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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

Advice please from spaniel owners

51 replies

Facem81 · 09/04/2023 18:20

We have just confirmed that we will be buying a simply beautiful KC spaniel from a KC registered breeder. The dog has been health tested and the breeder comes highly recommended (plus I have a nice feeling from them too).

anyway - now on to making their welcome as comfortable as possible

any recommendations?
things to buy?

any and all advice gratefully received

thank you

OP posts:
GuyFawkesDay · 09/04/2023 20:27

Echo everything said above.

Spaniel puppies are HARD work, especially working strain cockers and springers.

Commit to your training 100%, and remember this is over 18 months+ not just a short puppy course. You'll need to work on loose lead walking a LOT. It's worth it though.

The spaniel guru and LWDG are useful online resources and training places too.

fridaytwattery · 09/04/2023 20:48

Not sure if it's your first ever dog or what type of spaniel @Facem81 ?

I have a working Springer, 2 years old. He is not our first working dog but it has been extremely hard work and full on regarding training, to shape him to be the dog we want him to be. Every day is a training day: loose lead walking, sit and stay, leave/drop, recall...

He eats bedding and soft toys so we can't give him those. He chews a lot still, even now. Nipped a lot as a young pup and can easily get overaroused so he needs careful managing. Wants to be with us all the time - he will follow if we leave a room. He does love a cuddle but he is like having a toddler. We have toddler proofed the house and the garden (he has dug up plants, attacked the bushes, dug holes in the lawn and no frog is safe - he will hunt them!)

Make sure you read up about the breed and what they need to be kept mentally and physically fit, what they have been bred for. Understand what motivates them. Start as you mean to go on and train from day one.

roundcork · 09/04/2023 22:03

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of the user.

elm26 · 10/04/2023 03:29

Oooh my sprocker spaniel is 8 this year and I actually miss the puppy stage!

They have soooo much energy but are easy to train. He was fully toilet trained within 3 weeks of having him and we walked him off lead pretty much as soon as we could and his recall is excellent even all these years later.

Natural chew toys that are safe for puppies (not rawhide), a crate with a soft bed and the towel they gave us that smelled of his mum calmed him when he was getting too much (we never locked doors) and we got rid of it at 2 as he barely used it, I didn't bother with puppy pads, took him to garden every hour and used the same command each time and when he did a wee or poo, praised him and puppy treat.

GCAcademic · 10/04/2023 04:12

Is there some confusion on this thread as OP has used the initials KC, which could mean Kennel Club or King Charles? If the latter, a lot of the advice here may not be relevant. A King Charles spaniel is nowhere near as energetic or needing as much exercise as a working cocker or springer.

wandawaves · 10/04/2023 05:48

I have CKCSs and half of this advice isn't relevant if that is what you are getting... they are lazy little bludgers! They do have zoomies a few times a day, but then sleep all the rest of it. My advice is definitely a puppy pen to contain the naughtiness. My other important tip would be to get a nice soft brush and use it straight away every day, so that they get used to it, and make sure you get them used to having all areas touched; my dogs hate having their legs and tails brushed, as they had such short puppy hair in the beginning and I forgot to get them used to those areas.

alh26 · 10/04/2023 06:32

Would be useful to know what sort of spaniel you’re talking about. Huge difference between a King Charles and a cocker !

We have 2 working cockers, the maddest of the lot. They are now 2 and 4 and still mad as hatters but wouldn’t have them any other way. They both were crate trained as pups and slept in cage at night until they were 1. Then we let them just have free roam of the kitchen in their beds.

Patience and perseverance is key with them. They just want to please but are also very eager, highly strung and they don’t come with an off switch. You have to learn and train how to switch them off. I recommend finding a local trainer to help. You can buy all the toys in the world but they’ll never find a toy they love more than your smelly trainer or sock to take to bed with them!

Good luck - mighty hard work but they’re worth it, and if you do it right they’re very rewarding.

Morningcoffeeview · 10/04/2023 07:38

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of the user.

Ignore and reward when their feet are on the ground.

Morningcoffeeview · 10/04/2023 07:39

alh26 · 10/04/2023 06:32

Would be useful to know what sort of spaniel you’re talking about. Huge difference between a King Charles and a cocker !

We have 2 working cockers, the maddest of the lot. They are now 2 and 4 and still mad as hatters but wouldn’t have them any other way. They both were crate trained as pups and slept in cage at night until they were 1. Then we let them just have free roam of the kitchen in their beds.

Patience and perseverance is key with them. They just want to please but are also very eager, highly strung and they don’t come with an off switch. You have to learn and train how to switch them off. I recommend finding a local trainer to help. You can buy all the toys in the world but they’ll never find a toy they love more than your smelly trainer or sock to take to bed with them!

Good luck - mighty hard work but they’re worth it, and if you do it right they’re very rewarding.

I have a working cocker. My friend and experienced spaniel owner told me they don’t ever calm down they just die mad 🤣

GCAcademic · 10/04/2023 08:49

Morningcoffeeview · 10/04/2023 07:39

I have a working cocker. My friend and experienced spaniel owner told me they don’t ever calm down they just die mad 🤣

Show quote history

Our last working cocker did zoomies around the garden when the vet arrived to put him to sleep. He had cancer and was in the final stages of liver failure. So, yes, he died as he lived: mad.

Original poster
Facem81 · 10/04/2023 09:07

We are collecting a King Charles! Sorry not clear (also breeder KC reg)

OP posts:
currahee · 10/04/2023 09:27

A King Charles spaniel (sometimes known as the English toy spaniel) or a Cavalier King Charles spaniel?

Original poster
Facem81 · 10/04/2023 09:29

Cavalier

OP posts:
Annon12345 · 10/04/2023 09:37

Spanial bowl for once a bit bigger. Saves their ears getting in the food.
I've had several king Charles spaniels. All have been scared of water, refused to go out in the rain but loyal and love lots of fuss and attention

Original poster
Facem81 · 10/04/2023 09:42

Thank you.

Anything more?

OP posts:
currahee · 10/04/2023 09:51

Apologies if this is raining on the parade but CKCS are in the spotlight at the minute as one of the most unhealthy and unsustainable pedigree breeds. It's not the puppies that need to be health tested but the parents - make sure you see evidence of BVA eye scheme test results, recent (it should be repeated every two years) grading under the KC's heart scheme, and MRI scan under the BVA scheme for CM/SM. Vanishingly few breeders are undertaking all of these.

SuperSange · 10/04/2023 10:06

currahee · 10/04/2023 09:51

Apologies if this is raining on the parade but CKCS are in the spotlight at the minute as one of the most unhealthy and unsustainable pedigree breeds. It's not the puppies that need to be health tested but the parents - make sure you see evidence of BVA eye scheme test results, recent (it should be repeated every two years) grading under the KC's heart scheme, and MRI scan under the BVA scheme for CM/SM. Vanishingly few breeders are undertaking all of these.

Is that the thing where their skull is too small for their brain? I saw a program about that some time ago. Awful for them.

Original poster
Facem81 · 10/04/2023 10:08

Parents health checked

OP posts:
MissVantaBlack · 10/04/2023 10:59

Aww! I have a Cavalier cross (mostly cavalier) from health tested parents, and she's a joy.

  • we had a crate for ours, but didn't shut her in it (except when she had just been spayed and we had to restrict her movements). I slept in the kitchen with her for the first couple of nights after we got her, so she didn't feel too lonely away from her mum
  • introduce her to as many new experiences as possible, from the day you bring her home. Even if she hasn't yet been vaccinated, you can take her on "carry walks". Trains, buses, motorbikes, pushcairs, mobility scooters, horses, cows, sheep, chickens, ducks. Introduce her to the postman, the plumber, children of various ages.
  • if you have a car, take her on short trips daily while she's young (she must be contained so she doesn't distract you while driving/get under the pedals...I use a doggy seat belt and harness). This may help avoid car sickness.
  • mine has been quite easy to train and is usually obedient, but she's deer obsessed and her recall goes out of the window if she scents one! You could look for obedience classes, and I've been told that gun dog training classes are helpful in this scenario, but I haven't tried them yet.
  • as PP mentioned, get her used to grooming from an early age. As well as brushing, this might include checking ears (spaniels are prone to ear infections), teeth cleaning and rinsing muddy paws after walks (cavs have very fluffy paws, which can trap mud...when the mud dries, it can be uncomfortable and cause irritation).

Good luck! I wish you many happy years with your gorgeous dog.

Bluebells1970 · 10/04/2023 11:02

I'd be very wary OP, these dogs are notoriously unhealthy from overbreeding. At least get the best life insurance you can afford, and one that covers it for it's whole life.

https://www.peta.org/features/never-buy-cavalier-king-charles-spaniel/

Ostryga · 10/04/2023 11:08

Get the best and highest payout insurance possible and put aside savings for medical expenses that go over that.

I think it’s something like 90% of all CKS will have MVD by the time they are ten. And most likely by the time they are 5.

fridaytwattery · 10/04/2023 11:15

GCAcademic · 10/04/2023 04:12

Is there some confusion on this thread as OP has used the initials KC, which could mean Kennel Club or King Charles? If the latter, a lot of the advice here may not be relevant. A King Charles spaniel is nowhere near as energetic or needing as much exercise as a working cocker or springer.

I took it to mean Kennel Club as they say 'KC registered breeder'

Vitriolinsanity · 10/04/2023 12:07

If there's a sniff to be sniffed, a spaniel will sniff it.

7pm zoomies ✔️
Loyal to a fault, unless there is a sniff ✔️
Loves a lie in ✔️
Will walk until their legs drop off ✔️
Favourite toy is old trainer ✔️

Once they get to about 1 they become a bit more chilled unless the wind gets up their tail.

RedSquirrelRoar · 10/04/2023 12:41

We have a cavalier (got her as an adult from a rescue) and she’s very active and “spanielly” - loves the woods, walks for miles, always sniffing and following her nose, dives through undergrowth, chases anything that moves, surprisingly smart and quick to learn (if she wants to!).
Lovely as their long coats are we get ours clipped short - she seems much more comfortable in warm weather (especially now she’s old and has the inevitable heart murmur) and the mud is unmanageable otherwise!
She has no sense of danger when it comes to roads etc which I think is quite common for CKCS - she can only be let off lead well away from traffic.
They tend to be food obsessed - be really strict on this from the start because they are prone to getting fat. Given they aren’t the healthiest breed, keeping them slim and well exercised is especially important, according to our vet.
Definitely get good insurance as they are virtually guaranteed to get heart disease at some point and are prone to other nasty genetic conditions. The parents need to have had v specific tests (as curahee listed), not just given a once over by a vet.

Flowerly · 10/04/2023 14:57

Morningcoffeeview · 09/04/2023 19:16

Find a local agility or gun dog trainer and give them a job. They are super intelligent and training them shouldn’t be underestimated.

This.