiful, but need masses of exercise, we've had springer's and have a show type cocker now, we'd love a field Spaniel but couldn't commit to the exercise.

Our Cocker is almost a year old and has been through a protracted nippy stage but recently had really started to calm down, our last Springer was much more hectic even in her old age. He's easy to train, and very friendly with other dogs and children, he was mobbed outside school today and just stood there wagging his tail.

[Vibbe]

My parents' dog is what they call an field trial spaniel or FT spaniel. It's bigger than my cocker (who weighs 10kg and seems small next to all the cockers we meet), it's a working dog and absolutely lovely.

I'm actually not sure if it's a working cocker or a field spaniel, but maybe it's called something else in the UK - my parents are not from an English speaking country, and neither is the dog.

No matter what, it's a lovely dog, very similar to mine except for the energy level.

[Runrogrogrun]

We always has show cockers growing up; always 2, sometimes 3 and sometimes another dog in the mix (jack Russell, cavalier, Labrador). There were 4 of us children and, without exception, the 12 or so we had were excellent pets. All were bitches and some were naughty (like having the bin over if we were all out!) but they gave me and my siblings a wonderful childhood. About 12 yrs ago my parents swapped to the working strain which were as loving and loyal as the others but were/are more energetic (think more springer-like). My father sadly lost one a month or so ago but still has one and a Labrador. My sister now has a show-type (about 3yrs) and 3dc and she is a wonderful family member. However I have a 16 week old Cavalier so have broken with tradition - the cavalier in my childhood was 'mine' and I have always had a soft spot (and I like a smaller dog). Having said that a show cocker was my next choice...

[MumnGran]

"Iced" - I have Fieldies and would disagree that they need more exercise than Springers. Having had both, I would have said about the same amount in order to be happy healthy dogs.
They are calmer in temperament though. At least - mine have been