Any sprocker owners about?

[snala]

Could you please tell me all the good/ bad points?
Grooming requirements,
Do they travel well?,
What size is yours?
How active they are,
Anything else you can think of!

I don't own one ,but know several they are all high energy dogs who adore to have a working role such as agility or Flyball.
They shed like nobodies business and need regular home grooming as well as occasional professional grooming. They vary massive in size from small light weight cocker (10kg) to big heavy springer (25kg). As to how the travel in any group of dogs it is hugely variable.
I have a crossbreed myself, but if you want a predictable outcome for size etc a crossbreed is not going to give you that unless you adopt an adult.

what's a sprocker?

s'ok..doh I figured it out

Ok

I have a springer/cocker cross. He is nearly 3. He weighs 17kgs. He sheds, but not excessively. I groom him once a week and keep his feathers short. He loathes the car, and becomes a drooling, shaking mess.

He is neurotic. Highly strung. Is terrified of other dogs and often reacts inappropriately by lunging/snapping at them if I don't carefully manage the space. We have had behaviourist help. He has an extremely high prey drive, and once in the zone is impossible to break his concentration. I have worked very hard on recall, and he does always come back. Eventually. When out and about, he has zero interest in food rewards. He is happiest when working, whether searching for a ball or retrieving. Spaniels are not happy with just lead walks, ime. I also think they need a more experienced owner than my boy got. Sorry, dude :(

So, good points:

• soppy and loving with people
• intensely loyal
• very, very smart. He has learned to open the back door.
• calm in the house if he has been sufficiently exercised.

Bad points:

• high energy doesn't really cover it. Hyperactive does.
• extremely highly strung and nervous. Often panics.
• very, very smart. If you don't give him a job, he'll find one.
• one person dog. He tolerates the rest of the family, but I'm his person.

I don't want to put you off, but I do want you to know what you're taking on. I didn't and have learnt the hard way. In my experience, spaniels are highly strung, nervous, sensitive dogs so training has to be calm and consistent and takes buckets of patience. Frighten a spaniel and you'll work hard to regain his trust. Mine isn't the only one that isn't keen on other dogs. They don't seem to be overly playful, much preferring to work. If your sprocker comes from a proper working background, it will have been bred to have a working drive and it will need to be challenged mentally.

I love my boy, but if I'd known how hard it would be....Hand on heart, I can't say I would have brought him home. It's been a very difficult journey and he is far from the easy family companion I had idealised. He still melts my heart though with the way he has to greet me with a gift at the door, and his sheer determination to fit on my lap

We have an 11 month old sprocker. He's lovely - quite chilled really, more sensitive than I imagined but a really affectionate, well behaved boy (though he has his mad moments). But he LOVES his food and is ball crazy. He's very well socialised and is quite easy to train.

I walk him twice a day for 40 mins each time and spend the time flinging his ball.

Agree with snakey as to the one person dog. I am his person too. He's not that fussed with the rest of them but he worships the ground I walk on but then again I do all his walks and care really

Gosh......
We've a spaniels in the family and extended family, welsh springer,King Charles and a show cocker so I thought a sprocker would be ideal.
Found a lovely breeder that estimates the dogs to be around 16 inches to whithers (sp?) as that's been the size of the last litter from these dogs. Springer dam, cocker sire.
Maybe I should go for a cocker, at least I know what's coming!
Hhhmmmm!

*had