Anyone with experience of working cocker spaniels

[ClariceBeanthatsme]

I have a 5 month old working cocker spaniel who is absolutely beyond me. She has been easy to train sit, paw etc and her recall is fantastic but her behaviour at home is unbearable.
No matter how much I exercise her or play games it doesn't calm her down at all. I know this is a tough phase with most pups but she just seems so much worse. She can't just walk calmly anywhere she just sprints around the house like an idiot flying from sofa to sofa stealing anything (we are in double figures for socks stolen, eaten then pooed out)
Please owners of working cockers tell me she will calm down, we have the opportunity to rehome her to a friend who lives on a farm where she would be worked and after meeting her have said she shows all the signs of being good at it.
I really love this dog but can't help thinking she might be happier with a more outdoorsy life out morning until night with a job to do.
Sorry for the ramblings, can any experienced dog owners give any advice I'm torn
Thank you

Flippit but working type cockers (and working type labs and the like) are very different to show types of their same breed. The working ones have been bred with working ability as the first thought, house pet suitability isn't at all a high priority in those. Whilst show types are bred to look pretty, prance around a show ring, be good house pets and not need so much stimulation as their working counter parts.

So whilst lots of dogs were bred to have a working ability, in most breeds it's not the main focus as it is for working type cockers.

I have a show type Cocker and for me he is perfect. There is no way on this earth I would ever have a working type cocker. They are very different dogs - to the extent I actually think they should be classed as two different breeds.

I have 2 working cockers who are very happy, healthy and content family pets. They are walked off lead for 3-4 miles a day where they get to explore etc. They also get play sessions including scent work through the day. They aren't sad or deprived they are loved and happy. Also I know people who do have working dogs who say that ours don't have the skill etc to make a good one.

We took on the dogs knowing the work and commitment needed and are very happy with our additions. Those who don't understand the difference between the types of cockers are the only ones that cause an issue really.

nmg I hope you don't think I meant working cockers can't be happy house pets - of course many can so long as they have an owner like you who can put in the time to have long off lead walks, and work their minds with scent games and the like. I just wanted to try and get flippit to understand why a working cocker is different to a general breed that was traditionally worked. General breeds are usually 'dual purpose' in that they are bred with house pet suitability quite high up in the list of priorities and don't have the distinct difference seen in show type and working type cockers. Working cockers generally aren't bred with house pet suitability in mind, although they can fit in well as a house pet with the right owner. I wouldn't be able to consistently do enough mental stimulation games to have a happy working cocker as a house pet - my show type cocker is still content and calm if I don't have time for much mental stimulation some days - the working type cockers I know would be bouncing off the walls on those days.

Hi ,so sorry to hear about this issue your having .may i suggest you try changing the feed ,and use one that has less additives in .i was advised by a vet when i was having a similar issue with my dog .where i live i was shown some feeds that were very expensive ,but went to the mid range country life ( complete which is dry feed ) this may help for your dog also .i tend to use the chicken & rice one mostly now and i use the tinned feed also but only 1 tin a day country life also

GrigG loosen up, Labs are working dogs yet are lovely pets, terriers work but are lovely pets... yadayada.... I have a wcs, he's our pet with a heart of gold His instincts are there with bells on ... it took a while for the crazy pup to settle but boy did he settle. You get what you give.

Our working cocker spaniel is 7months now and a couple of months ago I was beside myself and considering re-homing him . I posted on here . Thank goodness I didn't. He has calmed down a lot over the past couple of months and is a lovely dog. He still spends ages outside just ferriting around digging holes getting muddy and just jumping over the same bush a lot but is a lot calmer inside. We really stepped up thhe walks and he is off lead most of the walk and covers a lot of ground. He will the have another half hour walk in the evening. Just wanted to reassure you that things do get better. My cockers mum is a working dog she goes out on pheasant shoots on the Yorkshire moors and like you I do worry that this is the kind of life he was meant to have but he seems happy and is a lovely dog.

Working Cockers, fantastic dogs, friendly, loyal and full of life. Mine is 3, he was a pain for the first 12 months or so but has calmed down somewhat now. He bounces about all over when out side, loves the woods but is obsessed with his balls...(Bouncy) if I cant take him on a long run, the next best thing is to take him to the nearest field and throw balls for him, he will chase them all day if I let him. One slight problem, when he gets hot he looks for the nearest body of water to cool down in, (Usually a muddy puddle) Loves Water and swimming but also loves mud...oh and they seem to be magnets for any strong smell to rub them self in...Fox poo a favourite... not good but as he loves having a shower its not a trauma getting him clean again. My Girls are now at uni but when they come home he goes wild, literally bouncing off the 4 walls with excitement. Is he hard work, sure at times, but he has a distinctive personality that I would not swap for the world.

Gosh this is an old message now but I can't resist a post about working cockers. I have just lost mine and I am totally bereft. Lively, yes, but trainable, yes, yes, yes. Working cockers are the stars of the dog world. Beautiful, loyal and friendly to all and sundry. I would say of mine that she ran and ran and ran and when she had finished that she would run some more - but, she ALWAYS came back. Trained to the whistle she would break off from even rabbit chasing. In short, life affirming. Do persevere, it will be worth it, promise!