they arent putting them into rescue because they are working cockers, they are not coping with cockers, which has been a problem for years as people treat them like lap dogs, spoil them and dont train them.
which is why I think some col'ers are concerned when people get dogs that *may* be more than they bargained for....
I suspect I am one of the members who is considered to put "the fear of god" into unprepared new members who have inadvertently bought a working strain cocker
My reasons? Because the "average" dog owners where I live don't give their dog 1-2 hours exercise per day with the occasional day off like Rhona gives her dogs
Average owners in my area don't take their dog to training classes and learn how to set boundaries and train obedience, don't play games with them at home, don't accept that their kitchen will be chewed and their mobile phone destroyed, and don't, in many cases, treat their dogs "like dogs"
You won't meet these "average owners" at the places you regularly go with your dogs, you will meet them at the water cooler, or the school gate, or working in the corner shop - you may have known them for years, and suddenly find out that they "have a dog".....but their dog doesn't play the same role in their lives as your dog does in your life, and they may consider you slightly eccentric for the dedication and time you spend with yours
How do we know if a new owner to COL is an "average" owner, and is unprepared for ownership ? If they are, then they need to learn, quick, about the potential of the dog they have bought.
Well bred working dogs are not selected for their ability to be pets - they are tools for a job; selectively bred for specific traits and skills. Even the least "able" working-strain dog from a selectively bred litter will have much stronger instincts to work than a dog selectively bred for appearance (such as a show strain cocker). That is not my opinion, that is a biological fact which cannot be ignored.
The unique demands of a working strain cocker spaniel are as significant in their own way as the grooming needs of a show strain; some show strain cockers have coats that matt at a glance and need hours of work, others have coats that need a quick brush every day (I have one of each)
Similarly, a working strain dog may be easy-going and content to fit in, but may equally be demanding and become bored, destructive and distressed (as previous posts on COL evidence).
When you take on a puppy, you don't know what you are going to get - and imo, it is best for a new, especially inexperienced owner, to prepare for all possibilities - for them to be aware of how their dog has been bred to behave, to gain the skills to train their dog, to read about how dogs think, learn about daycare/walking services in their area; so if they need them, then they already know where to turn and what to do
There is no point in waiting for a show strain cockers fur to become matted before they are sent to the groomers; brushing needs to become part of a daily routine from day one
just in case the dog develops a high-maintenance coat (which is fairly likely with a show strain cocker). imo, it is the same with working strains of dog - owners need to instil a routine of mental stimulation from an early age, in case their dog does become one which has a high working drive that needs channelling (which is fairly likely with a working strain dog)
FWIW - I do not limit this to working strain cockers; any breed that is selectively bred to work needs, imo, a more-than-average home
