Am I mad to be thinking of getting a cocker spaniel as first time dog owner?

[MinnieMouse0]

As title really!

I would really love a four legged pal and am thinking about a cocker spaniel. Either a show type or possibly an American cocker spaniel as I hear they are slightly (😅) more mellow compared to the working type.

I am fully prepared for lots of training and exercise. I don’t really have any hobbies so have all the time in the world for training. Also I live in the highlands so I’m not short of places for walks!

The other breeds on my favourites list are westies and King Charles cavalier spaniels.

I have a show cocker cross. He is terrible for resource guarding, and has bitten us all over it. I wouldn't have another one again. His brother and sister and great though!

I work with dogs and see loads of cocker spaniels, working, American and show. They are generally always lovely little dogs. High energy, but eager to please and as long as they are mentally and physically stimulated enough, then they should be lovely family pets. I love how it's not just their tail that wags, but their entire back end 😂

Only thing I would say is that unless you can groom them entirely yourself at home, then for show and American cockers, you're looking at paying for them to be professionally groomed every 6 weeks (cost varies depending on where you live, but where I am, cocker spaniels would be around £55 each time). That's in addition to them being thoroughly brushed every couple of days, as they are very prone to matting, and if that happens then groomers have to shave them really short. Just an aspect to consider, not a downside 😊

We have a nearly three year old (working)cocker and he’s been fab since day one- he is our first dog, is fantastic with our young kids, no issues whatsoever. He went to puppy school and will be going to fun gun dog training to work his mind. He’s my shadow and is getting cuddlier as he gets older.
you have to put the work in to train a dog if you want a well rounded well behaved dog but they love to learn so shouldn’t be a problem.

We have a Cavalier King Charles - he’s just turned 11 and has been with us since he was 8 weeks old. They are the sweetest natured dog 🥰 fun, affectionate and just lovely beings ! They enjoy human company the most so recommend, if your pup will not be left for long periods whilst young.

Hi,

I’m a dog trainer/behaviourist and a mum of a 6 year old!

A good ‘entry level’ spaniel is a King Charles. They’re generally loving and loyal and still love training and walking as much as other. They can be on the lazy side too and sometimes a bit gobby!
You also have to take into account that lots of them have health issues (heart, skin, eyes etc.) so a good breeder is essential!

In my experience Show Cockers are more chilled than workers but again still love their training/walks. They can sometimes be more guardy than the others. It usually starts as a game when they are pups when they steal things and you chase them.
Its worth getting them to learn to retrieve/drop at an early age.

Workers can be a bit more bonkers! I have a 6 month old WCS. He’s been a star with my son.
He does need lots of walks and training but I find they are the more submissive of the spaniels. I’ve not had an aggressive WCS in 13 years of being a behaviourist!
If you have lots of time to train and want to walk lots then they’re a good choice.

All need training so get a good reward based class. Read up on games/training ideas you can use. All are great to train and love search and retrieve games.

All are generally loving and loyal (and goofy!)

Good luck with your choice!

Every cocker spaniel I have known has been utterly ball obsessed, extremely affectionate but prone to neediness thus wanting to sit right on top of you at all times and needing a good two to three hours strenuous exercise a day. There will be no day where you can just stroll gently around the park for 20 minutes because you don't feel well/got a hangover Personally I don't mind that - love a ball obsessed dog as they're so fun and easy to wear out - but they're not for the faint hearted so not sure how suitable for a first time owner.

As long as your up for the longs walks and training you'll be fine, westies are like the complete opposite, very laid back. Cocker spaniels are lovely dogs just need to be kept busy

This pretty much sums up our WCS, though we do have the occasional day of shorter walks. It tends to lead to him pestering me to play with his toys come the evening which is fine.

He is our first dog, and actually on the whole has been remarkably easy. People regularly comment on how well behaved he is, I think we have just been very lucky.

I have a show cocker, I would not have another!
He is lovely but does not like people in his own personal space which can make sitting down fir a cuppa during a walk very difficult.
They are prone to ear infections and there’s an increase in them having patella problems, mine has had both knees repaired.
That said they are very loyal and loving dogs, their brains need as much work if not more than their bodies.
Hes slowing down now at 11.5 but can easily still handle a good hours walk and then still be up for more, his off button has only just started to work.
Good insurance is essential, mine has cost a fortune over his years and the insurance although very expensive per month for his age has paid out more than we’ve paid in.
I’ve just had a retriever puppy join our family, an absolute doddle so far in relation to how my cocker is!

I have one who was my first dog. He’s 6 now. All good. Beautiful dogs

Yep!

No one would ever get a dog if they listened to some of the hysteria on here.
Op has already said she has lots of time and lives somewhere that sounds perfect.

I’ve had 2 cockers in my life and met plenty more. They’re generally happy, energetic dogs that will go all day. But they will also cuddle and sit at your feet (on your lap preferably) for hours. They get separation anxiety and mine struggled to be left. I wouldn’t have been able to put them into kennels, for example. Even going into a shop (the days where you could tie them up outside) invoked howling and coming out to a crowd of people trying to console them. Having said that mine were able to be left at home for 4-5 hours or so. The neighbour used to pop in and said they were settled. They like snuffling through undergrowth and they will get a smell and be off, recall is a challenge when they’re young. They’re also hard work on the lead and it needs training but they will rarely be easy on leads. They were also chewers but a lot of dogs are. Mine were great with children but like any breed that can vary. Just research your breeder carefully. I’m debating getting another when I retire but might opt for a calmer breed.

A Cavalier would be a much easier dog. I've had both. Cavaliers are a lot quieter & lovely affectionate dogs. They're happy to sit quietly on the sofa & be cuddled a lot. Cockers are wonderful family dogs with real character & yes real naughtiness. Both ours had medical issues that cost a lot. In the latter months in our Cockers life we were paying over £400 a month in meds alone. Plus a special expensive diet & monthly vets fees on top. So they're very expensive. But I wouldn't hesitate to recommend both for different setups.

Not mad if you do your research and can provide what the dog needs.
My SIL recently decided to get a dog- was initially looking at small terrier types but after some research found a greyhound actually best suited her circumstances- she contacted a breed specific rescue and was lucky enough to be matched with a lovely dog quite quickly.

As others have said speak to breeders, go to shows and meet owners. Be prepared to wait as good breeders often don’t produce litters very often and can have a waiting list of people wanting their dogs.

As a side note if you decide to go down the westie route look at cairns too- the westie breed originated from cairns and they are a lovely breed (I may be biased as I grew up with cairns).

We have the most chilled working cocker, would recommend he was our first dog. He is also amazing with children and has never bitten, we got our cocker when I was pregnant with our first child. I grew up with springer spaniels, so new what we were expecting. My husband and I are keen runners, so our Cocker normally gets one long run a day 8km+, but for the rest of the day he’s super chilled. My parents have a cocker also who’s very good with kids, but is unfortunately the crazy variety, but still lovely!!

I've got a westie and a cocker. The cocker was a rehome from work - I was her fourth home before she was three years old, so that has no doubt impacted her.

Very different dogs. The cockers tail NEVER stops wagging - it's incessant. The westie wags too, but he has a teeny little tail. He's learnt to lift his head and close his eyes as he's whacked in the face constantly.

Cocker rarely engages with other dogs and prefers to do her own thing. The westie is everyone's bestie and loves a rough and tumble.

I find terriers live up to their terror reputation. Westie breed standard refers to varminty - they certainly are. Cheekiest little rascal.

The cocker is a lovely little dog and people like patting her because she's very soft. Her coat was ruined by being clipped and gets hideously knotty.

Cocker - good obedience, pulls like a train on the lead - took years of work to undo that. Friendly but will chase the westie off bones etc if she thinks I'm not around. Other issues from her years pre me, so not fair to mention.

Westie - obedience has improved with age, walks beautifully. The breed is known for westitude. The breed is also known for skin issues, so take your time finding a good breeder.

Grooming - I groom them myself. You need to get the weight out of the cockers ears by clipping top third inside and out. Thin length if needed and clear ear canal. Westie has never been clipped and has a proper coarse coat. It will tangle but doesn't matt and it is surprisingly self cleaning. I use a Mars Coat king to remove the undercoat on both and they snooze through that.

Exercise - we're active but don't need the hours others keep quoting. Both are far less energetic than my staffy was. He was non stop energiser bunny with the ability to wreak utter devastation if insufficiently occupied. Probably why these two seem easy .

Spaniels and terriers are very different. Think about the things you want to do with your dogs, the temperament you are after (eg I like cheekiness and confidence) and then read the breed standards to see which fits your lifestyle. If you get a retriever and don't want it to retrieve, you'll both be miserable. Don't try to make a dog fit you. Pick one that will mesh from the start. The breed standards are the best place to start as breeds have pretty consistent traits. Then find a good breeder and let them select the pup from the litter for you. They're best placed to match the pups personality with the right person.

The hoops you have to jump through though make it near impossible. We have a cat and a kid and wanted a rescue Whippet. Absolutely no chance.

We ended up buying a pup and he’s brilliant with both!

I have a show cocker spaniel, and he is the softest most loyal dog! Show cockers in particular are much less work, he is happy to curl up as he is to go out on a walk. He is amazing with children and is such a lovely natured dog. I recommend a show cocker any day of the week!

You need to exercise them a lot and that’s the same with any dog. My sisters have dogs, they are always well trained and walked a lot plus due to their working patterns were never left for large amounts of time. When we wanted to get a pet DH wanted a dog, he has never had one. We had one when I was a child. Our working patterns would have meant a dog would have been alone from 8.30 till 6pm, that was never happening as it’s unkind.

So we got a rescue cat, both of us have had cats. She is old now and I retired a couple of years ago which ended up being great timing as she doesn’t like to be alone for long now though she never used to care. So between me being retired and DH working from home quite a bit she has company. When it was pissing down with rain for a week recently I said I’m so glad we don’t have a dog because you need to take them out whatever the weather. Last week at 30 degrees you needed to be out by 7 so it’s still cool enough for them. I used to have a shitty commute and was out early now I want to take a time getting up

Really look at your lifestyle it’s irrelevant how nice an owner you will be, you have to be devoted and fit your life around them. I lived in a flat years ago and the ruddy dog next door barked when left alone as it was unhappy, just really unkind to the dog and a detriment for the neighbours.

I’ve always re homed labradors that people haven’t had the time for, really sad. Why not try a charity first and give some poor little dog a fabulous home, it is so rewarding.

We have an American cocker and he’s a brilliant dog. Previously had bigger dogs (Caucasian shepherds) we also have 2 children who he is brilliant with and no resource guarding at all.

But like others have mentioned, consistent training both physical and brain stimulus. I have been very consistent with him and very intelligent (knows when walked are, treats are, ask for treats, no begging at the table or greedy with food and has never once growled when touching his food or toys at all). They’re easy to manage and a great, loyal addition.
Separation anxiety can be an issue but I would once trained thoroughly, leave short blocks alone on very short blocks when going out and the occasional kennel stay etc.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

We are on our second cocker spaniel - would highly recommend. Our first was a working cocker and was fairly hyper, this one is incredibly chilled in comparison (is half show/half working). I would recommend meeting the parents and judging their temperament as it is often inherited. I would be reluctant to have a working cocker again. I loved him, but he rarely settled! We have children and have never had an issue with resource guarding with either dog. You could take his dinner off him with no ill effects (I wouldn’t, but you could). No separation anxiety either once they were past the puppy stage.

If you want to do lots of activities then get a cocker, if you're more of a couch potato, a cavi. Westies can be annoying and yappy like most terriers. But do get a show line not a working line and take care to not let them resource guard. This means that you never take anything from them, and teach them to swap.

This is from the Dog Training Advice and Support group on Facebook which I recommend joining:

Preventing food guarding at mealtimes is easy. Allow puppy to eat in peace. If you have more than one dog then feed them separately and teach them that humans near their food bowl are always there for the sole purpose of adding a tasty treat to the bowl. Don't be persuaded that you need to take your dog's food away or put your hand in the bowl whilst they eat to make them tolerant because you risk doing exactly the opposite and triggering resource guarding.

What is slightly more difficult when you have a puppy is preventing guarding of found or 'stolen' items. Puppies tend to investigate everything they find by picking it up in their mouth whether that be stones from the garden, the children's toys or anything that you left within reach. This is particularly relevant to gun dog breeds because they are hardwired to pick up and carry and always want to have something in their mouth.

By forcibly taking items from your pup's mouth especially if accompanied by getting a little cross with them for picking it up you are running the risk of teaching the puppy to avoid you, and when caught to guard the possession that is now theirs and you are trying to steal.

The solution is to teach your puppy to 'give' so that you never have to 'take'.

To do this sit on the floor with a pile of toys and encourage puppy to bring them back after you have rolled them away. By sitting on the floor you are not tempted to move towards him. When he comes close whilst he is holding something then tell him what a good boy he is whilst giving him bum or shoulder scritches. Do not put your hand near his mouth. Do not want what he has in his mouth.

He will probably drop the toy at some point and then you can throw it again. If he's a foodie then a food reward for dropping is a good plan. Don't use food as a bribe though only fetch it from your pocket after he drops the toy. Once he's happily bringing toys and dropping them in your lap or your hand add in other items, coasters, tea towels, anything that he might like to 'steal'. Then start working on him fetching stationary items as opposed to something you threw. Then generalise it to anywhere in the house. Leave things for him to pick up so that you can praise and reward him for doing so.

You should, if you approach this the right way end up with a dog that will bring you anything he finds regardless of whether he should have it or not whilst satisfying his need to find, hold and carry. Some people may consider it a chore to have your dog bringing things to you all the time but it's preferable to 'stealing and guarding' and it can be toned down later if required by only rewarding if you ask him to 'fetch'.

If your puppy is already guarding 'stolen' items the it is important that you don't leave anything dangerous or valuable within his reach whilst you work on the above. If he he does get hold of something then either let him have it, if it's safe or if it isn't create a diversion such as a knock on the door, scattering food on the floor or getting his lead out for a walk. This will only work once or twice though so keep that for an emergency.

If your puppy is already guarding food, resting places, toys or even you then please seek professional advice from a reputable force free trainer or behaviourist.

Written by Sally Bradbury

copyright www.facebook.com/JackandBillyPuppyTales/

We have 2 working Cockers. Rehomed both, both amazing. Fit into family life perfectly and don’t require the legs walked off them or anything else that people say.

We have a show cockers, and I’ve always had them growing up. Really lovely family pets.

Perhaps we’ve had unusual experiences but ours are fairly placid and definitely not bonkers/hyper. Very gentle, affectionate and eager to please (which made them easy to train). Happy to walk for hours but equally happy to loll about on the sofa. They get an hour off the lead during the day and 15 mins stroll on the lead in the evening - they seem perfectly happy with that.

In terms of grooming, they get a pet clip every 6 weeks so are short all over - much easier to manage than the traditional cocker clip and keeps their ears healthy.

Highly recommend them.

I've had various breeds over the years and a cocker was our first family dog over 40 years ago. I was distraught when he had to be pts because he was an extreme resource guarder and we all got bitten plus a few of my friends. After him we got a golden retriever who was absolutely perfect in terms of a stable family pet with teens coming and going. Once married with my own children I wanted a low energy dog so several Pugs came along followed by my two Newfoundlands. The Pugs and Newfies are perfect for my lifestyle but Newfies are very high maintenance when it comes to their coats/would be very uncomfortable on long walks in the heat, but then so are Pugs, because of their flat faces. Neither are good for people who want to go hiking!
Go with what suits your lifestyle and make sure you go to a breeder who can show you the health test certificates for mum and dad. If they can't do that, avoid like the plague.

www.champdogs.co.uk/?classic_site=1

is one of the best websites to peruse as many breeders display their health testing.
Also a UK Cocker breed club will be a good place to start.
Good luck and enjoy your new doggy pal!