Talk to me about Cockers!!

[KingThistlesMistress]

Just that really...
How much exercise do they need daily? And how much grooming is involved?...also if we were to get a puppy what health checks are a must?!xx Tia

We have a cocker and tbh as much as I love him we would never get another. We got him when he was 3, he's 6 now. Very good with the kids though can be a bit grumpy. Needs a lot of grooming otherwise gets matted, he also has v sensitive skin but not sure this is a breed thing. Exercise wise he's fairly lazy if allowed to be tbh, gets a good long walk in the mornings. Oh and also he sheds - ALOT. We get him shaved about every 3-4 months which costs £50.

The reason we would never they another is because of the vets bills even with insurance. His ears are almost constantly getting infected and the vet trips have been neverending. Not fun for him or us tbh.

Thanks for the quick reply! Is yours a show/working type?and was he easy to train?our old dogs have always been pretty 'dumb'

Exercise needs depends on whether you get a show or working cocker.
I have a show cocker (bred for shows, but we don't do that) and she's fine with a couple of walks (to go to the toilet, we don't just let her out in the garden) and then 30-45 mins of exercise/longer walk/training a day. We can easily skip a day if need be.

My parents have a working spaniel and she needs hours of exercise/training to be chilled. Can't skip a day and all that. She's 8 and from very good working dog lines, bred for working all day. My dog is 3.

My parents have been dog sitting my dog while they had theirs, and they were so surprised that the dogs are so different. They absolutely adore my dog and find her so easy. My brother who is used to dogs will not dog sit their dog as it's so difficult.

My parents don't have to give their dog a trim, but will cut knots when needed. My dog is long haired so she needs a trim every so often. I used to get her trimmed but it was expensive (it's not too bad in the UK though), but now do it myself with an electric dog trimmer. I do it every few months and do knots and so on when needed.
My dog runs in mud and water so cutting her short is nice for her. Too long fur gets tangled and unpleasant, and it's easier for me to keep her clean and smelling nice.

Hips and eye tests as well as some dna tests should be done on the parent dogs, and preferably previous generations too. I don't remember what they are called right now, but I'm sure others can. If not, I'll try to find it later.

Cockers are lovely dogs. I've had other breeds in the family, but the cocker is just right for me. They are very needy though - some people love it, others hate it.
We haven't had problems with leaving the dog home alone, but it's when we're around it can be a bit much - dog wanting to be around us all the time, sit on our lap and so on.

I have a show cocker and am smitten with the breed. Very calm and easy to train. I keep her clipped short so coat not an issue and she doesn't shed at all. Her parents were cleared of the specific tests for cockers but can't remember what they are off top of head.

No issues with health or temperament and I'd love to get another. I have 2 kids 11 and 8, who she loves, along with their friends. Perfect little dog.

Exercise wise she's happy with running with us or small 20-30 minute walks, sleeps a lot in the house.

Wow thanks again for the replies..if we were to get one it would be a 'show' type..we lost Ddog last summer and are now thinking about a puppy...one last thing (hope you're keeping up!),we have young Dc...are we mad?!

I have a Springer and a working cocker. The cocker is 9 months old. I simply adore him, he lights up my life. He is the most gentle, timid, sweet natured and loving little soul.

He came from very strong working stock, his parents work in the field and pretty much all his generational relations too. He's about as calm and laid back as they come.

He's currently got a broken leg as he was attacked, so hasn't walked at all for nearly two weeks. It hasn't made any difference to him, he's just as placid as ever. However, we do plenty of training and mental games to keep him stimulated and feed him using Kong toys etc.

Bright as a button and easy peasy to train as they so want to please. Makes the Springer (who is no dummy) look thick in comparison.

I honestly think though that, while there are traits in every breed, you will get 'mad as hatter' dogs of all different varieties, and calm dogs too. That being said, the Springer is very calm too. Caveat as above - we train them quite a bit (nothing more than a few minutes at a time, but enough to stimulate and tire them) and do quite a few scent work type games while out.

Both spaniels get two good walks a day, but both survive on much less. We just have a busy active life anyway so it fits. They both will take as much as you give them.

Also, these are my first two dogs, so I don't know if they are hard work or not iyswim? They don't seem like it, but I expected them to be busy and active. If I had another dog, I might be able to make a comparison.

Average shedders.

I would have a working cocker again, and again, and again

We had a working stock cocker, he was nuts! Unfortunately he had to be pts when he was 10 as he had immune mediated thrombocytopenia. It's an auto immune disease. I don't think it's specifically cocker related, but we lost him 6 years ago.

He was a crazy, loving bundle of fun. He needed at least one good off the lead walk a day. He normally had at least one other short walk, but we could miss these if necessary. Bizarrely, he hated the rain! We'd literally have to kick him out for a wee.

When we were considering a cocker, we were advised by many breeders not to get a solid colour as they can be more highly strung. So our boy was a blue roan. I miss that dog .

I have a working cocker who was a rescue dog, and came to us ready trained - in fact extremely well trained, almost too obedient (she would wait for instruction before moving around the house, for example). She is more relaxed now, but still extremely biddable - only had to be told once to leave the chickens alone when we got them, etc etc. She is still dreadful on the lead, though, pulls like a train. We walk her off the lead as much as we can.
She would take as much exercise as we can give her. We try to do something like 2 hours a day in field or forest, where she just tears around madly. But she's ok if she has to have a bit less on any particular day - doesn't effect her behaviour or mood or anything.
She's completely non-destructive and if need be can be left for hours (although obviously we try to avoid this).
We take her to the dog groomer to be clipped and buffed three or four times a year - it seems enough.
Great dog, great with kids, the cats, other dogs ... Just love her!

We are on our third show type cocker - and we love him to bits. The first two were rescues, one Many Tears ex breeding bitch and one ex drugs sniffer dog. They were both lovely dogs, really gentle breed, although the ex drugs dog was a little bugger and selectively deaf when it suited him! But EVERYONE loved him - he was a perfect example of a cocker and beautiful with it.
The cocker we have now came from a very good breeder in Herefordshire and he is simply the most loving dog I've ever had and so funny with it.
I would recommend cockers to anyone - but do go to a reputable breeder and please don't support puppy farming /back yard breeding

I have a golden cocker and she is brilliant excellent with the children enjoys walks but quite happy to stay home aswell. She does prefer to live out rather than in not got a problem with regards grooming she gets a quick brush every month no mats or knots and no problems with her ears she's now 2 and had her since she was six months although I do prefer slightly my bigger dog as I have a habit of tripping over her :)

This is a nice thread to read as we are getting a rescue working cocker next month and they sound like lovely natured dogs!

I have a gorgeous blue roan show type cocker. Very placid and loving girl, she is so affectionate and eager to please. A perfect dog for us.

Cockers need lots of attention and affection, they will follow you round the house and don't like being left for long periods. My girl needs around an hour's walk per day plus playtime in the garden and cuddles on the sofa!

They do need regular grooming which is a pain, but my dog doesn't shed much if clipped every 8 weeks.

And those eyes always seem to be saying: "I wuv you!!!"

We have two working cockers a father and son combo, they are fab :). They are happy with a day of gentle exercise just as much as a full day out in the field. As for grooming mine get a quick brush every evening, as they do pick up burrs and sticky balls very easily. We do get their feet shaved every spring as grass seeds are a nightmare. They love attention, even off the baby (am ultra careful though!) and would happily sneak up onto a sofa for a cuddle if they can get away with it!

I have a working cocker, we've had him since he was 8 weeks old and he's 6 now. He is the best dog in the world (although I am rather biased!)

There's a great website called cockersonline which is full of information and advice on cockers and also has a great forum to ask anything you want to know about cockers from other cocker owners.