Cocker spaniels????

[clpsmum]

We lost our lovely Kibg Charles Spaniel very recently. As much as we adored him our house is just empty without a family pet. We have the chance to adopt two cocker spaniel puppies. I've had no experience with cocker spaniels at all and wonder if anyone can offer any advice? I have three DC under 7yrs and am a sahm

[TooManyButtons]

I have a 4 month old show cocker; my next door neighbours have a working cocker. They are amazed at how calm Stanley, my puppy, is compared to theirs. He does have his silly half hours when he runs round like a loon, but otherwise he's very well behaved - doesn't chew, or bark.

However, I do think working cockers are prettier than show type cockers. Not that I'd ever say that in Stanley's earshot .

[littlemissnormal]

I have a 2 year old working cocker bitch and she is the most gorgeous thing ever.

But like others have said, she's a bundle of energy and will go on for ever. She can almost jump our stable door from a sitting position and doesn't walk anywhere, she bounds!

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

Labradors are born half trained, spaniels die half trained!

^^ Never a truer word spoken

[cathpip]

We have father and son working cockers, mine however are not mad, far from it! The 1 year old can be walked past other dogs by my 3year old. They sleep all day in the house but I do give them a lot of exercise, they get 2 hours a day and one of those hours is usually on a bike, so that's probably the reason they sleep! Training is easy but they do need reminding every so often, I have concentrated mainly on heel on and off lead, sit, wait and recall. They do go out grouse beating, that's the only time I have seen them both worn out though. They are both sparko on my rug in front of the fire at the moment! The only downside I would say (after owning labs) is they do pick up burrs and grass seeds and sticky balls very easily and they take ages to dry out. :)

[outtolunchagain]

We have a four year old show type cocker spaniel , who is the most important person in the family,
.Great with the children , loves a walk and a game but is always up for cuddles and snuggles.Basic training was straight forward as they love human attention but they shed dreadfully and hair is definitely a problem!
Would second the recommendation for cockersonline, it truly was my saviour in the early days , they are not the easiest of puppies , they definitely go through a cockerdile stage and are complete loons but I wouldn't swop him for the world and he is now the perfect family dog.

[Awks]

I have a 5 month old working cocker and he is lovely. Chilled, fun, loving. He sleeps a lot too but he does get some good long walks each day. He snores so loud though, it's like a train when he drops off

[thesixteenthtry]

If you go for a cocker get one with the beautiful tail he was born with. Many pet spaniels are still being docked illegally.

[Leakingwellies]

We have a 13 month old male working cocker as well as a 7 year old cairn terrier. They both love long walks off the lead and the cocker needs at least 3 good hours bounding about every day so its not a decision I made lightly as I knew the commitment involved.

Do I regret getting him? -not for one second. Would I do it again?-no! He is in equal measure loveable, greedy, hyper, daft, cuddly, destructive, mischevious and never seems to get tired till about nine pm when he just crashes out. Puppy training classes were a waste of time and money in our case but he gets socialised enough on the fields where we live and I think thats the key. He loves other dogs and people and just wants to be admired and loved.

It also took me a while to find one with his waggy tail intact.