Working cocker vs show?

[Ostryga]

I’m planning on a pup next year, Dd will be 7.5 and haven’t had a dog since she was born.

My last dog was a WCS, she died of old age when I was 6 months pregnant. I am a spaniel owner, definitely don’t want anything else.

I wfh, live in a city but I’m a 5 min walk from a 184 hectare heath and a 10 min walk from a proper fenced in dog park for training.

I love working dogs, but wondering if with Dd, after school clubs, little friends over etc a show type might be better suited to family life? Are they as bonkers as WCS? Obviously still need brain exercise etc but are they as full on?

I wouldn’t personally have a cocker around very small children, especially potentially not dog savvy children as they are so prone to resource guarding. If you’re sold on a cocker definitely a show line.

But no nowhere near as intense.

working cockers are also ideal in family situations with children. show cockers do need a lot of grooming and american cockers need even more grooming. at least you can train a gundog to play fetch with the children and they will have hours grabbing anything to run away with children chasing after them. Teach the puppy to expect food bowls to be removed while they are eating and also pretend to eat out their bowl, this stops them from guarding their food

I have a working sprocker (both working parents) and no issues with resource guarding at all, but we proactively planned for it and trained swaps etc as well as making sure he’s never disturbed when eating. He is great with the kids but is obviously very high-energy and needs a lot of training. Our biggest issue was separation anxiety tbh, which was horrendous until we got him on Prozac. He’s fine now but it was awful for 18m, couldn’t be left alone at all. It’s put me off owning another spaniel as they are apparently known to be prone to SA.

Apologies for the bluntness but this is terrible advice. “Teach the puppy to expect food bowls to be removed while they are eating” - this is far more likely to trigger resource guarding than prevent it. Would you be less or more protective of your food if you thought that at any moment while you were enjoying a delicious meal, someone was going to come and whip your plate away?! You prevent food guarding by never, ever taking the dog’s food away, so they never perceive a threat to their food source, and instead by going near the dog’s bowl to add tasty things to it. My dog is 2 now and I still make a point of occasionally going to his bowl while he’s eating to drop a bit of chicken or sausage in it. He’s not remotely bothered about anyone going near him while he eats as it has only ever resulted in positive experiences for him.

Having only had shows myself and a number of friends having working cockers.

The difference we all comment is the shows don’t stop talking and the workers don’t sit still!

I’m not a spaniel person but I have trained many in agility and some obedience work. It really depends on the heritage and lines. I know some workers that are very manageable and some show line that are bonkers! Most people I know that struggle with theirs are ‘pet’ owners who just turn up one day and buy a pup with no research. A lot don’t know there is a difference. seriously.

I think any spaniel (or working breed - I’ve got a terrier pup) needs a fair amount of input when young to ensure a stable adult. You get out what you put in…unless you have a terrier then it’s high input for a very modest return 😂

Thank you all so much! My last cocker was from a fab breeder and my girl was such a dreamy cocker. I think I’m stressing because I want her back again. I would 100% use my last breeder - they are amazing. But I want to go back in time and pick my girl again. So now I’m second guessing myself when I know I want a working cocker

Personally I wouldn't get any kind of cocker spaniel in the situation you describe.

Why?

Definitely working cocker - I have three and they are just so loving and gentle. However we have had resource guarding too but only dog against dog. No aggression towards us ever.

Welsh springer spaniels (the breed, not springer spaniels from wales) are smaller than English springer spaniels, only come in red and white coats, and are generally very laid back compared to other spaniel breeds, while still being very much a spaniel. They were a breed contributor to parti-colour cocker spaniels.

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/gundog/spaniel-welsh-springer/

Have you thought about a cav? Great with kids, ideal city dog and if you get one from a properly health screening breeder they are grand dogs.

I want my girl back/again too!

There are a lot of breeds I would love to have, but, like you, I'm a spaniel person!

my best girl was a show girl. Physically Perfect to show, but the wrong temperament & the wrong master (showing not my thing at all). She was as mad as a box of frogs. I loved every hair on her (not quite so much the ones distributed everywhere else!!)

Sorry, but I don’t think a city dog park or heath is going to be enough for a working cocker. Mine have all liked really long walks and, also, a variety of walks.

Because they're high-energy, intense and need a huge amount of input. They can also be prone to resource guarding and you have a fairly young child in the house.

I absolutely adore cocker spaniels but they're a lot of dog in a small body. I know you've had them before but don't underestimate how different dog ownership is when you have the routine and needs of a young child to consider. Your DD is too young to stay home so she'll have to join you on all the dog walks, even when she's sick and it's pissing down rain.

I wouldn’t get a working cocker unless you plan to work it or live in the countryside.

Mine needs 1.5 hours off lead run a day through fields and woods to keep her happy, plus brain training and agility. She also has a high prey drive for which she’s had years of training, but still considers chasing down and nipping running DC.

First year with a cocker is intense but then you’re set with the most amazing dog. We have a working cocker and he’s so cuddly at home and busy when out. Not ideal for lead walking round the block but fab in fields and woods.

my experience is show cockers are more highly strung and bark. Our wc hardly ever barks - he does a single bark and sits and stares at us if he needs a wee but that’s very rare and only if we got busy and forgot the time. He also does hilarious howls if a siren goes by like he’s trying to join in but stops when you say his name. Only does it if he’s in the garden when it happens. He’s totally chilled at home and has never snapped. We recently had a baby visit and we were very cautious but he was so so gentle. Fabulous dogs.

Main advice from me is to meet the mum, dad and if possible other dogs from previous litter so you can see the temperament.

@Ilovemydoggie that’s interesting. Mine only chases dc when given permission/invited to do so. Never a sign of nipping. He did chase birds when young but not now, lots of training and bits of hot dog sausage was needed. He snuggles with our rabbit. Squirrels are his weakness - they drive him nuts.