Please talk to me about cocker spaniels and/or rehoming an ex police dog

[mousebacon]

I'm considering rehoming a 9 year old cocker spaniel from our local police force.

He has a thyroid problem which he takes a daily tablet for.

Can you help me work out if it's even appropriate for us to rehome him and what costs I haven't considered - will I be able to get insurance?

I really like him

I really really like him

I haven't even met him yet!

Your insurance will be fairly high and you may well find that you get no cover for pre-existing conditions - so his thyroid.
Thyroid conditions also require close monitoring so as well as his medication you will be having regular blood tests even while he's stable and will have to absorb the costs of any medical conditions he develops that can be related to thyroid dysfunction as the insurance will count them as part of the pre-existing exclusion.

Have they given info on the health of his joints, eyes and kidney health, pancretitis is common in spaniels...erm that's all I can bring to mind currently but probably have missed something.

Otherwise it depends on your circumstances really?

Your choices for insurance may be severely limited too as some won't take on an animal over 7.

I have a cocker and in your shoes I would go for it. They are amazing dogs anyway but I'd imagine an ex-police dog would just make him even more appealing.

As said re insurance, doubt you will get cover for this but remember you can get repeat prescriptions which means you can get 3 month supplies and buy online, could work out cheaper. I've never heard of cockers being prone to pancreatitis and I did loads of research before getting my girl. They can be prone to an eye problem and something else but can't remember off top of my head but good breeders check these out before breeding (my dog's parents were clear). I would imagine the police check these things out before taking dogs on plus the fact he's 9 suggests it's not an issue anyway.

Good luck!

Cocker spaniels are prone to pancreatitis and also genetically tested for PRA gPRA, Familial Nephropathy, hip scored and depending on working or show elbows. There is also ongoing health research into anal sac carcinoma. A good breeder should have informed you of all this and shown you the certificates of all clear health tests (bar research studies obviously).

I would also check if the dog has ever lived in a house or if it has only lived in a kennel block.

More info on Cocker health is here
and here

Interesting article totally bursar, thanks for that!

Important to find out whether he has ever lived in a home or only in a kennel. You are also extremely likely to find that he will be bad on the lead, sniffer dogs are wide ranging and active, not trained to plod gently at heel- the exception being those who screen crowds at airports etc who are marginally more sedate.

Thank for the replies

I'm going to give the local vet a ring today to see what sort of costs I'm looking at for his thyroid.

I'm not sure how much information the police will give us on health scores etc so that's all been really useful to know - thank you!

Ooh thanks topbanana, I hadn't thought of that.

I love cockers, sil has one. He is beautiful and the best behaved dog I've ever known.

Get him get him get him!

It's great that you are doing the research first but please do go into this with your eyes open.
I have working cockers and have worked sniffer dogs (though not for the Police) and I struggle to imagine many of them in a pet situation. Find our when the Police acquired this dog ie- was he an 8 week pup or was he an older pet who was too much of a handful. Sadly many of the traits that make good sniffer dogs are precisely those that make bad pets.
And despite being retired, do not under estimate what it could take to keep this boy mentally stimulated.
Good luck and keep us posted :)

Hello again,

Well, the research has been done and unfortunately we've decided against it.

After speaking to the vet, insurance people and the kennels, our home and lifestyle just wouldn't suit him and it wouldn't be fair.

He would need much more company and stimulation than we could give him on an average day (even though I work 4 days and dh works shifts) and the vets warned me about the risk of a sudden deterioration of his thyroid problem which would be very unfair on my two children.

Anyway, I'm really disappointed but I know it's for the best but thank you all for your advice.

I think if more people made sensible decisions that best met the needs of the dog the world would be a slightly better place.
It's awfully disappointing when a dog falls through even for the best of reasons (I have been known to cry before now ) but I subscribe to the 'they'll find you' school of thought - if you put yourself in the right place then whatever happens will be a step on the path to meeting the dog that is meant to be.
It's the only bit of woo bollocks I stand by!
Fingers crossed it's not long before you see the dog that was meant to be - they may even be ready right now.
I think when you met him it would have been obvious that you weren't right for each other.
Best of luck, I'll keep an eye out in the hope of a new dog thread!

Ah what a shame, hopefully that dogs owner is just around the corner and the same for you and your future pet.

I'm dog sitting my sil's cocker for a couple of days. We have spent hours at the park today. He is so well behaved and is definitely the breed I'd go for in future.

Good luck

That is a shame - we have a bitch and they are smart and affectionate dogs. Our breeder sums them as "every day is Christmas Day to a cocker!".

But you've absolutely done the right thing and carried out very thorough research before making this difficult decision. Fingers crossed he finds a suitable home soon.

Thanks folks

Melanie we have a cocker too at that comment about Christmas Day is so true! He is such a cheerful optimistic dog , I notice when I take him out with a friends two schnauzers who always seem to be grumbling about something , he just gets on with things .