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Original poster

do all show cockers have the personality of a tea towel

119 replies

Jamandcheesesandwich · 04/01/2023 11:13

hi all

I am still pondering breeds and are now down the last two
lab and cocker

I am going for the show cocker rather than working due to the needs of the wcs being much higher than the show

the only show I have known had the personality of a tea towel

so please tell me about your show cockers , pictures too if possible

OP posts:
Thread gallery
29
JuneFromBethesda · 04/01/2023 14:50

This has turned into a thread of lovely dog photos 🙂 especially @Frenchcroissant, your dog is gorgeous.

Personally I have an elderly Lab whom I love more than anything so can’t help on the cocker front …

do all show cockers have the personality of a tea towel
Redsquirrel5 · 04/01/2023 15:05

Very interested in this thread because that is what I have decided on. A woman years ago at Woolfest suggested that I contact the Cocker Kennel Club as they often rehome Cockers.
I am a similar age and like walking. Recently retired so planning to have a dog in the future. usually prefer bigger dogs but we live in a cottage and not feasible unless kennelled which I don't want to do.
I know they are very popular but have you considered a Cockerpoo as a few friends have them and think they are wonderful. A bit less energetic (2out of 3) and lots of personality.
Lovely photos of people's dogs.

Powerplant · 04/01/2023 15:31

We have a beautiful, adorable, affectionate and loving show cocker. No resource guarding and very easy to train- I took her to puppy classes she’s 18 months old now. She loves runs off lead when we’re out in the forest but is just as happy with a good sniffy walk. She’s fine being left up to 4 hours 5 at a push and does not have separation anxiety even though I’m retired and home most of the time. It’s the way you start off with training, socialisation and regularly being left for a small amount of time. She honestly is a lovely little dog with bags of personality and I would thoroughly recommend. Check the breeder is a reputable one and make sure you get a puppy contract.

BundleBrentsroses · 04/01/2023 16:26

We have a nine year old show cocker, chocolate roan with a lovely happy easy going temperament, very chilled though a bit barky at large garden birds! Highly recommend them. He is happy with long garden run around, hunting games and a daily walk of 40mins to 3 hours or more. Happy to be left alone and has never resource guarded. His favourite thing is hunting for food treats and sniffing smells in woods. Always SO gentle around children even lots of them patting him at once and puppies and ignores aggressive dogs. We used a sound effects disc for puppy training and he has never had a problem with fireworks, storms etc. Likes a lot of cuddles and affection. Def not a boring teatowel type dog!

do all show cockers have the personality of a tea towel
EssexCat · 04/01/2023 16:40

We’ve got a show cocker and she is just delightful. The soppiest most loving sweetheart, bags of personality and so so loving. Plus great recall as she is just wants to stick with me all the time!

We can easily leave her for 3-4 hours at a time and the worst she does is chew up any post left lying around if she’s left for too long.

tbh I wasn’t that keen on the breed as I thought they were a bit dull but our girl is amazing and has made all of our lives so much nicer and more fun.

She doesn’t resource guard and you could take food out of her mouth if you wanted too (not that I would!)

EssexCat · 04/01/2023 16:41

Sorry thought I’d added a pic

do all show cockers have the personality of a tea towel
Newfluff · 04/01/2023 16:50

If Show Cockers have the personality of a tea towel then Labs have the personality of a damp sponge.

Labs are just so boring, they don't do obedience because they want to. They sit because they are too stupid to realise they don't have to. Everything is driven by food,

Lab: 'oh can I eat this, no, ah well I will eat it anyway, oh what's that? Food? No? Ah well in it goes. Hungry, hungry, that looks edible...'

I also don't like terriers, especially wired haired not least because I want a dog that is nice to cuddle.

Original poster
Jamandcheesesandwich · 04/01/2023 16:55

PaintByLetters · 04/01/2023 13:53

I misread as slow cookers, and was baffled as to what you wanted it to offer personality wise.

I'll be going now.

get your coat 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Jamandcheesesandwich · 04/01/2023 16:57

BigSkies2022 · 04/01/2023 14:29

Tea towel personalities indeed! Our 4 year old show is fabulous, and very characterful! Lots of exercise, please, especially walks that include water, football, hide and seek games with treats. Bus and train rides are very big treats. Resource guarding is a thing, but fortunately, they are distractable with treats. Coming to fetch the socks you have taken off each night to take them off to his bed is just part of the routine. Learn not to put your glasses or the remote control or the newspaper you have been looking forward to reading within reach.

They are quite bright and active dogs, so respond well to lots of training - doesn't have to be complicated, just include stay, down, come, fetch in your walks. My DH really likes the higher reaches of training, so takes our lad to 'sniffer training' for gun dogs and bomb detection - he's currently doing his silver medal level. Recall is generally good, although he had a phase of massively getting the horn, and chasing after girls in season. He's now been neutered so that stimulus will go.

He is quite reactive - noisy about fireworks, yells at the foxes in the garden - and can be really, really insistent about being played with at a point in the day when I just want to sit on the sofa with my laptop. He will paw at me and stare imploringly. This is just part of what he is, and I've adapted to it. If you want a dog that is really going to love you, and wants to be with you, and wants cuddles and play, this is a good breed.

thanks so much, very helpful

OP posts:
WhatDoYouWantNow · 04/01/2023 16:58

Bloody hell I must get to SpecSavers - I thought the thread title was "Do all SLOW COOKERS...."

Original poster
Jamandcheesesandwich · 04/01/2023 16:59

Bamaluz · 04/01/2023 14:48

Does the breeder you found have labradors, show cockers and working cocker puppies for sale, because that isn't usually regarded as a good thing.

no three different breeders

OP posts:
SophiaLarsen · 04/01/2023 17:07

My friend has a show cocker cross who we joke is like Dory. There is very little going on behind the eyes! Lovely dog though. Just a bit of a lack of personality. I have a working cocker who is full of personality although now ancient and whole different personality to when she was younger.

TeenTraumaTrials · 04/01/2023 17:07

Just adding some additional show cocker love here (and I love my slow cooker too). Ours is nearly 5 and has a great personality (the cocker) - loves a play and a run (and she does pull on the lead) but also a sleep. She does resource guard a bit but like other posters if you swap early on then it's not a big problem - and ours also lets you take it from her if you can corner her. She is so loving - she will jump on your lap and put her paws on your shoulders for a cuddle. Not sure where you've got the idea of the tea-towel personality OP.

GuyFawkesDay · 04/01/2023 20:43

Working/show cocker cross.

Definitely not short of personality!!! He's more chilled than his working side compatriots but loves to work, scent and walk for miles but also spends about 15hrs a day spark out on the sofa. Ideally your lap. Total cuddle monster and brilliant with the kids.

Not one inkling of resource guarding issues, but we have trained him to understand we don't take his things off him and anyone approaching him brings even more good stuff so he's no issue on that front.

I don't think you can get a more loyal or loving dog than a spaniel, they do everything with 100% heart and soul including loving their humans.

And he's very handsome too i might be biased

do all show cockers have the personality of a tea towel
heidbuttsupper · 04/01/2023 20:43

Read that as 'slow cookers'
Was not disappointed

MoscowMules · 04/01/2023 20:51

I had a show cocker, I do miss him but he passed on from old age a few years ago.

He definitely had a personality. He was affectionate, sometimes a bit goofy, loved to climb and run about. His favourite activity was running in overgrowth and barking loudly at nothing 🤣

Great with other dogs, no resource guarding issues. And to be fair for a spaniel his recall was better than average, but he did occasionally have "selective hearing" 😬

do all show cockers have the personality of a tea towel
pastypirate · 04/01/2023 20:54

I have a show cocker he has loads of personality his only floor is he doesn't like other dogs but as long as they leave him alone he's fine. He's my shadow and a total Velcro dog.
We have never had resource guarding ever if you pick his bowl up whilst he's eating he just stands there and looks sad. I got a show cocker because loads of the foster caters I work with have them and they seemed such lovely soppy dogs.

Pasty dog is soft as butter and is very loving and cuddly. He gives proper hugs and pats your arm witg his paw to get you to stroke him.

He is a big baby with not much bravado. He is happiest snoozing on my bed or on his sheepskin rug in the living room.

He chases cats and squirrels.

He's been the easiest ever dog to house train and he has a bladder of iron. We know he's ill if he has accidents in the house. He is I'll approximately once every 3 years.

He rolls in fox shit but hols obediently into the bath and just stands there while you wash him.

He barks a bit but our new neighbours sweet little dax barks about 85% more and I've realised pasty dog isn't too bad.

His puppy years were challenging like any puppy but looking back years 2-8 he's 8 now have been a breeze and we are lucky to have such a lovely dog.

We are considering a rescue show cocker next year he's so easy I'm a bit better the devil you know!

pastypirate · 04/01/2023 20:56

Forgot to add he goes on the paddle board in his doggy life jacket and enjoys any activity you include him in. He loves swimming and climbing and a Dartmoor walk that includes a river and a huge bank to climb up and a tor is his favourite. We have a caravan and wh we n I open the boot and he realises we are there he's pretty much leaping for joy! He loves the beach and snow and frost. He enjoys his life very much!

pastypirate · 04/01/2023 21:14

Pasty dog

do all show cockers have the personality of a tea towel
do all show cockers have the personality of a tea towel
Paq · 04/01/2023 21:36

I am currently dog-less but I've got some tea towels that are full of character...

tigger1001 · 04/01/2023 21:40

QuietYou · 04/01/2023 11:53

I read this as Slow Cookers and came on to see what on earth you meant!!

I did too 😂😂

needastrongoneagain · 04/01/2023 21:45

I'm am the happy owner of a Springer and a WCS. The latter is from a long list of field champions and should be by lineage incredibly hard work. He's been the easiest dog ever. Gentle, quiet, calm, eager to learn and train, never chewed or guarded a thing. We put a lot of work into both as puppies and bought from reputable breeders after research but both my spaniels have been easy and incredible.

do all show cockers have the personality of a tea towel
longtompot · 04/01/2023 21:55

How very dare you, op! Personality of a tea towel! Mine is full of character I'll have you know.
But seriously, dogs are like people. Some have huge personalities and some are quiet and unassuming.
Mine does have a bit of an issue with food and is quite possessive over it, but we know this and don't allow her to get in a situation where it will be an issue that she would have to react to it. The one time recently was where I misjudged another dog and owner (the owner was keeping their dog focused on them with treats) mine went to see what she had and a bit of a fight broke out. No skin broken, just heart rates raised. But she did come back to me and all was ok. The other owner was great too and no hard feelings (seen each other many times since). The other dog was a chocolate lab.

ArmyofMunn · 04/01/2023 23:03

needastrongoneagain · 04/01/2023 21:45

I'm am the happy owner of a Springer and a WCS. The latter is from a long list of field champions and should be by lineage incredibly hard work. He's been the easiest dog ever. Gentle, quiet, calm, eager to learn and train, never chewed or guarded a thing. We put a lot of work into both as puppies and bought from reputable breeders after research but both my spaniels have been easy and incredible.

This made me smile. How lovely!

talkingmorenonsense · 04/01/2023 23:10

Have a look at miniature poodles. We have one and I can’t recommend them too highly.