Do different colour cockers really have different personalities ?

[JinglyJane]

We are looking at getting a show cocker spaniel. I have been told to avoid a golden cocker as they are harder work and more aggressive. Also been told the roan speckled ones are the most laid back. This seems like it could be a myth but wondered if anyone had experience ?

I had a golden show cocker who was the MOST beautiful dog. A PAT dog. An absolute dream with my toddler too even when older & becoming unwell.
But, if you left him alone, he would shred the sofa cushions in protest. Also needed a LOT of walking. Poor recall, insanely keen swimmer. Awful ear probs (£3k surgery 25 years ago).
I miss him still. RIP gorgeous George x

I've had 2 x working red cockers. Both aggressive. One with ALL other dogs. The last one went for my teenage son & had to be removed from the house.

There are 3 golden cockers that are regulars at the park. All are lovely, the male pup a bit crazy excited, the female pup very affectionate and submissive, the female adult affectionate and chase-ball focused.

Not show cockers but have black & chocolate working cockers who are litter mates. Personalities and temperament are very different. The chocolate is super chilled and laid back, gentle and unfazed by everything the perfect family dog with our kids. The black one is highly strung, very demanding and has little patience but a lapdog when he has down time. He was selected for HM customs as a pup but we declined however I think it would of suited him. They need very different interactions, stimulation and environment. They are both from champion working lines. Amazing dogs. I still think its a bit of ‘luck if the draw’ no matter how much research you put in. Spaniels are the best though OP.

Ear problems are a spaniel issue though. I grew up with springers which were more of an issue than mine ever were. Mine have had no ear issues other than grass seeds I couldn’t remove. I clean weekly and check daily in grass seed season.

@GigglingSquib mine are 12 now and still manage 2 hours off lead daily. Although they do sleep a lot more in between.

Black ones I've found to be more hyperactive, had a white one and she was a total pup, all her life, also had many skin problems. Found cockers easier than springers (no off buttons) but far more neurotic, although I found springers can become more easily depressed or is that melancholy.

The solid black show cocker we had growing up was put to sleep after he bit my mum very badly (part of her ear hanging off) 😬. I don’t remember him very well, but I know he was tricky.

I would choose a working cocker, or (even better, my strong personal preference) a working lab. Higher energy needs but very loyal, affectionate, clever, reliable.

I grew up with working labs but they were trained to the gun and were out working every day. They thrived in that environment physically and mentally. They were gorgeous dogs and so clever and affectionate.

I have a lemon roan WCS and he is reactive to strangers, resource guards, as is super intense around other dogs - sometimes getting into fights.

My sister has a black half working, half show Cocker, and she’s friendly to everyone and nowhere near as intense.

I don’t know how true it is that colour impacts temperament. I think it is probably a lot to do with early life experiences.

My roan Cocker was bred by a supposedly reputable breeder during lockdown, but I suspect he spent a lot of his puppyhood outside rather than in a home. He was afraid of vacuum sounds, music, noises outside the window, etc.

My sister’s Cocker was bred by a friend of a friend (BYB) and raised in a busy home environment around kids and other dogs, etc. Before lockdown.

If you do choose a working type don't be sucked in by a raft of field trial champions in the pedigree unless you intend to actually work your own dog.
100% agree. I have two working line gundogs. One out of working parents, lovely dog all round, very useful little worker. Other out of a line of FTChs, very highly strung and bloody hard work, massive hunting drive.

I know someone who breeds and trials (national championship level). He had a puppy returned because the new owners, despite having it all explained to them, found her 'too much'.

I have a 2 year old orange roan, can be a bit resource guardy but amazing apart from that!

I have a black WCS, who was hard work as a puppy - as soon as cracked one naughty behaviour he’d think of something else - and a mad bundle of energy, but is now at 3 very sweet, cuddly, doesn’t like being left, adores friends and family but has no interest in strangers and is wary of strange children and will duck away and warn them off if they try to grab him - I know not to let them now so no issues in a long time. Adores children he knows. Loves some dogs but is grumpy with teenage male dogs in the park. Super clever, funny, expressive, picks up commands/tricks in minutes. Excellent recall. Easy in the house and car. Not a single health issue in 3 years, not even ears, other than occasional anal gland issues. Cast-iron stomach and very food-oriented. Will run as long as you want to be out but will then flop asleep in the house, and needs about 1.5 to 2 hours of exercise but isn’t naughty if we have to skimp on it - definitely doesn’t need 4 hours though he’d be delighted if you wanted to walk that long. I honestly think cocker rage is an excuse for poor training/unaddressed behavioural issues. If we hadn’t worked to address it, he’d resource-guard, but we got good advice from KC Good Citizen trainer and I can now even put my hand inside his mouth and remove food he’s found in the park and is trying to scoff. I agree with the people who suggest avoiding champions in pedigrees - that’s great if you’re going to work your dog, but a bit high-octane for an average pet.

Exactly the same here - mine was extremely snappy and stubborn- my roan was completely the opposite

2 show cockers here. 1 black and tan, 4 years old, a total dream, not a nasty bone in her body. The other a blue roan,, 2 years old, still amazing but a bit more clingy and nervous, but then again a 'lockdown pup' so arguably less socialisation early on. Both from the same (reputable) breeder. I don't think it's anything to do with colour to be honest, more breeding and early socialisation. Wouldn't swap either for the world, both great dogs with strangers, other dogs, cats etc. But they do like company!

So interesting! Does this apply to other breeds I wonder? Have been told that chocolate labs are much more high energy and bonkers than golden or black - this definitely applies to the few I know…

We were advised show cockers are temperamental. Our solid golden boy is a working cocker from a great line and he’s a dream. Trains easily (our first dog), rarely barks (howls if there’s a siren and he’s outside- he likes to join the noise) but his bark is usually singular and clearly to alert us to something like his ball being out of reach. He’s super chilled at home and has perfect recall.

breeder had his mum who’s solid black and very good plus his tall older sisters from the first litter - chocolate one was calm and lovely then there was the lemon roan who is mad as a box of frogs. She’s lovely but cheeky and goofy.

we also bump into our ddog’s brother occasionally on walks and he’s solid golden and same temperament.

we we’re lucky being able to meet 2 of the first litter from the same pairing. But I think it’s more breeding than colour that dictates the temperament.

Interesting post, I'd not heard this! I've a lemon roan WCS like a PP. Anecdotal, but I'd say he was pretty laid back (for a spaniel anyway), super friendly and was a dream to train. He has lots of energy of course and gets very excited in certain situations but provided he has his long walks he is no trouble at all.