Working Cocker Take Home Age - Advice Welcomed

[LowennaGirl]

Hello

Is 15 weeks too old to bring home a Working Cocker that has been raised in an outdoor kennel? (though with adult socialisation)

I promised my DH we could get a dog once our DD was sleeping through and we'd got ourselves sorted. DD is now 6 months and we are looking for a working cocker (I grew up with a springer spaniel so know spaniels - though not puppies - we both want a dog we can run with but just a bit less mental than a springer!).

He fell in love with one we saw, super friendly, reputable breeder, all DNA checks etc., we met the mum...but

She is already 14 weeks and has not been reared indoors or with a family so is not at all toilet trained or used to kids. We have DD and a cat. I've read the socialisation window closes at 16 weeks - should we be looking for a puppy we can bring home at 8 weeks for more time for baby exposure or is it fine that she is a little older? (and maybe even easier as her bladder will be a bit bigger?!)

Thanks so much for any opinions

Socialisation window actual ends at between 13 and 14 weeks. I would wonder why this one has not yet found a home.

We have one who came home at 16 weeks. In hindsight we should have walked away but DH was smitten (and remains so to this day)
He is fine. He works well, is placid and biddable, spotlessly clean in the house and happy to spend the day with us anywhere we happen to be.
However we also have a 6 month old who we picked up at 8 weeks. While they are different dogs in terms of temperament anyway, DPup approaches life with an exuberance that DDog could never hope to muster. He accepts new situations more readily, is happy to bond with many people (DDog is pretty much a one man dog) and suffers from a general air of happiness that makes his life a daily joy. DDog is anxious of so much, in a low level way rather than seriously debilitating sense. He just seems generally a bit more melancholy about the world and tends to sit a step behind, pursing his lips and looking sour if people and dogs should enjoy themselves in his company.
As I said before he is a lovely lad but DPup has made us see how much his lack of early socialisation has affected him.
TBH in your situation I would probably walk away. It would not put me off per se but DS is older and I am after a working dog rather than a pet. For the money you would spend I would go for an 8 week old home reared puppy instead.

Why has he not found a home, do you know? Our last working cocker came to us at 11 months after his owner realised he was too stupid to ever work and he's been raised outside. He was a lovely dog, just slipped into our family. You may be ok, you might not but I dont think the socialisation window is that rigid, you might have to work a bit harder though

If he isn't toilet trained at that age, in my experience its unlikely he ever will properly. Sorry.

Also, is there a particular reason you are after a working cocker? The show types make far better family pets, much cuddlier (and lazier!)

After the socialisation window closes issues can become less about training and more about rehabilitation.

We got our Patterdale from Battersea at 15/16 weeks ,he had only been with them for 8 days . He was not house trained at all but obviously we do not know where he came from ( is docked) . He is the loveliest dog with people and was easy to train and house train IMO ,however he just doesn't 'get' other dogs ,he has no idea about playing or just general doggy etiquette . He is very much a loner and I put that down to his lack of early experience .

Yes floral I thought it was only us! :o

I got my working cocker at 13mnths after a life outside no training at all and anxious of every noise. The house training was a doddle to be fair, she was a very quick learner.
The walking on a lead was another issue in itself and took a long long time, she was petrified of traffic.
We booked her in for puppy classes to help with socialisation, that worked wonders.
She's 3 now and is a totally different dog, good with my 10yr old DD and ok with the cat I never leave them alone together just in case

She was hard work but very much worth it

I got my dog at 14 weeks was last 2 of a litter of 15 she is a bit nervous of new people/situations but clean in the house but does bark or whine constantly if we are not in the room with her even if other dog is

But working cockers can be mental other dog is one and neighbour has one and I know a springer all quite similar in bouncy ness and energy and needing strict disapline do like cuddles a lot though

Sorry she was 14 weeks and living in a barn couldnt leave her there when we got there

Mine is great with traffic and has always loved a ride in the car ( its as good as a walk) ,infact the only things that he's scared of are wheely bins being moved ,vacuum cleaners ( even handheld) and remote control cars !

Thank you so much for all these responses. I think I have persuaded DH to go for a home-reared puppy so even if it is one a bit older than 8 weeks it does have experience of being in a home, with children etc. it sounds like this one may well have worked out ok but it is a bit more of a risk and given we do have a 6month old baby and an old cat I'd rather do what I can to minimise the risks (knowing that there are in guarantees about what you get!). DH and I are both big runners which is why we want a working cocker rather than a show type. So helpful to read all these experiences thank you x

We have a working x show cocker and she is amazing, laid back but with plenty of energy to run/walk as long as you need.