Talk to me about cocker spaniels!

7 replies

windywendy · 08/02/2010 13:35

My children are 16 months and nearly 4. We've been planning to get a dog in about a year's time, but I am planning to take voluntary redundancy from work and take the rest of 2010 off work, so am thinking it would make sense to do the puppy thing while I am at home all of the time. When I return to work the dog will go to work with either DH or me.

We were thinking about a labrador, but are now thinking a cocker spaniel may be a better idea. Has anyone got any experinece/opinions about cockers that they would like to share with me? I really want the dog to be like a proper member of our family and a buddy for my children!

OP posts:

kid · 08/02/2010 13:58

I have a springer x cocker spaniel and he is gorgeous. I have read up on both breeds are both have very good points.

The cocker spaniel is good with children, it wouldn't make a very good gaurd dog as they are very friendly which is a good thing I think for a family pet!

Have a look at this link, thats where I got loads of info from.

www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/breeds/English_Cocker_Spaniel.htm

seeker · 08/02/2010 14:02

My friend has cockers and they are just bonkers. Very friendly but bonkers. And they are very 'scrabbly" - ds is still a bit scared of them and he's 8. They jump up at him and their claws are very sharp. But it may just be that they are hideously badly trained!

lionstigersandbearsohmy · 08/02/2010 16:29

Hi!
I have a cocker and a 3 year old DS. Maggie (cocker) will be a year in March and she is brilliant!!! Have had dogs all my life, she is by far the easiest dog I've ever had in terms of training etc..
Ds loves her and she's a good size for small children as she's only little. She has got quite a bit of energy but I'm noticing she is starting to calm down a lot now even at this age (is fast asleep on my lap now while I'm typing this!)
The only down side is she gets very dirty very easily but imo that's a small price to pay for such a wonderful dog

dreamingofsun · 08/02/2010 16:41

i have a 3 year old cocker and she is gorgeous. only dog i've had, but i have found her relatively easy to train and she is so happy and loving. brilliant with kids who play fight with her. she sits by the door at 4 waiting for them to return from school. a lab would have been too big for us. not sure i would have any dog with children your ages - its like having another child - they need lots of help housetraining and lots of exercise. she is quite excitable and did chew a lot when younger - but i think labs do this too????

hocuspontas · 08/02/2010 17:05

We'd love a cocker. We are out for 7 hours a day though so I think a dog is not for us at the moment. Does anyone think a dog could be left alone like that? My dds are desperate for one.

dreamingofsun · 08/02/2010 17:16

hocus - all the guidance says no. we leave ours sometimes for 4-5 hours. dogs like company and exercise and puppies need lots of attention and training or by all accounts they get naughty/unbalanced/bored.

hocuspontas · 08/02/2010 17:23

Thanks, that's what I thought

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