Cost of cocker spaniel?

[Rzim]

The right breeder/dog is more important to me than the cost - but equally don't want to pay hugely over the odds. I know costs have increased significantly - but I wondered if there's such thing as an average price for a pedigree working cocker spaniel - and out of interest is there a price difference between working/show cockers? I know bitches are normally more expensive than dogs.

Is this a stupid question - how long is a piece of string! Thx x

We occasionally breed our working Spingers, Field Trial Champions and Field Trial Winners (FTCH FTW) Look for these when searching.

Which is great if you know what you're letting yourself in for (I have a gundog out of a FTW dam) but if the OP is looking for a pet, mebbe not so much.

If you want a WCS you need to work it. Every day. In something.

If you want small active working type that isn’t a spaniel then consider a terrier. They are very much more energy on demand. Happy to chill in the house but equally happy walking or training all day.

Just look on the KC website and chat to some of the breeders on there.

Totally agree. I think cockers are the least relaxed dogs ever! We looked after one for a few months when it's owner was sick. Drove me nuts!

We paid £600 for our working cocker in 2017 but was from a friend so think he was probably cheaper than average. The lovely boy is definitely worth far more, they are delightful dogs.

Super helpful advice many many thanks. I have had a rethink thanks to you all, and now realise I will be better with a show cocker spaniel which is what my first lovely dog was - so this is the route I will now go down.

Many thx Mumsnet! X

We have a working cocker. We paid £1k and tbh we were very lucky as she is the loveliest dog. We bought her from a member of staff at the yard where we keep our horses. We never saw mum but all puppies and mum were homed through people we know.
She is extremely full on and could work all day. I love her but I wouldn't have another one!

Good choice OP 👍

Was just about to say the same thing-
Any Field champion or Lure Coursing/coursing line dog has been selected over generations for that ability.
It will have that innate drive but even stronger as the parents are good at what they do.

@Rzim A very wise and sensible choice!
I LOVE Lurchers, but know a working dog isn’t for me now - I had to step down on activity levels with a Whippet (not as relentless as a Lurcher)
A Show line sounds a really good choice.
Happy Dog= Happy owner 🥰

Thank you xxx

When you do get your Pup, wether from reputable breeder or a rescue centre, do post on here about him/her...
Spring and Summer are on their way, meaning {hopefully} less mud!

I am biased as I have a show cocker (photo added for the dog tax 😉)

She was my first ever dog bought after my 40th. She will be 12 this year, the time has gone by too fast. She was £650 back then and I am a bit shocked by how much she would be now.

I would love another after her but I worry about the breeder and making sure we got a good one. We were really lucky with ours. I originally looked at a breeder in the West Country but we couldn't quite stretch to their price. We'd already upped it from £250 after seeing just what was available, poor puppies and their mums 😢
Anyway, I kept looking and found someone about 15 minutes drive away with the second litter from her dog as she wanted a puppy for herself, who would then be spayed. Her dog was bred with a male from the breeder I mentioned above! Same dad but for much less than they would have charged us.
She was an excellent breeder. We had so many updates and photos, all of which were put onto cds for the new owners. She slept downstairs with them for many weeks to make sure the puppies were ok. We had to write a detailed letter explaining why we would be a good choice for one of her puppies. We all had to go there and see the mum and pay a deposit. My dogs mum was gorgeous. Such a lovely temperament. There were a lot of tears shed by her when we took our puppy home. I hope we have someone as good as she was next time.

What a very lovely story and well done breeder! X

This is our 18 week old show cocker. I had no joy from my local cocker spaniel association who said they couldn’t give details of breeders. I had to do lots of research to find her but her breeder was phenomenal, did early neurological stimulation with them and vetted us thoroughly.
Both parents health tested, Dad owned by a KC assured breeder, Mum from established lines.
She was £1600

God no not for pet owners who don't work their dog! Red lines should only be for working owners who know how to harness the drive.
I work all of mine so specifically chose a pedigree with 80% red however she 100% wouldn't be suitable for a non-working home.

My working cocker was £3k 3 years ago, bred from champion working lines and she is a working gundog. She is also a family pet and is very loving and gentle. However she needs a lot of mental stimulation to keep her mind busy because that's what she's bred for so be prepared for lots of long walks otherwise they will get bored.
Prices haven't really dropped since the increase 3 years ago, working cockers are between £1500 and £2500 but that will depend if they're kc registered, the working lines they come from etc but not sure about show cockers

It's strange, but looking at this thred and reading up a bit more about working Coker Spaniels I can 100% say that my pet cookerpoo is definitely from working lines. (I rescued her at 6 months as previous family couldn't cope!)
She's a crazy Spaniel with a Poodle brain!
I'm so happy because she's ace at doggy sports, but couldn't survive as a pet!

Here she is in her Christmas nighty, bit you can clearly see the working Coker Spaniel!

I have several working line cockers and they are all asleep including the four twelve week old pups. They are not constantly on the go because they have been family raised. Some have done field work and others haven't.
All great with adults and children and delightful company.
You mostly get out what you put in as long as you start with a well bred animal and remember they are animals not babies.

We paid £1350 for our show cocker if that helps you OP

Thank you x