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The doghouse

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Original poster

Working Cocker puppy

34 replies

goodthinking99 · 05/12/2021 16:45

We got a working cocker spaniel pup nearly 8 months ago, she's nearly 10 months now, and have been working our way through toilet training, crate training, general training and all the rest. She's got a really lovely temperament, is never left alone for more than 20 minutes for a pop to the shop, and totally loves her off lead walk romping across the hills and rootling about through brush and trees.

I was the least keen on getting the dog, although I grew up with dogs (back in the 80s when all you seemed to need was some newspapers for puppy accidents, and to know how to open the back door Grin) but as is often the case am doing 80% of the care.

My question is to WCS owners is as they mature, 18 months on or so, does it become less full on? I love the dog but it feels like I've got a hairy toddler that needs almost constant input. I want to do my very best for the pup, but am hoping it won't feel so all consuming in a year or so. Any advice or reassurance from post puppy WCS owners?

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 05/12/2021 16:51

Well my 5 year old WCS is currently rolling around on the wet grass in the garden because I am ignoring him as I am eating chicken and he loves chicken. At other times he will run through the house with a shoe trying to get some attention.

He would run around all day and then demand ball play if I entertained him. So they do tend to still be high energy even now.

But the relentlessness when mine was your dogs age was awful so compared to then yes he has calmed down a LOT but compared to some other breeds he's still full on.

Katshouldnotswim · 05/12/2021 16:56

12 years later and a bit less full on…

ISeeTheLight · 05/12/2021 16:58

Not a working cocker but my mum's late dog (lost him 2 weeks ago Sad) was a working springer. He calmed down a bit after he got neutered when he was about 5. They are very high energy and lovely, lovely dogs.

Katshouldnotswim · 05/12/2021 17:01

My advice would be to gradually extend the time she is left alone. Has she really never been left for more than 20 minutes ? It’s no time to do anything by yourself as an adult, you must be going slowly mad !

Original poster
goodthinking99 · 05/12/2021 17:02

Oh BiteyShark I can't tell you how reassuring that is! I hadn't bargained for the relentlessness of it all just now, but can cope with it if it is going to wear off. Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
goodthinking99 · 05/12/2021 17:06

Hi Katshouldnotswim we've got a busy household and a number of adults, older kids in and out, so there's not been many times when she's needed to be on her own, but I agree I need to start extending that a bit. It's more about me imagining the puppy versus dog experience.

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longtompot · 05/12/2021 17:08

I wish I could say yes, they do calm down, but I'd be lying. I have a show cocker and she still is full on at aged 9. She is calmer than she was, which happened around 5 years old or so.
Working cockers have much more of a drive than the show types as they are used to work with so need to be on the go most of the time.
We still say our dog is a toddler in a dog suit. I think she will be the same until rainbow bridge.

Ceara · 05/12/2021 17:15

Have you tried Where's the Off Switch? by Leanne Smith and Mission Control by Jane Ardern? Full of fabulous advice for teaching spaniels and other high drive dogs how to settle and chill out . The authors both have WCS.

GetOffTheXmasTree · 05/12/2021 17:28

I went to a forest near me yesterday for a walk with our WCS.

Once off lead, he sprinted left and right the entire walk. He never once stopped. All the other dogs were trotting along nicely walking next to their owners. I had the whistle in my mouth most of the time. He ran and jumped in every stream, river, puddle and the only time he stopped running was when I whistled stop and put him back on lead at the end!

He's 15 months now. What amazes me about him is his ability to stay awake unless forced to nap. We were out and about most of yesterday and he barely slept. He is a proper working dog and could be on the go for 12 hours. We still force him to have naps when we're at home.

People do say 5 is the magical age for some degree of less FOMO! But only a tiny bit less!

@longtompot toddler in a dog suit made me laugh!

BiteyShark · 05/12/2021 17:30

People do say 5 is the magical age for some degree of less FOMO! But only a tiny bit less!

Hmmm BiteyDog didn't get that memo WinkGrin

GetOffTheXmasTree · 05/12/2021 17:33

@BiteyShark Grin

Original poster
goodthinking99 · 05/12/2021 18:04

@GetOffTheXmasTree yes! That's my dog! For every 2 yards I cover she covers 2000. I love that bit, though, and her recall is great...so far. It's not out and about, it's the constant surveillance when in the house for tea towels, socks, shoes, being where she shouldn't be, eating what she shouldn't eat and so on. I don't mind her following me everywhere, yes...to the loo and back...maybe I just need to let it all wash over me. Thanks for the book recommendation @Ceara I'll look it up.

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NeedAHoliday2021 · 05/12/2021 18:10

Ours is 18 months (working cocker). He was a bit mad 7-10 months but now still runs in zig zags at speed when off lead but has good recall. At home though his chilled - currently snuggled across my lap as we’re all watching muppet Christmas Carol. Puppy stage he was cute and all but I’m much happier now and he’s part of the family rather than the dominating, all consuming element!

tillytoodles1 · 05/12/2021 18:12

My daughter's WCS is 4, she a beautiful, friendly, loving dog, but she's bonkers. Loves to run around with stolen underwear in her mouth, loves to play and runs up and down the field without stopping.

clatterclatter · 05/12/2021 18:15

Mines over 10 now and whilst he isn’t as full on as he once was, he still IS full on. From about 6pm he will snooze but all day long he is on the go, underfoot and charging about.

Love him but wouldn’t have another.

clatterclatter · 05/12/2021 18:18

He could be on the go 12 hours a day and go back for more. Dog in a toddler suit is exactly right.

Best way to get him to chill is to remove all toys/tea towels/socks/laundry/shoes and ignore him. Any attention fuels his energy even more.

Original poster
goodthinking99 · 05/12/2021 19:19

@clatterclatter yep, will dog proof a bit more, and ignore a bit more and keep my fingers crossed that my trajectory is like @NeedAHoliday2021 Grin

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LiveatCityHall · 05/12/2021 19:33

I think my WCS is broken!! He's nearly 2 and we got him just before lockdown last year. We have had no end of issues with him including his recall going from 100% to 0% literally overnight but I have to say that he is quite possibly the most chilled out cocker I've ever come across. I work from home and he gets walked before I start work. Once I'm set up he lounges around snoozing and occasionally telling off the neighbours all day. We spend time playing together but he is genuinely so chilled. I'm looking at him now crashed out on the armchair by the fire snoring his head off.
I appreciate this may be a one off but in my experience they do calm down!

Sewaccidentprone · 05/12/2021 19:42

My friend had a working cocker which I walked for a few years. She was about 8 and was the best behaved and trained dog I have ever met.

So totally possible to have a less full on dog, but believe took a lot of time, effort and commitment.

NeedAHoliday2021 · 05/12/2021 19:43

@goodthinking99 socks are still not safe. He randomly brings me socks.

GuyFawkesDay · 05/12/2021 19:48

@LiveatCityHall mine is quite chilled in the house too. I mean he steals socks, pants and food given half a chance but as long as he's had physical exercise and mental stimulation during the day, he is very much content to snooze a fair chunk of the day away and loves his cuddles. He's 50:50 working:show cocker so maybe the show cocker side is a bit more chilled?

He is only 6 months though so am very aware it can all change!!

AvocadoAndToast · 05/12/2021 20:00

Haha the first couple of years with a WCS is chaotic fun isn’t it.
It’s been a fine art with my WCS’s but I now know that the balance needs to be struck between giving a good amount of exercise but not so much they are wired and wanting more!
Mine get an hour/ hour and a half off lead walk somewhere fun like the forest or heaths where they can charge around, brain or scent games and a couple of short training bursts a day. They play with each other and with toys in the garden which they love - they have a sand pit for digging too Xmas Grin. We also go to hoopers and scent classes which give them a good brain work out.
I found agility and flyball were no good - they just made them manic and unsettled.

I don’t subscribe to the school
of thought that you must walk them for umpteen hours a day - my experience doing that means they just get fitter and more wired and less able to settle.
Some days we will go out for longer hikes, in the summer we do weekly trips to the beach and hills, but as rest is enforced from being a puppy and as a result they are mostly calm and extremely cuddly in the house.
They have toys in the kitchen and dining room but not the living room. I think it’s important, especially with 2, that you create a chilled vibe for them - other wise they would be pacing and wrestling and playing all day! Chews and stuffed kongs are great for helping them to settle.
They are the loveliest breed of dog. I’m sure your pup will settle as they grow up, but do build in periods alone and enforced rest for yours (and theirs) sanity.

LiveatCityHall · 05/12/2021 20:27

@GuyFawkesDay oh yes the socks/pants/slippers/lego/pencils/anything left on the floor stealing will never change I think 😆 its half the fun, chasing him round the dining table trying to see what he's shopped for today!! He doesn't chew it though which I suppose is something. I can just never find the pair of the one item I have 🤣🤣

GuyFawkesDay · 05/12/2021 20:29

Us neither. And we had to buy new socks as the puppy biting phase meant they all had holes in too 🙈

I refuse point blank to chase him, but the clever little sod now nicks stuff and runs to the kitchen where he sits and waits fora treat. I suppose it's easier than the alternative but he's a monkey!!!

clatterclatter · 05/12/2021 20:31

Agreed @AvocadoAndToast when mine was younger I used to walk the legs off him and it just made him fitter and in turn in need of more exercise!