First ever dog - smallish spaniel for young family?

[Fillybuster]

Help please!

Ok, it's not quite my first ever dog - that was a wonderful cocker spaniel in my 20s when living with my dps - but it will be our first ever family dog.

I think we've agreed on a spaniel, so now we need to agree what flavour! I think a Cavalier King Charles spaniel would work really well for us, but would love to get your input and suggestions.

Family details:
DCs are DS 9.5 (desperate for a dog), DD1 7 (quite keen) and DD2 4.5 (recently become terrified of all dogs).

Au pair (keen).

Me (v keen)
DH (not so keen but will help out even if he doesn't think so now).
My DPs - live close by. Have a small dog, will dogsit when required.
MIL - lives close by, around most of the time, will help when required.

House occupancy:
Kids are at school 9-4.

Au pair is home most of the day, most days.

I work from home a lot (min 2 days/wk).

Cleaners in house 1.5 days/week.

Disclaimer
I'm not an idiot: I do know how much time puppy training etc. can take and am not going to rush into anything until we've worked out all the details, so don't come and shout at me!

Thank you :)

I've got a 7 year old Cav and every year when she has her health check the vet is astonished to find she has no heart problems. I personally think she isn't a full cavvy (she was rescued from a dodgy breeder) and that's why.

If you are set on one then I'd definitely go to a reputable breeder who has their dogs health checked. Also think about a semi raw or raw diet. Cavs are also prone to anal gland infections and bones etc. really help with that.

They are very affectionate and loving dogs but, and it pains my heart to say this, they're also quite dense and can be wilful. Having said all that, I wouldn't be without her for the world. I've known plenty of other Cavs and I have been pretty lucky with her as at the moment she doesn't have any long term serious conditions but she is the only one I've known of her age who is in good health. Which just may mean that everyone I've met or known with an older Cav has been unlucky but from the reaction of my vet, I think it's more that she's not the norm.

Another vote for working cockers here. Ours is a first dog, with DCs who are 10 and 6. He's 7 months nearly and he's absolutely devoted to all of us and has been brilliant to train (although we have definitely put in a lot of time, but i think you need to do that with any breed).

He's also beautiful (and knows it!).

There could be all sorts of reasons.
Severe resource guarding, in pain or sick, fear, territorial aggression, neurological problems, rage syndrome....

Find it somewhat concerning that you assume it must be a child torturing it.
Sometimes no one was at fault.

writing - Have you stolen my dog? I've got one just like that, I thought he was asleep on the sofa!

Neesastrongone - nope, definitely mine, currently upside down on the sofa next to me chewing the head of a (cuddly) squirrel! They are gorgeous, aren't they.

Interesting article here Buthole. My attitude is that if you're really careful and do everything you can to make sure that your children don't overcrowd your dog and treat it with a good measure of respect, at least you know that you've done your best to ensure that both children and dogs are safe.

I agree with acting respectfully, but I also think that sometimes dog bites occur when no one was really at fault.

Try Google Shetland sheepdog if you are considering other breeds. We chose this for our second dog, due to concerns re health probs for cavvies. They are similar temperament but more reserved with people they don't know. Very intelligent and obedient - much easier to train than our KCS. Brilliant with kids, though don't like too much rough n tumble, shouting etc. They are not as common but live much longer (12-15 years) and have no major health probs linked to the breed. Both our dogs get along brilliantly and some breeders have both breeds as they are so similar in their personalities! Pm me if u want more info x

Love shelties :)
Going to need lots of grooming mind

Just googled MillyMolly and you're right: utterly beautiful.

Truth is, if we don't get a CKC then my vote will be for another working cocker (she was the absolute love of my life...until I met dh...) whilst ds will be angling for a shih tzu (and not just for the name).

Ah, I have a springer sheltie cross! She looks like a tiny Pointer, black, short hair, springer freckles on her chest. She inherited the traits of both parents though-the springers desires to sniff and search and run, and the herding dogs weird obsessions and sensitivities, and loud, relentless barking. She's magic!
(We got her aged about 8 weeks from a pound, they guessed she was a pointer, I got a DNA test out of curiosity.)

How about a show cocker, slightly smaller and less energetic than a working cocker (but hairier so needs frequent visits to the grooming salon).

We have working cockers (who do actually work as well)
They are great in the house, biddable, affectionate and good tempered. They will take as much exercise as you can give, though are also happy to loaf about the house when they've been out for a short burst.

Touch wood we've had no health concerns either. It's taken our youngster nearly two years to calm down and become the dog he will be but it was worth the wait :)

Tbh shelties dont take much grooming at all - that was my main initial concern, but we spend much longer grooming our KCS, as his fur forms knotty clumps, whereas the sheltie doesnt get matted/ pick up every twig in a 5-mile radius on walks.

I do like cockers too, but got limited experience - never owned one. Our trainer said they can be pretty wilful and i know a guy who has had a lot of problems with his, including some food aggression and snappiness despite putting a lot of effort into training/ discipline, so that kinda put me off. Though, i do have a soft spot for all spaniels, such happy dogs (and completely crazy)!

But the sheltie has a thick undercoat?
That will need to be raked out regularly and the coat thoroughly line brushed otherwise matts will form in the undercoat which won't be visible by looking at the dog?

Another vote for a show cocker here. Easy to train, friendly, not too big and absolutely gorgeous ( not biased at all!) I do agree, then can get a bit hairy though.

*they!

Butt - true, it has a very dense undercoat. We groom her daily but not that hard. We do it in evening watching tv, while she is sitting on our knee so not a bit deal really. We know 3 other people with shelties and they all say similar. We git her used to it when she was a pup so she doesn't mind at all and it's quite good one-to-one time too. And we live in the countryside, surrounded by fields so we do 'proper' rural walks. Guess it probably helps that she has a natural aversion to muddy puddles!

Our last dog was a working cocker and our current one is a sprocker. They've both been the most amazing dogs (but omg they are filth magnets) . Loyal, loving, bright, chilled. I love my spaniel and often say to dh to NEVER say it's him or the dog as he wouldn't like the answer. Good luck.

Show cocker - now, why didn't I think of that before?

That might be the perfect answer :)

Thanks again to everyone!

We have two beagles. Compact, sturdy dogs. Very friendly and incredible with all the small people in our life. Both from show lines I have a tan and white dog and a tri coloured bitch. x

Oh and they don't have that doggy smell....rarely need washing as their coats are waterproof and they don't seem to molt anywhere near as much as other dogs I've previously owned.

Do yours bay?
I have two near me, adorable little things but they love to bay at passing people, dogs, cats.....
All I hear is No! Stop it! And I have to laugh and think to myself you did get a pack hunting dog....

Nope never bay, I was concerned about that as we live in a quiet cul de sac. One rarely barks (the older bitch) and the younger dog only barks when someone comes to the front door. They're fab.

We had a beagle in our puppy class. Very cute. She did bay, and she taught the collie in the class to do it too. Trainer said she'd never heard a collie do it before.

OP, if you are considering show cockers v working cockers, there is a cocker spaniel forum - cockersonline - and its very worth having a browse. One of the main differences is that shows need much more grooming. From what I've read there, not sure there is a massive difference in terms of their general temperament, unless you get a worker from a very strong working line, which are not necessarily as well suited for all pet homes.