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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

Tell me about cocker spaniels

36 replies

Blossomplease6 · 13/05/2021 17:45

I’ve always loved them. Based on nothing except certain children’s books when I was younger, they often had lovely spaniels in and I always wanted a dog.
Now I’m in a place where I am thinking about getting a puppy. I have done lots of research over the last year and wrote cocker spaniels (show type) off quite early due to their high energy levels and potential issues with resource guarding.
For reference, I’m now considering cavaliers (health tested, good breeder) shih tzus, or cavapoos.

But keep wondering if I was too quick to write of a cs. Tell me about yours, the good, bad and ugly please.

OP posts:

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EmmaGellerGreen · 13/05/2021 17:48

Our show cocker is fabulous. He just fits in with us, will happily go for a 6-7 mile run, or a mooch around the park. Very cuddly and affectionate. Absolutely no behaviour issues at all.

EmmaGellerGreen · 13/05/2021 17:50

On the other hand, the only cavalier I know is quite frankly an adorable nightmare. Complete Houdini, will leg it through an open door/gate in mili seconds. Has been aggressive with the smaller children. Toilet training issues. No recall. But as I said, totally adorable despite his shocking behaviour.

RaininSummer · 13/05/2021 17:55

Active, stubborn and gorgeous.

Ostryga · 13/05/2021 17:59

Active, intelligent, funny, adorable. I’ve had working cockers and springers all my life and cockers are the one.

The only show cocker I know is absolutely nuts, but it is totally untrained so not her fault!

Cockers pick up things quickly in my experience, so training should start gently on day one. They’re very astute to emotions, so positive reinforcement works far better than shouting etc. Lovely, lovely dogs.

Iheartmysmart · 13/05/2021 18:08

I’ve got a show cocker who I love dearly. His good points are:
Friendly, sociable, easy to house train, well behaved in the house, good with people, dogs and other animals.
Bad points:
Stubborn, very stubborn, food obsessed, can’t let him off lead apart from secure areas as he’d happily follow his nose wherever it takes him - into parked cars, down drain holes, over main roads…

His food needs to be carefully monitored as he’s prone to pancreatitis, had to have surgery on his eyes due to entropion, you need to consider grooming costs as well - £40 every 6 weeks for a full clip.

Bananacocks · 13/05/2021 18:14

Wonderful dogs, like. Pp said ours have always just fitted in with what's going on, long walks some days other days not so much. Always pleased to see you and amazing company. Some people are wary if all black cocker as they can be a bit snappy I'm told.

Original poster

Blossomplease6 · 13/05/2021 18:22

Are they sensitive, my 8 year old possibly has adhd and autism so can get a bit angry and shouty at times (don’t mean he would direct it a dog, just in general)
The exercise thing is what worries me. Can I provide enough? It’s so hard to imagine what it’ll be like. But then I think, you never know what you’re getting with kids, mine have proved that, but you just adapt. Same with a dog, but at least you know somewhat what to expect with breed traits.

OP posts:

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 13/05/2021 19:15

In my limited experience of cockers, the show type are very different from the working. The workers are massively driven, endlessly energetic, easy to groom, and very sweet.

Look very carefully at both parents and check out temperament issues in the pedigree as best as you can.

XelaM · 13/05/2021 19:43

My uncle had one. He was an absolutely amazing dog. Super intelligent, a dog he could take anywhere and although he has had many dogs over the years, the cocker stole his heart. Sadly he was victim of a hit and run in a complete freak accident whilst he was by my uncle's car waiting for him to unload the groceries and go inside the house. Never found the bastard who did it 😥

StormcloakNord · 14/05/2021 04:20

I'm totally biased as I've got a 12 year old cocker spaniel and. 12 week old cocker spaniel pup!

The older one has been the best dog anyone could ever ask for and still is. Unbelievably friendly, so easy to train, so patient and will listen to me endlessly and yes he just "fits in". I used to take him hiking but he's getting on a bit now so he's more than happy with a little mooch around the block a couple times a day. He's just an amazing, beautiful soul.

New pup has been great so far. Took to his crate like a duck to water and isn't too bitey. I've only had him 2 days and 2 nights so it's early days yet but if he's even a quarter of what the older one is like I'll be counting myself lucky!

Finfintytint · 14/05/2021 04:27

Lost my 13 year old Cocker last year. Beautiful dog. Very loving but manipulative. Very intelligent and interested in everything. Very nosey and cuddly. Loved exercise. I won’t have another dog because I fear nothing could live up to her. Miss her dreadfully.

Onandoff · 14/05/2021 05:12

Best dog I ever had.

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 14/05/2021 20:42

I have an eleven week old working cocker. She's absolutely wonderful. Really friendly and loving, quick to learn and has stolen my heart already. I won't be getting another one until I retire though - the puppy days require constant vigilance and it's exhausting fitting that in with my work, and I'm part time.

MadMadMadamMim · 14/05/2021 20:52

We've had working cockers for donkeys years. Lots of them, and they are high energy, friendly and sweet.

We've currently got a show cocker (4 years old) and he's the best cat we've ever had! He's completely different from working cockers. He's idle, affectionate, well behaved and greedy. He will sleep all day happily and needs very little exercise, although is always pleased to go out with you. He's inclined to run round the house whimpering with pleasure carrying a sock/pair of pants/teatowel in his mouth when people come home.

He's such a funny character.

undermycatsthumb · 14/05/2021 21:09

Thank you for starting this thread OP! I thought my heart was entirely set on a golden retriever but having done quite a bit of care taking of a neighbour's (big!) lab lately, I am really seeing the merit of a smaller dog, and cockers were always my #2.

Of those I've met, I prefer the working types to show types but how much exercise are we talking? We do long hikes at weekends but I can see days during the week when it would be more like a couple of hours (in a few chunks) - would that be enough? We do also have a large, enclosed garden. I imagine a good amount of mental stimulation is also required?

thefemaleJoshLyman · 14/05/2021 21:11

I was persuaded by DH to get our first dog last year. We have a cocker with a show dad and working mum. He’s great! Lots of energy for long walks but manages on one a day if necessary. He’s very friendly and great with our two DC. Food obsessed. Sleeps on his bed from 7 every night and in the sofa in the study while we work from home. I’m totally won over by cockers - perfect for our family.

suggestionsplease1 · 14/05/2021 21:19

I have temperament issues with mine... primarily resource guarding. He's solid black and I've heard it is a less common issue among the roans, not sure how true that is however.

He's a gorgeous dog and trained easily. Managed well he is not a problem but I wouldn't have him around children.

Iheartmysmart · 14/05/2021 21:22

Mines solid black and yes he can be a bit snappy at times. He’s cute though so it’s difficult to get cross with him.

Water61 · 14/05/2021 21:27

If you get one , make sure you get insurance .my cocker had to go to Fitzpatrick vets with her immune system ..saved her life ...but was very expensive. Still on medication 12 months later .Love her to bits.a fault less dog.

HappyThursdays · 14/05/2021 21:33

We've got a nearly 10 month old working cocker. He's amazing and we love him so much. When he's really excited, he carries something (anything) in his mouth. He has taken a lot of training and because he's not food obsessed, it took a bit longer than we thought. He is so much a part of the family, we will never get another dog that isn't a working cocker.

He loves a job. We can tell him to go and find anything and he'll find it and carry it around and bring it back.

He is quite clingy though. Dp works from home and we have a walker for him a few times a week but the first day I was back in the office, he waited by the front door for 3 hours till he went back into the lounge to sit with dp 😢. I don't think it's the exercise you need to worry about as they are v hard to tire out but they do need company I think. He is so loyal and loving and completely adored!

Ilikecheeseontoast · 14/05/2021 21:35

Mad as a box of frogs!!!

Tallpaulwho · 14/05/2021 21:44

I have had 5 show cocker spaniels. Two of those had resource guarding, one severely. I won't have another show cocker again as it's definitely an issue with the breed. They are otherwise lovely dogs, and I miss having one in my life. Just something to bear in mind, resource guarding is hard to deal with if you have any other pets or kids

raffegiraffe · 14/05/2021 22:02

I have an eight month old working cocker. He is lovely, playful, affectionate and quite easy to train. He's so energetic but will run and run on a walk and has one big and one short walk a day. He loves company but manages well when we are all out I wanted a golden retriever initially but really pleased with my cocker.

SunflowerOwl · 15/05/2021 08:27

Working cocker here and I would never have anything else, I love spaniels.

He has the sunniest nature, always pleased to see us (getting greeted in the morning with the intensely wagging rear end sets me up for the day!), very easy to train, loves his walks but is very chilled around the house and happy to snooze on the sofa with us in the evening. Very friendly to visitors including children. Gives the best cuddles. Prefers company but is fine being left for a few hours and will just sleep.

HOWEVER he does get up to mischief when bored so its important you can provide enough stimulation for a spaniel. Ours loves fetch, hide and seek and a good sniffy walk somewhere off lead twice a day (a quick on lead trot around the block wont be enough). He also loves to acquire things he shouldn't (shoes, socks etc) and carry them round in his mouth (often accompanied by aforementioned wagging rear end) so bear that in mind.

Having said that my mum had a rescue Cav and he was an absolute sweetheart as well although had a lot of health problems. Spaniels are wonderful.

Thatswatshesaid · 15/05/2021 10:51

We have a 6 month old show cocker. Total nightmare to start with. Very nervous and needy. Reactive to strangers and dogs. We have seen a behaviourist and after a lot of training he’s much better but still a bit anxious and hates to be left even for 10 minutes. I bloody love him though. No resource guarding yet but obviously we don’t know what he will be like as he matures. Very clever, food obsessed, cuddly, loving ball of fluff.

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