Sprocker, Cocker, springer or King Charles?

[Howlingowl]

We are thinking of getting a dog / puppy. Not right now but probably next year some time. What is the difference between any if these breeds? Do they make good family companions? Have 6 and 4 yr old dc.

Would live to hear from people who know about Spaniels or ow them.
Tia

Yes but working dogs bred for work often make for better pets as they are so trainable and tend to have good temperaments (no gamekeeper would breed from an aggressive dog).

Show type dogs tend to have more health problems and temperament problems as they have historically been bred purely for looks.

Show type dogs shouldn't have any temperament issues that the working type don't - the breed standard includes temperament and they're bred to fit the standard in every way, not just looks. No reputable breeder at all would breed from an aggressive dog and you'd have a hard time showing one.

The flip side of working dogs is that they can be too high energy for pet homes.

I like a busy dog, but it can be too much for some people. Show types tend to need less exercise and are generally calmer , that's why they're popular as pets.

Springers and cockers were all the same breed once, but gradually split into two separate breeds, so gamekeepers crossing the two breeds makes sense. They are both bred to flush and retrieve game, but one breed is better at one and the other the other iyswim. As a result, both breeds are very trainable, driven to work and have lots of energy, as they need it for their job. Working strains are more trainable and energetic as they are selected for these traits and show bred dogs will be prettier, for obvious reasons. Springers are bigger and I've met some pretty big springers over the years. Sprockers are somewhere between the two. Springers only seem to be liver and white, whenever I see them, but cockers come in some lovely colours, though obviously, like horses, a good dog is never a bad colour.

Cavaliers I don't know very well. Much smaller. Seem more placid. Not bred to work but as pets I think, so probably very good at that job! The health problems put me off, if I'm honest.

I would have a cocker in a heartbeat when my weimaraner shuffles off this mortal coil, as I want a smaller, better mannered dog than my hyperactive beige thug. But the longer hair might take some getting used to.

I am (hopefully!) qualified to answer you as I have a springer and a working cocker. The springer is 2 and the cocker 11 months. They are our first dogs.

They are both fantastic to be truthful. Lovely gentle temperaments. Tolerant. Friendly. Loving. Eager to please. Love to be trained. Both are happy, fun dogs.

Be aware that they do need a good amount of exercise, off lead exercise, chasing through mud, woods, water, bushes, fields etc.

Ours get two good long walks a day, and would take any amount we choose to give them. Giving them lots of small training sessions helps exhaust their mental energy as they are both clever breeds. The Springer will come in for a 90 minute walk and be happy to go back out again

We keep ours clipped and they are both mud magnets.

Just be aware that the exercise requirements are non negotiable really in the main. That's rain, shine, wind, hail, school holidays, when your DC are ill, so you might need to think about this a bit. My DC are teenagers so no issues there.

Also, your DC will most likely start the round of after school clubs shortly, which can take up loads of time. You might need to figure our your plans for the dog with this in mind.

Research your breeder carefully, no Gumtree or Pre-loved ads. Champdogs has good information. Use a pre planned litter if at all possible. Expect to be grilled thoroughly, our cocker came from a game keeper, and we were very thoroughly vetted as we were not going to work him, so he needed to ensure we would meet an active dogs needs.

Not sure about a sprocker, I am not sure what you are gaining over and above having either one of the breeds itself.

Wow, thank you!!!!! Lots of brilliant advice.

We have a working cocker puppy. He's our first dog and we have children slightly older than yours - youngest is almost 7. It's early days but so far he is wonderful - easy to train and incredibly sweet natured. Best decision we've made as a family. He's great with older DD, DS finds him a little bit alarming when he jumps because he can get closer to him than everyone else because DS is the shortest.

One thing I would say is that he puts EVERYTHING in his mouth. I mean everything - we only have him in kitchen and living room at the moment and anything dropped by the children is eventually in his mouth. We have a separate family room and I cannot see that he'll ever be able to go in there because that is where DS keeps his lego. Its worse than toddlers because he squeezes under things - under a low sofa, behind TV cabinet - and any lost thing is fair game. We are really vigilant and I've still found stickers and little beads in his poo. So I would think about where you would keep your puppy initially at least and how easy it will be to keep him and your DCs' toys separate.

We have a show cocker , he is gorgeous.they are not the easiest of puppies and are not nicknamed cockerdiles for nothing but its just a phase.I found cockersonline forum a massive support for the early days.

He loves cuddles but is always up for a walk , biggest faults are barking at the postman and he is obsessed with stealing shoes, he doesn't chew them just hides them!

Picture attached , this will probably out me as he is very handsome and knows it

I've got two working cockers and they are lovely, great with kids. Also amazing at collecting dirty socks and leaving them all over the house. Expert bin raiders too my youngest was a year old yesterday. I think this thread needs a photo of cute doggies.

Ahhh, losers the puppy photo looks just like mine!

Ours constantly carries things around. Peppa pig was a favourite for a while :o

And we have the same carpet as you :o

This is our puppy.

Oh Gawd... Now I want another puppy.

Someone please stop me.

Look into the health issues. I remember hearing that the King Charles has a horrible genetic disease and makes the poor animal suffer terribly and I found this: cavalierhealth.org/syringomyelia.htm

Cockers seems to be a lovely, healthy breed.

Reputable breeders do healthscreen though, so if you are scrupulous about who you buy from, I wouldn't rule out a Cavalier. They are so affectionate in temperament and ideal for youngish families. Supporting reputable breeders may help save the breed.

Lovely gorgeous pics, thanks very much for sharing but!!!!!! However, I want one now!!!! Just kidding I can control myself .

Reading this with interest. We are also thinking of getting a dog and I totally love CKC spaniels.

We have a cat, can you put a cat and a dog together?

We have two working springers, one liver & white and one black & white. The black & white one has a bit of cocker a generation or two back in her breeding line - she is smaller and her coat is slightly curly.

They are wonderful dogs - clever, bouncy, energetic, great fun, gentle with children, and as happy snuggling up with you on the couch as they are out in the field. I wouldn't have any other breed, tbh.

We also have two cats, and they co-exist perfectly happily.

another cocker owner here - show type, which was a decision made because they need a bit less exercise than the working type. However, he still gets a good hour off lead a day, and loves hunting voles (has caught a few.... at least i think they're voles)!

He is very bright, and so far no health problems (he is 14 months). He's bred to be a beating dog but actually loves retrieving too.

He has started gundog training and it is working well for him, after having NOT enjoyed other types of training! He was just too spaniel-y for the other puppy classes, but I'm happy to say the gundog people "get" him.

I second what the poster upthread said about them being nicknamed "cockerdiles" due to the biting early on. I thought it would never end. But it IS honestly just a phase - he doesn't do it at all now.

He is incredibly affectionate and not only loves but needs company. That's another reason we went for this breed - because I also need the company! Not the kind of dog you can shut in the kitchen and leave for 7 hours a day. But what dog is, really? I know it happens but I just can't consider that. If I need to leave him for longer than 2 hours ever, he goes to doggy daycare or comes along with me.

Spaniels vary a lot in size. Springers are big, cockers are middling, caverliers are little lap dogs. King Charles spaniels are a separate, rare breed.
Unless you want it to help kill game birds, don't buy a pup which has had its tail cut off (unlawful and awful)

I would say KCKS for a young family. Second the comments about a reputable breeder. Also check the breed specific rescues. We had a KCKS x when we were growing up and she was divine. Lovely dog who didn't need OTT levels of mental and physical stimulation so she was the perfect balance for us.

It's perfectly legal to dock tails Mermaid

But that's a whole other thread...

You didn't include american cockers, these are the best ;)

Be careful of cavs as they can have health issues.
Spaniels are the best dogs ever, but need exercise.

I love spaniels as they are bordering on the insane, so I can relate to them

I have a sprocker who was bred to work, also a working (pedigree) springer. If you are after a pet I would get a show cocker or springer. I recently read that springers are currently the second most likely breed to end up in rescue - they are currently v popular but need more stimulation and exercise than many non working homes cAn give them.

We have a rescue working cocker and although a little headstrong at first she is loads better now, training training training is all I have to say :)