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 cavaliers...they are easiest dogs in the world.
If you have small children or visiting small children that they are probably the most tolerant . Though I would never trust 100% any dog.

Cavs are simple ..calm, love Hoomins, trainable , biddable, can be lazy ( so if it is bucketing down you can skip a walk ) , small enough to make transporting, grooming, bathing etc easy...

I always recommend for first time owners if there are children about.

But if you have more time and want to do more training , or things like agility etc then a cocker would be a good choice

I had a cavalier as a child, and now have a show cocker.

It really depends what you're after.

I don't recognise a lot of the drama being talked about on here.

A good breeder will pick one that suits your temperament.

Ours is a delight. Very affectionate, very good at picking up on emotions etc.

He doesn't need hours of walking everyday. He gets an hour once a day, half of which is off lead in the woods. I'd say that is necessary as they really do like the try out their 'triangulation'. He's very active on ours walks but then very happy to laze around the rest of the day. He doesn't shed very much either. Or bark.

The only real issue we have from him is stealing food from the table if given half the chance. The vet says she makes more spaniels sick than any other.

If you will continue your commitment to training and giving the necessary exercise, no. But can you actually commit to it daily? We got a labradoodle as a buddy for my SEN child, who struggles with peer relationships & he’s amazing, but I admit I have let him down at times due to kids, illness etc meaning I couldn’t keep up with what he needed. And when that happens, he is hard to manage, although he has ALWAYS committed to his job of being my boys best friend! They need a lot, all of the time. Not just when you can give it! Our boy gets that now, I make it a priority, and he is awesome, but it definitely seems less of a commitment on paper than in real life. Can you make that commitment for the dogs entire life?

Spaniels can be the most wonderful dogs. We have a 5 year old working cocker, who is brilliant - she is rarely on a lead and is known to run off when allowed to but only in areas of safety (eg forests/fields with no nearby roads) and tbh is generally worse for her walker than us! She’s our first but my family had another when I was a teenager and she was very similar.
She is full of energy when out on a walk but very chilled when at home. So trainable, she wants to please. I know a lot of show cockers who don’t have the same drive to please so have been trickier to train but still have the same energy levels. As long as you are happy to put the time and effort in with proper classes they can be the best companions.

I have a working lab and my sister has 1 show cocker and 1 working cocker.

my Lab is obviously much bigger, but isn’t huge for a lab. He’s definitely easier than both the cockers. Active but definitely has an off button which her working cocker does not. Better recall and far less needy (he is incredibly loving though)

just another option maybe to consider

Ive had a bunch of springers and they were brilliant with small kids.

I've had one cocker and much as I loved him he was so much hard work. I'd never get another. He ended up getting cocker rage and bit 3 people in the space of 3 weeks and had to be put down. Fortunately he was almost toothless at that point.

I got a Sprocker spaniel as our first dog. Spaniels only have 2 speeds, stop and go. There's no middle 😂. But super lovely dog, really friendly and intelligent and has been really patient with my young child, right from being a baby. No issues with anxiety or resource guarding. When the dog was you get we would go out on long runs/ walks at weekend to tire him out. I wouldn't have any other type of dog now.

We've got a field trial line cocker.
He's a lovely little boy, extremely clever and loving but his energy levels / drive would be too much for most i would say.
He will run from room to room if you let him, never walks really and likes constant companionship.
Walks are more like training exercises and you have to be very careful to keep them in control or you can end up with a dog that's basically out of control hunting while you're chasing it around.