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?

I have a show cocker - ignore post re cocker rage, there is no proof of this, it's an urban myth and quite damaging IMO.

They are fab pets, brilliant intelligent little dogs. Eager to please and very intelligent. They can be stubborn so good, strong basic training is a must (but should be for any dog). The first 6 months for us did have some lows with the nippy teeth stage but after 6 months of age she started to calm and everyone comments on how chilled she is with people. She's bonkers with other dogs as she loves to play with her friends.

I've always had dogs growing up and as an adult. This is my first cocker and it's now the only breed for me.

Don't get a pedigree, get a mongrel. They're less likely to have behavioural problems. Get an older dog too that needs rehoming, that way you can tell it's temperament from the outset: you're not waiting for it to grow up and getting attached to it, only to discover it doesn't get on with DD.

Just read through all your replies - I've been thinking of an older Cocker Spaniel as could be ideal. Our Cairns have always been very "barky" and I worried at snapping.

Cocker Spaniels - or a Springer or Cavalier seem like good family dogs and I'm happy to do the walking as I work from home. I think crate training is something that could really help as well. I need to check the parents to make sure we could get a "chilled" Cocker! Binger you've completely won me over! I am going to be very careful before we do go ahead and be prepared though.

Binger ..... rage syndrome may be considered an "urban myth" but has a basis in issues repeatedly seen in cockers (reds were particularly noted), and less frequently in some other breeds. The term was coined by a highly respected dog behaviourist (Roger Mugford) to describe a very upsetting condition which saw happy family pets suddenly fly into aggressive rage without provocation.
I worked in rescue in the 90's, when there were numbers of cases, and heard several instances of beloved family pets turning in an instant, into savage attack, for no reason. It was heartbreaking. These were not dogs being aggressive, but literally 'flying into total rage'

The condition was thought to be genetic, and the fact that there is now so little reporting would seem to indicate that breeders did a great job in breeding clear of the affected lines, which would support the genetic theory. Later research suggests that serotonin issues may be causative. There is a lot of research around to access, but this article gives a fairly balanced argument for both sides. Wikipedia also offers a general overview for the casual reader.

All of that aside .....Cockers are great dogs, and 'rage' is far less frequently heard of nowadays ( although to be fair I am no longer active in that world, so hear less than I might! ) so I don't think you should worry OP ... but did want to clear up the point.