Show Cockers - are they completely batty?

[BrexitBingoGenerator]

Hello!
We are at the very early stages of getting a dog. We’ve wanted one forever and finally the stars seem to be aligning- I will be home 4 days in 5, my children will be at school (6&4) we live next to a sssi area of heathland that dogs adore (as do I)- I think we could give one a really good home.

I love cockers but not sure if my children might still be a bit young? And also, if I’m working a day a week, would it cope? I’ve heard they are crackers until they are 2, is this true?

My husband would love a retriever but I just dont think I could cope with the hair 😬.

Thank you everyone!

[Ellmau]

All spaniels in my experience are fairly insane until they're much older than 2. (Though lovely.)

[Wolfiefan]

A puppy can’t be left.
A settled adult dog with no separation anxiety? No more than four hours in total a day. You would need a walker or daycare.
If you’re really interested why don’t you contact the breed club and go to a couple of shows and ask questions?
They may not be retriever fluffy but the grooming is still too much for me.

[Chasingsquirrels]

2??? Are you having a laugh? They calm down about 8 or 9!
Mine is just drying off having jumped in a stream then ran through fields - and the been hozed down when we got home.

[Celebelly]

Spaniels are all batty! And yes, my working cocker is 6 and people still think she is a puppy Don't get a spaniel if you don't have a sense of humour!

[SospanFrangipan]

We have a 3 y/o sprocker, and a 9 y/o cocker from pedigree working stock. They're both nuts. They're truly brilliant dogs regardless of the craziness. As long as you have the time, space and love to give them, they will give you everything and more in return!

[StrippingTheVelvet]

We've a 3 year old and he's still hugely energetic -a pain in the arse-.

[SospanFrangipan]

I should also add that we have a 2 y/o son too, and both dogs are amazing with him. They make him laugh everyday, they're both extremely gentle (he gives them a dentastick every morning). The sprocker was 1 when DS arrived, and we adopted the cocker 7 months ago and he had never been around children before!

[GeorgiaGirl52]

I have found Cavalier King Charles spaniels much more child friendly than cockers.

[mummyflood]

what sospan said. Ours is 3.5, mad as a box of frogs but so loving, easy to train, funny...wouldnt change a thing

[Chipsnchampagne]

Got to agree they are crackers for much longer than two years, often well into their teens! Lovely dogs but not for the faint-hearted!

[BrexitBingoGenerator]

Oh crikey! It sounds like the equivalence of having a whirlwind joining the family!

Thank you everyone - this is really useful. I’m so drawn to having a bonkers and really fun dog, I am daunted though because we’ve never had one so would be completed novices-maybe they are a bit too complex a package for us! Lots to think about. Thank you all again!

[BiteyShark]

I have a working cocker and was told they calm down around the age of 2. Unfortunately BiteyDog didn't get that memo

[YouFellAsleep]

I read that as 'slow cookers' are slow cookers really batty - err no 🤦🏼‍♀️

[sadbones]

We have a show cocker and she is left for around 4 hours a day no problem. She is amazing with children and 1 of our cats- not so much the other one 🙄 She's got great recall and is obedient off the lead.
Cons: she hates being groomed, we have her hand stripped so costs us £50 every 6-8 weeks- we are working on the home grooming all the time! We will get there soon.

She's not great on the lead as she's completely so excited(we are working on that)

She's just tuned 1 and we love her.
So pleased we chose a show cocker.

[Catapultaway]

We have a working cocker, she's not reached two yet, she has her crazy moments but 90% of the time she is happy sleeping. Scent games tire her out.

[justasking111]

My friends cocker was never friendly prefers his own company, very laid back, children were of no interest t him at all.

[Peaseblossom22]

We have a show cocker , he is the most gorgeous dog. They are always up for cuddles , eternally optimistic, everyone’s friend . He is bouncy but not mad like some working strains , loved his walks ( or sniffs because they have to stop to sniff everything) but is perfectly fine if you have to miss a day or have a shorter walk.

Choose your breeder carefully , I did s years research and several visits . And read everything you can on //www.cockersonline.co.uk you can’t beat it for info on puppies and children, health , finding s breeder etc

[Fucksandflowers]

I really dislike show cockers.

With the exception of one who is an absolute delight I often find them (and particularly springer spaniels) thoroughly unpleasant in temperament.

Plus I personally think they are quite ugly compared to the 'proper' working version.

When given the choice between show and working, it's 100% working for me every time.
More stable temperaments and better health generally in my experience.

[Spudlet]

[Regards 12 year old Mystery Mix Rescue Spaniel]

He has calmed down in the last few months. A bit. However he’s also gone deaf as a post (I’m reasonably sure it isn’t elective), so what he lacks in crazy, he makes up for in not hearing you...

The vet thought he was 5 or 6 when she saw him on Monday (grass seed in the paw). He wasn’t very impressed with his paw protecting sock, I must say

[missbattenburg]

My Dad & SM have a show cocker and I don't think she's been batty at all. Billiant dog. Not excessively friendly with children and other dogs, more tolerant of them (rather than wanting to greet them).

She's old and blind and deaf now and sleeps 23.5 hours a day but for much of her life she was equaly able to go for a 15 mile hike or spend the day snoozing, depending on what was going on.

They've taken her all over for holidays and she has loved it and settled wherever they went. She has especially loved caravaning.

Very soppy and floppy and you could do anything with her regards grooming, checking ears and paws etc.

No significant health problems.

Was a bugger to get used to being left alone but once they cracked it, she was happy left in the house by herself. Is also great in the car for long journeys.

Not really much working drive left in her. I want to say she had brilliant recall but now I am thinking about it, I never saw them have to recall her. She just trotted about with them wherever they went.

Was a brilliant football player when younger and was quite good at agility.

On the negative side:

• she has a spaniel's stomach and will scrounge for food at any opportunity
• her coat has required quite a lot of upkeep so she has been clipped every 4 weeks or so
• she is a madam if she wants something; for example every so often she has 'decided' she wants to sleep upstairs for the night and will bark until allowed. Is then fine downstairs the following night.

These are mosty training, though, and they find the scrounging and asking to sleep upstairs funny so it suits them.

[Ellmau]

I wouldn't say they were complex, just non-stop energy.

[WombatStewForTea]

I have a show cocker. He's bloody brilliant never really been bonkers at all but since he turned 2 he's way more chilled. He loves company and its happy to be left with a dog walker coming in during the day.
All the working cockers I know are total fruit loops

[user1486131602]

I have one too, he’s 13 next week.......only problem is he doesn’t know it! Still batshit crazy!! But they have the best natures of any dog I’ve owned

[AnnabelleBronstein]

Two years old sounds optimistic - mine is 8 and we’re hoping he’ll calm down any day now! They are puppies (in the head) for life, IME, but absolutely fantastic dogs. Beautiful nature, will go all day or sleep just as happily, amazing company. A day won’t pass when you don’t laugh at your cocker!