Cocker spaniel question!

[RosieLig]

Hi,

We're thinking about getting a puppy in the Spring after losing our last dog in the summer.

I've heard lots of good things about Cocker spaniels. Would I be better getting one from a show line as a family pet? We are an active family and there will be plenty of walks but I've heard the show line is generally calmer...

Also, how bad is the shedding?

Thanks!

Rosie

Thanks you so much, she sounds lovely :-) Can I ask how you chose a breeder?

I have a 2 year old show who doesn't shed at all, although I keep her clipped short as she is a mud magnet.

They are a gorgeous, friendly breed. She's a bit snappy with my 7 year old but that's because he doesn't heed her warnings but on the whole she's very good natured. She's not a barker and was so easy to train.

She loves running with us but is just as happy to have a short walk, basically show types will fit in with any level of walking. Don't know if a worker would handle the less energetic days.

They are very clingy and when you are in the house they will shadow you but we haven't had any issues with separation anxiety and we both work. Oh I'd love another.

We have a 2.5 year old cocker from show lines.
She's a long haired cocker and she does shed. When trimmed completely short, it's not as noticeable, but when she has long fur, it's obvious everywhere - in the house, on her bed, on our clothes.

She's a friendly dog who likes people and has no problem with kids. She's used to being cuddled and kissed by the neighbourhood kids when we're out (we don't have kids ourselves).

She doesn't bark or growl. We live in a flat and our neighbours have asked if we still have the dog as they never hear her.

She is a velcro dog, but that's a typical spaniel trait. But we have trained being home alone (like we've done with any other dog we've ever had) and she has no problems being home alone. She's not destructive, and we do not crate her.

She needs a walk every 6-8 hours and then we do 30-45 minutes of training every day. She can skip the training for a couple days if need be.
As a comparison, my parents have a working spaniel who needs several hours of training/exercise every day even now she's 7 years old.

I personally would not want a working spaniel as a family pet unless I was certain I would have all the time and energy needed to train and exercise the dog.
My parents both still work and they are finding it frustrating that the dog is so demanding. It's a lovely dog, but she's just a lot of work.
They dog sat my dog and they were amazed that the difference was this big.

We are going to see a litter of working cocker pups tomorrow. We have a one year old Springer already.

We found the breeder on champdogs, this is the only place he advertised as he only had a couple of pups available, keeping one himself and four going to working homes, pre booked before the mating.

I was interrogated basically as demand for his pups has been high and he could chose to a certain extent who he felt suitable, which I see as a good thing, and we must all go as a family. Personally, I would be wary of pre loved etc. ensure health checks are done and ask to see paperwork etc. expect to be interviewed yourself!

We chose working cocker as a breed to compliment our Springer, good natured, happy, good with kids, intelligent, super temperament, but too big etc.We keep our dogs fur pretty short so I don't notice the shedding to much tbh.

Our Springer does get at least 2 hours exercise a day, probably more like 2.5 and we train him too, but the kids are older and I don't work that many hours, so I find it easy tbh. Walk in the morning when I sort the pony anyway then a really decent one too in the afternoon. In the summer, the kids or DH walk in the evenings as it's light still so the walking is shared more.

Our Springer will take any amount of exercise we through at him, but in the house is very chilled and relaxed, so I am thinking a cocker would be similar.

I think if you are prepared to put the work in, you'll be fine!!

Not too big, and throw at him, phone typos!!

Just to mention our dog came from working lines, and I was nervous as folk kept kind of gulping when we said we were getting a Springer, then looking away (!), but it's been fine.

Good luck.