Can I provide enough exercise for a show type cocker spaniel?

[EpitomeofAnOldBattle]

Hi there,

Have thought long and hard and done plenty of research on which dog type is right for our family. Have narrowed it down to a schnauzer (miniature since no-one seems to breed standard) or a show-type cocker spaniel. I am leaning towards the spaniel because I am worried that the mini schnauzers seem to be prone to quite a few health problems and also I am concerned that it will bark constantly. I don't mind some barking but I have a 6YO and an 8YO and worried that a highly strung barker will end up over stimulated and shouty in our house. I grew up with dogs, but we always had terriers. My dad took the lead on the training and is very authoritative... I'm not sure I could train a terrier as they're very stubborn!

Talking to owners of working and show type cockers, it seems like both are high energy, but the difference is that the show type can be tired out by a good amount of exercise, whereas the working cocker is never tired out... hence the desire for a show type, I do want some time off, eventually! Just wondering if that rings true for a wider sample of dog owners?

In terms of what I can offer, I am at home all day, I work from home about 5h per day. We have a big garden and I can dog-proof a couple of areas to give him a free run, and set up an agility course or toys/seeking games for mental stimulation. I can do a one-hour walk every lunch time (we're surrounded by fields and woodland and can provide off lead time once I get him trained to recall). I can also take him on the school run (20 min round trip) at least once per day and a shorter play in the park catching a ball or short jog (30 mins or so is my max at the moment, but hey I should get fitter!) most evenings.

Is that enough exercise or am I going to end up with a bored and destructive dog on my hands? Really want to make the right decision and not end up with a bad situation as I am 100% committed that once I get a dog, it's for life.

I'd go with the cocker spaniel. we had a working springer spaniel and it was an exhausting dog, but not a barker. I think terriers are the yappiest ones, and spaniels relatively quiet. You have the ideal environment and 2 kids of that age will wear the dog out i'm sure.

I’ve got a show type cocker spaniel. Slightly different because I live in a flat but our routine is usually:
7.00am - 15 minute walk round the block
9.00am - 45 minute walk off lead
12.00 - 15 minute walk
3.00pm - 45 minute lead walk
6.00pm - 45 minute off lead walk
10.00pm 15 minute walk
Luckily my work is flexible!
He’s 10 now with no sign of slowing down. We also do lots of games with hidden treats to occupy his mind. A quiet spaniel that isn’t asleep is usually up to mischief in my experience.

That sounds like plenty of exercise - don't fall into the trap of thinking you need to give your dog HOURS of exercise - all that does is create a mega fit dog who needs more and more exercise to settle down.

60-90 minutes a day is plenty of exercise for most dogs, especially if you're at home to keep them company and they have a garden for exercise on top of that.

I know you read about people on here who walk their dogs for 4-5 hours a day but unless you go for something like a husky, they really don't need it - it's a choice on the owners behalf but don't be made to feel guilty because you don't do the same.

I have a beagle and he gets anywhere between 45 minutes and two hours a day. He's absolutely fine. He's not stressed, destructive or bored. He gets plenty of company and I don't have a dog that demands to go out all the time either. I'm definitely glad I never went down the road of doing evening walks either!

I have a working cocker and he could walk all day if I let him.

The best advice I got was from a gun dog trainer who advised that all that walking a dog for hours and hours does is make them fitter so they can go further.

To tire a dog you need to get them to use their brains and for a cocker (working or show) that means their nose.

Mine gets an hours walk a day with me when he isn't at daycare. Hunting for treats or balls though massively tires him out, much more that a walk does which can be done anywhere.

Working cockers are always up for a walk; you need to do the pacing as they never admit tiredness. But that isn’t the same as needing constant exercise - if retrieving in the field there is still a lot of waiting around between short bursts of work for e.g. Brain engaging obedience training is as important as putting miles in - with the benefit it can be done at home in foul weather.

I’m not familiar with schnausers - the only one I knew never barked but wasnt very reliable with other dogs whereas our labs/ cocker are laid back - regarding an owner with a ball as more enticing than anything or anyone else.

My cocker spaniels have been show. They'd have been happy with that if you added in a morning walk (or active play in the garden) before you start trying to work.

They are great because they will happily walk fir hours when you want to and play if you're willing, but also love to curl up near you and snooze. My girl was a complete shadow I couldn't go for a wee without her coming too - she was a trip hazard!! I miss her a LOT!!

People used to stop me a lot & ask if I showed her (as on paper she was a really
Perfect show dog) but as soon as they went to greet her they realised that would not be a workable idea. Getting her to stand still would have been virtually impossible & it wasn't something I was interested in.

My girl was a complete shadow I couldn't go for a wee without her coming too - she was a trip hazard!! I miss her a LOT!!

I walk a sprocker spaniel like this if I'm looking after her at her house, she spends the entire time stuck to my side - heaven forbid I try and go to the toilet or make a cup of coffee! She's so loveable and has the best personality.

I wouldn’t use fetch to try and tire a dog out. It’s bad for their joints and can make them more hyper: caninearthritis.org/article/on-throwing-balls/?fbclid=IwAR1sCCNuD4WexrBYTqAqUMLWNsF5AxTfIa7cMBZxuEu-AuiGY3xZpG4CNhM

I also wouldn't worry about not being as authoritative as your dad. Consistency is key when training a dog: yours and consistency amongst all members of your family.

Thank you for all the replies, this is very reassuring. I have seen a good book called Brain Games for Dogs and might see if I can get it out of the library or buy it. I can see my girls (human ones) would have a lot of fun doing that sort of thing with the dog. The idea of having a wee shadow appeals really - I have a lot of love to give and I'm a bit bored during the day now the children are both at school!

I don't have any experience with show cockers but since you've specifically asked about tiring them out vs working cockers I'll chip in. I have an 8 month old working cocker and she only really gets an hour's walk a day. She would go all day if you'd let her but she doesn't need more than she gets. That might change as she gets older I suppose. By about 8pm she'll settle for a nap or cuddles, bed at 11pm and up whenever we wake her (usually between 8 and 9am). You hear of so many dogs being early risers, I'm so grateful she isn't one. She is then on the go most of the day though, after a walk she'll snooze for an hour or so, and the rest of the time she's pottering about, playing with toys etc. I think you could provide enough exercise for her but I cannot work from home (effectively, anyway) with her there. She just needs too much attention. She goes to daycare if DP and I are both working and loves it, I do think this helps as she has busy days at daycare and more chilled days with us. Maybe if she was at home full time she'd need longer walks.

I initially wanted a show cocker for similar reasons as you but now I have a working cocker I'm totally in love and would get the same again. She's so clever. We had show cockers in our training class and they seemed harder to deal with. I've also heard show cockers can be grumpier and more prone to resource guarding.

Mine has never been destructive. Even when she was recovering from her spay and not able to walk more than 5-10 minutes a day she could be entertained with chews and puzzle toys. You're actually offering a substantial amount of exercise and as a puppy you'd need to limit it. Agility or ball-throwing aren't advised until their joints develop.

Oh that's interesting... i do work about 20h a week and wasn't planning to do day care unless we go out for the day. I tend to work in spurts though (creative/problem solving job and ADHD mean I can't work for long periods without a break anyway)

Im a bit new to this but our working cocker is good at walking but i have bern surprised how much he needs the brain games and training to tire him out. We do a 45 minute class which tired him out more than an hour or so walk. I was a bit nervous about whether we had taken on more walking than we could manage but i've been pleasantly surprised. Still young at 6 months though.

We had show cockers growing up and I'm on my 2nd as an adult now.

Current one is a barker, the slightest noise outside and he's off on one, the whole morning he's on edge waiting for the post to infiltration the house.

He is also a stubborn little git who only does what you want if it coincides with what he wants (so that involves food, and sometimes even that isn't high value enough).
His recall is bloody awful.
I've never known a dog like him, but I love him to bits.

As others have said lots and lots of exercise just makes them fitter.

I do agility with mine which I love (when he decides to play nice) and despair of (when he is running off playing silly buggers).

It's a myth that any dog needs hours of exercise each day. What they need is stimulation. Brain games, trick training etc are far more effective than exercise. Dogs also need a lot of sleep. A tired dog is a difficult dog.
I have a lurcher x and a working lines Labrador neither need or get more than 45-60minutes exercise a day. Both are chilled out and relaxed at home because they have been taught to be and because there is plenty of things for them to be doing/ thinking about.

@EpitomeofAnOldBattle Actually I have done the off half-day WFH with her and she was okay. About 3 or 4 hours in she gets too restless but that sounds like it might be okay for your situation. I wouldn't write off working cockers then. Training them is good fun, they're very obliging.

*the odd half-day, sorry

Sorry to but in but what brain toys do you use?

We have lots of chewies but not many stimulating toys

I more use tricks and obedience for brain training, plus hiding toys for him to find (he loves that). So things that involve me rather than just something they use on their own.

I have got a big dice type toy with a maze inside that you shake food into and they have to turn over and over to get the food out, but the only brain bit it getting the idea in the first place, after that it's just something to occupy.

If you work in spurts then that's perfect. Do a work spurt, spend ten mins playing with the dog, settle the dog, go back to work. I've friends with cockers and as long as their brains work, they're fine - from what I recall they aren't out walking them for hours and hours. They don't tend to like to be left alone for long though.

I only know two schnauzers but OMG the barking... dunno if it's because there's two of them that they set each other off? But it goes right through me.

We have a mini schnauzer. Yes he is barky but not outrageously so.

If he sees birds in the garden he can bark and we don’t let him sit by the front window as he barks at everything but otherwise ok.

He’s super friendly and affectionate though to adults and dogs alike