Asked to reserve puppy on DOB

[FindusLasagne]

Hi all - we would like a working cocker and the breeder has said the system is that all those in wait list tend to choose a pup on day they’re born (via FaceTime).

Now, I thought it was advised on here that to choose a puppy you should spend time with them (once older obvs, not day one) to see temperament etc.

How does that work if chosen when they are born?

Very similar story with one of our neighbours. Have had several behaviourists. Only the Husband can walk him. The dog literally runs around the lounge in a constant loop and never settles. The Wife is in tears most days.

I wouldn't have a working cocker. My DDog is also bred for working. She will walk for miles. Does like some metal stimulation but will also settle on the sofa with us and have a cuddle. That's the bit our neighbours never get with their DDog.

I wouldn't go that far. But I'd have expected them to have quizzed any prospective owner heavily over why they wanted a working breed which doesn't sound like it's the case here.

We got a working dog for our first but had very specific reasons for doing so. Every breeder we spoke to questioned us as to why we wanted a working breed.

I do wonder about those cockers who are completely mental. I am a first time dog owner with a working cocker, and have put a lot of effort into research and training so far. He is chill as anything in the house. At our gundog class there was another pup who was wild, just completely intense 24/7. Is it genetics, breeding, just pure luck? I'd love to have some more insight into it.

With our pup, they were all going to working homes apart from us. The breeder selected which pups he thought were suitable for each person (one went to mountain rescue and two to be ivory detection dogs). He knew we weren't a working home and grilled the hell out of us before saying yes. I agree with others to do your research - we were lucky that we have an excellent breeder just the next village over so didn't have to travel but be prepared to travel for a good pup, and also be prepared that good breeders will have a long waiting list.

I would walk away from this one and carry on looking.

We had lots of long conversations with our breeder before we met the pups for the first time at 2 weeks. By 6 weeks she had 2 (out of 9) she thought would be suitable for us and he basically picked us by climbing into my DSs lap! It was a 7 hour round trip but we did it 3 times to make sure we were right for him and vice versa.

I don’t fully agree that working spaniels can’t be a first dog - mine is a Springer and our first. However we did do huge amounts of research and had gundog/enrichment type trainers we had spoken to before we got him. My DC were in secondary and I do a very small amount of work self employed from home so could easily take 6 months off to fully be with pup and long term base my day around him. He’s now 3 and an incredible dog but he does take up a significant amount of my time. I’m out with him for 2/3 hours a day with a bagful of dummies and various toys, I do a weekly activity (alternate hoopers and scent work) and on average a monthly 2/3 hour workshop with my gundog trainer. He settles beautifully at home but only if he gets that ‘work’ outlet. My walks aren’t a wander in the park with him snuffling around either, they are out in woods and countryside doing hunts and retrieves.

You might be lucky and get one who is very calm and pet like but you do need to be prepared if you get a high drive one they need to be able to fulfil that instinct or you’ll end up with a dog with behaviour issues and is unhappy which is not fair.

Ask yourself honestly can you offer the life they need then go ahead, if not go for a less high maintenance breed!

My friend had a sprocket and it incessantly chased bikes on our walks. I used to dread meeting up and had to stop. Imo all the spaniel breeds are much, much harder work than people expect. People love their size and looks but they are not easy and I personally wouldn't get one - and I have 2 bernese mountain dogs, which people think must be hard work but in reality are chilled dogs who sleep for hours.

@FindusLasagne - you got a lot of negative advice about getting a Working Cooker Spaniel.
Here is my advice. Firstly, don't get the puppy without seeing mum (and Dad) and don't pay a deposit from a picture or a video call. Meet the breeder and mum in person and on their premises. This should get you an idea about your puppies early days and temperament of the parents.
Secondly most well behaved working breed dogs you meet on your walks have undergone some formal training. Or at least have very experienced owners.
That's 18-24 months of committing to formal training plus practice at home.
If your heart is set on one, maybe explore the training and K9 sports options in your area to get the body and brain working. There is the obvious of gun dog training but you could also explore Obedience, Flyball, Rally, Agility,...
These are great fun, you don't have to compete but it would give the dog an outlet and make them a happier pet.

PS I have a failed pet dog that I rescued. It took a lot of time and commitment to make her happy and content. I take her to Agility, and once she's in the ring she's super focused on me, will follow every comand, reads my body language for clues of what to do next. She's also really quick learning new things. Working in partnership with her human is what this dog was bred for. Keep this ^ in mind if you get a working line cooker and you are struggling with their exuberant energy!

We spent quite a bit of time with all the puppies, we spoke to the breeder beforehand to discuss what the dog was for, pet and training to be an assistance dog, and she plus one other pup were suggested as the most sensible personality wise, we absolutely chose correctly IMO, plus new born pups shouldn't really be available - just EOI til older

Just another post in defence of WCS's.
They are all different, mine is from strong working lines and is 9 months old.
He's like a sloth in the house he's so chilled out. He never chewed, was never bitey, no resource guarding, no separation anxiety.
He did take a while to house train, and he was a nightmare on a lead for quite some time, but with training and patience we've pretty much resolved that.
They are incredibly intelligent dogs and very trainable. Get a good one from a good breeder, meet the parents and see their nature, and you'll get out of one what you put in.

... and one las note from me.
Have a look outside. Watch the wind & rain, check the temperature.

Do you fancy a walk?
My rescue would say: There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing!

Definitely not normal. It's fair enough to say early on if you want a boy or girl, but you'd usually meet the litter at a few weeks old and make your decision then based on pups personality, your lifestyle etc. It's the most fun bit - getting to meet the litter and pick (or see which one picks you :-D )

I've known a few people put down a deposit, before a litter is born. We met ours first at 2 weeks, plus mum and dad (border collie) then she was given her name so she got used to it. Had regular video calls and collected her at 7 weeks. Mum had lost interest, she was weaned and we have had lots of borders. They were farm bred. She did turn people down, one who lives in a flat, and some who had never had borders before.

I am an agility trainer and all round working dog geek. I would not touch a WCS with a barge pole. They are mostly huge amounts of work and really need so much input. When I wanted a small lively, trainable and hardy dog I bought a working border terrier. She’s fabulous. Will walk all day, competes in Rally obedience and trains in agility (and has been easier than the WCS in our group!) but once her needs are met then she is really chilled in the house. Her hunting instinct is very manageable and she lives happily with our elderly cat. She’s terrier busy (read:nosy) but settles down and is a great lap buddy for lazy afternoons.

I have taught many and the vast majority struggle in pet homes. A lot have significant issues even in experienced homes. They need a job. Not just exercise and training.

Ooh would it be too outing to say which breed?? So curious :)

A cocker isn't a great choice for your first dog op. They are hard, hard work. Their energy never ends. You'd have to be out in the shitty weather for hours. Every day. They get bored easily and chew and destroy things.

My friend is sadly having to rehome her cocker spaniel and she's a very experienced dog owner and also a very reputable full time dog walker with a huge client base. Really makes you think.

I'm not saying don't do it just think really carefully.

Would you consider adopting an ex race greyhound? There are so many in need of loving homes and my boy is a piece of cake compared to a cocker. He has 2 30 min walks a day and a weekly off lead run in a secure field and the rest of the time he's very happy chilling on our sofa. Very kind and gentle and great with my kids, perfect really.

I agree with everyone saying that a WCS is not an ideal first dog.

You may get lucky and get one who is chilled in the house and has no working drive on walks, but the reality is that mos of them aren't suited to pet homes unless they're worked on top of a normal exercise routine.

I work with dogs and absolutely love cockers - for an hour - then I'm very very glad to hand them back to their owners, lol. They are a lot of dog in a very small package and if you don't get it right, you can be in a lot of trouble.

Inexperienced dog people should not have a working breed as their first dog even if you have acres around you.

Please reconsider the breed choice and never buy or reserve a dog without seeing it's living conditions, the mother, the rest of the litter and the dog itself.

I’ve got a collie x flat coat retriever, a dobermann and a yorkie - and I wouldn’t touch a working cocker!
Honestly, I’ve met the very odd one or two who are highly trained and this calm, but that’s from very experienced owners, they’re just such a full on busy breed! I know I couldn’t handle one and I have a tricky bunch of dogs!!

THIS^^
If the breeder has never met you, knows you are a first time owner who 'prefers the look' of a working dog based on having seen some out / in pictures and wants you to pick a dog from a photo... they absolutely do not have you or the pup's best interests at heart

Brand new puppies just look like furry slugs. They might not even remain the colour they are as newborns into adulthood.

It's madness to ask you to pick based on a photo, ever, and even more than that when extremely young.

I suspect you were grilled to establish if you would be providing a suitably active life for the dog, even if that activity wasn't working.

And then yes, genetics would have also come in to play, as I'd be ready to bet that you got the least driven, most chilled of the litter.

I agree with a lot of the advice you’ve been given re WCS. I know a lot who live around here, and even those who are experienced dog owners with a lot of time on their hands find them full-on.
I have a show cocker and keep him clipped short year round as he’s a bugger for getting in muddy ditches, and it keeps the grass seeds at bay. Loads of people ask if he’s a WCS, as he doesn’t have that classic glam show cocker look. He has stamina for a full day in the hills when we go on hols, can go for a run with me and keep up, but is chill around the house and just slobs about all day, and is a cuddle monster. Perfect combo

My friends were reserved before the pregnancy but she doesn't ask them to choose that soon. People just generally let her know that if she has another litter they want a puppy but she doesn't breed often

Bernese mountain dogs

Huh? I’m baffled by this. We chose this breed and did our research. I’ll only ever have wcs - I’m a cocker mum through and through. He’s 4 and the best thing we ever did. Obedient and full of energy in a field or forest, super chilled at home.