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The doghouse

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

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:
Original poster
goodthinking99 · 05/12/2021 20:32

@AvocadoAndToast that's useful to know about the balance of enough v. too much. Thinking on it a short game of find the treats, or 5 mins training really settles her in the house. And an hour or so of good off lead running/snuffling seems to be the best fit for her. Lovely to hear about everyone's mad but adored dogs.

OP posts:
RubyTuesday70 · 05/12/2021 20:34

Mine is 8.5, and remarkably chillled indoors. He comes to work with and spends all day snoring led upside down under my desk Hmm

Outside, he's a lunatic. He has to wear a set of hawk bells on his collar at this time of year (pheasant madness) as his recall goes completely out of the window. He digs, ploughs through hedges, rolls in shit/rotting carcasses with utter joy; finds stagnant water like a water diviner......... it's a bloody good job he's cute. He's been bathed twice today Hmm.

He's also the thing I love most in the world.

Frostyted87 · 05/12/2021 20:44

Mine is 6.5 and still absolutely crazy! Recall is great and he’s so loving but definitely hard work.

slalomsuki · 05/12/2021 20:54

I must have the lazy working cocker then. Until about 2.5 she was manic and chewed anything that she could get hold of, was destructive when we went out and had no recall. She had another dog in the house to keep her company and wasn't left longer that 1 hour per day.

Then suddenly it all changed.

Now she lies in the sofa under blankets if given the choice, stirs herself for food and gods outside for a diff around but comes back when we call her. Outside of the house on a walk she is mad and runs 10 times the distance that she needs to but as soon as she is back in she is asleep and doesn't stir. She is 4 now and was neutered at 1.

Original poster
goodthinking99 · 06/12/2021 17:45

So the general consensus seems to be the puppy relentlessness does ease off between 18 months and 2.5 years, socks are never going to safe, charging around off lead is a life long habit, but they will chill in the house when certain of our absolute devotion. This has been really reassuring...I think I might just pass as a WCS owner Grin

OP posts:
KILM · 06/12/2021 23:04

Love this thread as we have a 6 month old WCS who is as mad as a box of frogs but very adorable.
Two big questions for me at the moment are:

  1. Will she ever stop jumping up at us/our visitors/our sofas? (We are working on it but its progressing soooo much slower than her other training)
  2. Will she ever stop getting hugely overexcited in other buildings? She gets plenty of exposure to new walks and outdoor spaces and is excited as youd expect, but any building that isnt our house and she is WILD. Even if she's been there multiple times before and she's been allowed to explore. Is this a thing??
Highlanders372 · 07/12/2021 08:23

I've got a working cocker crossed with a terrier so not quite the same but still 2 high energy, working breads. Our boy, from around 18 months has been super chilled at home. He mirrors us, so if we're chilling, he's chilling. We've also got him into a really good routine of walk for 30 mins at 6am, he then potters around the house until we all leave for work/school at 8. He then sleeps in the kitchen all morning. Another walk mid day, then more sleeping, potters once were all home, another short walk around 6pm. He then has a mad half hour chasing his ball around the house, he takes it in turns finding people around the house and dropping it at everyone's feet. He then snuggles up for the evening around 8pm and gets very huffy if we're all still doing stuff in the evening. Stick with it and definitely start extending his time alone, even if you're not out of the house, just sit quietly in another room.

StopGo · 07/12/2021 20:24

Our six month old WCS was spayed yesterday. Very quiet night but now she is her usual cheeky self. Keep her quiet? No chance!!!!!!!

MynameisWa · 07/12/2021 20:34

We have a four year old. On almost every walk someone will say ‘oh, what a cute puppy, how old?’

She’s the fastest and most energetic dog on the common. Always. Prompting comments of: ‘I wish I had that energy!’

She kills squirrels. Two last week.

She pulls on the lead like a bull. Where she gets the strength I don’t know. She’s only small. For a smart dog, she’s thick when it comes to lead walking.

So no. They stay full on. But she’s the heart of the family and we love her.

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