Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Talk to me about cocker spaniels as a first family dog

97 replies

NarniaBanarnia · 04/04/2020 09:54

DH in fairness grew up with dogs (Labs) so he knows his way round a dog but this would be our first as a family.

There are 3 of us, me, DH and DD aged 7 (dog mad BUT not a big fan of the outdoors/exercise; part of the plan in getting a dog WHEN THIS COVID HELL IS OVER) is to encourage her to walk a bit more!!

I am home all day every day, not just thanks to Covid Sad but I work from home.

Access to big commons etc and we have a garden but it is small.

Terraced house so we cannot have much barking.

Prepared to train indeed NEED to train as we have family who dislike dogs and won’t visit if we have a jumping-up dog (hmm, might be an advantage...!!)

I realistically couldn’t commit to walking more than 1 hour in the morning, Maybe 45 mins in the afternoon. Is 1h45 average per day enough for a cocker or would they be going crazy/destroying the house!?

We all adore spaniels in general. They are DH’s ‘compromise’ dog because he really wants a Lab but I feel we don’t have the space or lifestyle/time to walk a larger dog.

Do they shed A LOT??!

Good with kids? DD is very good, adores dogs and desperately wants one (only child) but isn’t ever going to be that child tirelessly throwing a ball for hours for DDog in the garden (DH will be doing that Grin instead) DD likes idea of sitting and reading with snuggled-up dog!!

We love Cavvies but fear health issues.

Cockerpoos seem a bit crazy? But are Cockers too?

Any Cocker opinions welcomed!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
GrumpiestOldWoman · 04/04/2020 10:37

I'd get a lab, what you gain in size you make up for in serenity (normally) .

Labs are designed to sit quietly your side then retrieve game. Cockers are designed to go through the undergrowth like a demented rocket flushing out game, they're relatively high energy by gundog standards.

Original poster
NarniaBanarnia · 04/04/2020 10:42

Thanks everyone.

Probably a stupid question sorry but do any breeders maybe try particularly to breed smallish labs? Please don’t jump on the question if it’s a bad one in any way!!!

OP posts:
BlessYourCottonSocks · 04/04/2020 10:43

We have a show cocker who is definitely a dog shaped cat! In fact, I'd said to DH the other week 'we should have got a cat! It would have been cheaper...he's not good value for money!' which made him laugh. We do absolutely adore our stupid, lovable (lazy) boy. He's only 3 but would sleep in the sun all day if allowed. Is happy to be taken for a walk - but has to be coaxed out into the garden if it looks cold/wet. I'd recommend one. We've had a lot of spaniels over the years - DH used to train working Springers as gun dogs and we've had several working Cockers. This is our first show Cocker and I would get another one. He's a very different type. Would climb on anyone's lap if they let him and really doesn't need much exercise.

Pinkarsedfly · 04/04/2020 10:43

I think you’d have to ask the breeder how big the dam and sire were.

Veterinari · 04/04/2020 10:44

I'd also look at border terriers, miniature schnauzers and miniature poodles

All great small-medium sized dogs, minimal shedding, moderate exercise requirements and very trainable

Original poster
NarniaBanarnia · 04/04/2020 10:44

Nb am not suggesting I want some freakishly horribly-need dwarf lab or anything!!! Just wondered if a breeder might be able to say yes we are breeding a couple of average-small sized labs

OP posts:
Original poster
NarniaBanarnia · 04/04/2020 10:45

Veterinari oh I love miniature poodles! Are they quite clingy?

OP posts:
OchonAgusOchonO · 04/04/2020 10:46

If you go for one, I'd recommend a blue roan, rather than black or golden. Ours is 9 now and, while she's pretty stubborn, she was pretty easy to train. She's a lovely, affectionate dog and is really calm and chilled (she might be a bit of an exception there though). She needs a reasonable amount of exercise but what you are proposing would be loads for her. We do play with her in the house - stuff like hide and seek or throwing a soft toy up and down the hall - and she loves that.

She does shed a lot and her hair gets knotty if you don't keep it short. She doesn't bark excessively.

I'd also recommend a female as they seem to be a bit calmer in general.

maisiemoolou · 04/04/2020 10:48

I'm a dog walker. I have two cocker spaniels I walk. One is around 5 years of age and is very chilled, she's a really lovely dog. The other is 18 months old, she is also a lovely dog, but still very bouncy and can be hard work. I own a Cockapoo and walk several Cockapoos, in my opinion they are more chilled than a full cocker. My Cockapoo's mother was a working cocker and don't we know it! He's got a very keen nose and literally spends his walk with his nose to the ground.
I would seriously consider a lab. Two of my closest friends have labs and they didn't take too long to come out of the puppy stage and calm down.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

VisionQuest · 04/04/2020 10:54

Whether you go for a Lab or Cocker I agree with PP, do NOT go for a working type. We have both in our family and yes, they are hard work, energetic, intelligent. Great if you want that type of dog and have the time and inclination to put into it, but if you don't it'll ruin your life.

FYI smaller/finer type labs/cockers will generally fall into the working type so please don't base your decision on size. Also the size of your house and garden shouldn't really play that much of a part in the decision as the dog (whatever breed) is going to need a good two walks a day anyway.

Original poster
NarniaBanarnia · 04/04/2020 10:55

Ah that’s good advice Vision about the size thing... hadn’t realised that. Thanks so much everyone, great advice on here. I was a bit nervous about posting!

OP posts:
PeachesAndPops · 04/04/2020 11:11

I think a lot of it is training. I’ve spent a lot of time around cockers as a socialiser for Hearing Dogs. They use cockers, poodles, and cockerpoos. They are trained to do things like settle in a cafe or walk around a supermarket. So in my experience they can be very trainable, well behaved dogs. But it takes over a year to get a puppy to that level. If you are prepared to put in the training - mental exercise, not just physical you will end up with the most wonderful companion.

Soontobe60 · 04/04/2020 11:26

I grew up with labs, and have had an old English sheep dog, border collie, cocker spaniel and lurcher as an adult.
By far the easiest all round was the lurcher. The worst was the cocker. My DH didn't want a lurcher at first, but they pretty soon became
Inseparable.

Talk to me about cocker spaniels as a first family dog
GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 04/04/2020 11:30

I'd like to echo what PP said about working type cockers: they are really wonderful, friendly, exuberant dogs but they have a very high prey drive. They need a lot of training to reel that in and also to keep their minds exercised, otherwise they will get bored. the show-type ones are more chilled.

Ditto with labs: the working-line ones need more input, even though they tend to be smaller and rangier.

Terriers can be terrible barkers: there are a couple over the road and in summer with the windows they are bloody nuisance (and I say that as someone who can't imagine life without a dog or three around, and who has owned and lived with terriers in the past).

Original poster
NarniaBanarnia · 04/04/2020 11:32

Grumpy, I’d have to agree about terriers, I rather like them especially Westies but I don’t think I could risk the barking...!! I’ve met a fair few who seem unrelaxed around kids too. I’m sure many are lovely!

OP posts:
triedandtestedteacher · 04/04/2020 11:37

We have two cockers. I don't like dogs myself and think they're unnecessary work but they are very friendly and good with the children. Never bitten even when the little ones have pulled them about. They're both soft as anything and just want love. You do need to be prepared to give them lots of attention. Ours want to be in the same room as us constantly and will whine and cry if they don't get it. They do shed a lot so you need to groom very regularly so that's an added expense unless you can do it yourself.

Vinotinto78 · 04/04/2020 11:37

We have a working cocker as our first family dog. DH put a huge amount of time into training him and the first couple of years were hard work. Overall he’s a chilled out boy (by Cocker standards) but he needs a lot of daily exercise off lead. Beautiful dogs but can be high maintenance. Great with the kids though.

Gin4thewin · 04/04/2020 11:38

Ive seen alot of cockers resource guard, my sister has a working type and she is lovely BUT very high energy and she competes high level agility with her and her Cavaliers. Cocker rage is a thing, have a google. Be worth joining a cocker owner club and speaking to them or attend a few dog shows once theyre going again and meet a few, speak to breeders and owners. They are lovely dogs but can be hard work.

MaidenMotherCrone · 04/04/2020 11:50

What about a whippet?

Minimum grooming.
Minimum mess.
Quiet.
No smell.
Easy to train.
Don't need too much exercise.
Happiest cuddled up on the sofa.

NemophilistRebel · 04/04/2020 11:53

I wouldn’t get one in a terrace as they often bark continually with separation.

Even if you’re at home all the time just a trip to the supermarket can leave them barking for over an hour

triedandtestedteacher · 04/04/2020 12:20

@NemophilistRebel that's true. Ours you can't leave outside a shop for two minutes without pandemonium. You can't take ours into dog friendly pubs either because they want so much attention they won't sit down. Very clingy dogs. You would think as there's two of them they'd be happy with eachother but no

BadgertheBodger · 04/04/2020 12:23

If you want to talk through cockers with anyone give Carol a call at Perthshire Gundog Rescue. She is absolutely full of knowledge and happy to talk to anyone.

Boogiewoogietoo · 04/04/2020 12:31

We have a working cocker. She is very clever, affectionate, great on walks but...she has a strong hunt instinct and cannot be left alone with children. If they scream and run, she gets over-excited and will chase and nip. I have since heard of other working cockers who do this.

We have spent £1000s on trying to train this out of her, and it is better, but not to the point I can leave her alone in the garden with my 7 year old. If his friends are visiting, she has to be crated.

Plus she needs 2 good walks a day and endless brain stimulation otherwise she steals things (and destroys them) for attention. We love her to bits, but my God she’s hard work.

Ellmau · 04/04/2020 12:56

Might be worth looking at bichons? The ones I know don't want too much exercise and are lap dogs with a bit of quirky personality.

Miniature poodles are great too.

Spaniels are lovely but lotsandlotsandlotsandlots of energy, so might not be ideal for your household.

Hairyhat · 04/04/2020 12:57

Why not get a rescue? You can give a young adult a home and avoid all the puppy chewing and neediness. You can take your DD to choose and socialise first. Lots of dogs are desperate for a home

Swipe left for the next trending thread