Working Cockers? What are the differences?

[Cob-Web]

The people of IOW have no excuse as they have the lovely beaches to walk on 

Sadly, the beaches are only around the edges  ........people living inland don't have walking distance access to beaches - my two dogs only go at weekends, days off or summer evenings because it is half an hour a way and I have a car 

I don't know if dog-ownership techniques vary based on geography or socio-demographics; perhaps some areas really don't need rescue centres or pounds?

My own belief is that these dogs exist everywhere, but they are often invisible as they are rarely taken out or even referred to in conversation; I have close colleagues whom I have shared an office with for over a year who have shared with me the intimate details of their love lives/childbirth/therapy - but never told me that they have a dog 

[Annette]

Same here really. Thankfully I don't know of any dogs that don't get regular daily exercise etc, if I did it would really bother me 

I'm not getting into this debate really (except to say that Buddy is 1/4 working type but although he would walk as far as we take him he loves to sleep on the couch!).

But,  reading these posts about dogs who aren't exercised, I think that this is the point really. We just won't see the ones who are not exercised will we? If we see them, then they are getting walked.

[catcmartin]

Hi all have just been reading this,  we didnt know when we first got charlie that he was a working cocker, however as he grew we soon realized what kind of exercise and stimulation he required.  My ESS was part of a liiter bred by the breeder to train 2 new dogs for working.  Now my ESS has no interest in working and is a couch potato.  Charlie my cocker however loves to spend hours on the golf course with my OH 'finding gold balls'   although since his spinal surgery we have had to reduce the hours as he wears himself out too much and develops major muscle spasms in his rear legs, but hey he cant tell the time so what used to be 4 hours 3 times a week at least is now 2 hours 3 times per week, this is as well as a 2 hour walk each day on lead as he cant walk off lead now as his front legs run faster than his back legs can keep up with.  Charlie my cocker is famous for the number of golf balls he seeks and finds.  The balls he finds are donated to the junior section or the oldies in the golf club for them to use.  In fact when charlie 'went down' paralyzed the oldie members who get the golf balls offered to club together to buy us a new dog if he didnt recover.  Needless to say we did not take them up on the offer as whether he walked again or not we would not have parted with him.   

[LesleyW]

I wanted a dog - to make ME walk! 

I had serious back/sciatic nerve issues earlier on in the year, and it was just the catalyst i needed when my chiro said "you MUST walk more...", I'd wanted a cocker for a while, and this was just the last push over the edge!

Now, I LOVE going out 3 times a day with Brack, the morning one wakes me up and gets my engine going for the day, the afternoon one is recreation only, and to enjoy the countryside and wildlife and see Bracken running round off lead, and the bedtime one polishes off the day!

I've probably lost a good half a stone since i got her, from walking and its still coming off - plus its had immeasureable benefits for my back..... 

[speedyjaney]

Saffi and Jessie are both busy little dogs but neither get (or demand) the exercise some of are talking about.

They are both only 4 and a bit and will be happy to only get 2 smallish lead walks a day...in fact today they have had one which was 20 mins long 

During the winter they don't get much off lead running either.....Jessie is nightmare to bathe myself so she goes to the groomers if she needs a bath....so needs to be booked in! So I cant allow her to get filthy 3 times a day.....I couldn't deal with it 

But they are both very happy girls.....who can walk for hours (and do in the summer months at the weekends) when we ask them to!

I know most of you will think this isnt enough but when we are in the house with them (and they have someone here almost all of the time) they are getting stimulation and training.....they sleep well and don't destroy things....and are well socialised and love meeting new people and dogs.....

Janey

[Jan/Billy]

Same here really. Thankfully I don't know of any dogs that don't get regular daily exercise etc, if I did it would really bother me 

I'm not getting into this debate really (except to say that Buddy is 1/4 working type but although he would walk as far as we take him he loves to sleep on the couch!).

But,  reading these posts about dogs who aren't exercised, I think that this is the point really. We just won't see the ones who are not exercised will we? If we see them, then they are getting walked.

What I meant was I see the same dogs every day. There aren't any dogs that are only out once in a blue moon IYSWIM.

[Karma]

Polly

- please don't let this discussion scare you about your future with your dog.  Yes, a dog from a working strain is more likely to require higher levels of stimulation, but this doesn't mean you have to give up your entire life around it.  We discovered that Honey is half worker when I looked at her Dad's pedigree - initially it scared us, as I had read all about the high energy levels and, although I have recently reduced my work hours we do both work, so she is left for a chunk of the working day.  However, then I considered my parent's dog (border collie, bought from a farm - a local vet actually begged my parents to buy her as he knew they were good dog owners) - now they both work full time, and have a significant social life, but they work it around what they know the dog needs and they have worked with her through some quite major fear issues, as well as being able to meet her physical and mental needs.  Sometimes this is just one walk, and play in the garden, other times it's a 5 hour hike in the hills (though she coped with just a 30-60min walk a day when Dad was unable to walk for 4 months). 

Look at your life and everything you do with the dog, and make it more challenging for the dog - something as simple as giving a biscuit treat can be made more stimulating by wrapping it up in paper/cardboard so they have to work to get to it.  Have a good variety of toys, do look at clicker training, and later soemthing like agility.  But the important thing is to enjoy your dog - if you are stressed because of trying to do too much this can be worse, as a dog will pick up on this.  It's amazing how many opportunities there are to add a challenge into everyday activities!!!!

I know there are a lot of people here who are deeply passionate about how they feel a dog should be looked after - and I truly respect them for that - but the reality is not everyone can give their dog an absolutely perfect life (my life has certainly not been perfect, and I am sure there are few of us who can claim we have had a perfect life) - what we, as dog owners, need to be sure of is that we consider our dogs at every stage of our life, and do the very best we can do for them.  Yes, there are people who get dogs who don't give them the time they need - but how many of those owners would be spending time researching their dog on the internet so that they find COL???

[KateandPolly]

Thanks Karma for your reply.  Believe me, its made me feel loads better.  Like you have said, I want to enjoy her and not stress about what we should be doing with her.  She has settled into our lives very well at the moment, she gets plenty of walks, cuddles and play. 

I will definitely start stimulating her more and I also want to look into agility training in the future. 

Thanks again.

Kate x

[Karma]

Though as I type Honey just stole her clicker..... 

Editted to add:

Though that made me realise I hadn't fed her yet (only half an hour late, but I think she was trying to tell me something!!!!)

Seriously though - it sounds like you are taking your responsibility very seriously, and I'm sure you will do her proud.  Keep everything fun, and be consistent.... and do ask on here for advise if you have any specific problems - there are many very experienced owners here who will be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[shakyjake]

Hi

I'm new to this..so please be gentle..I have come across this great site whilst doing some investigation into my pups breed. I have a 5 yr old show type* blue roan cocker spaniel called Jake, and (as K.C. registration papers say) a 7 month old blue roan cocker spaniel bitch called Izzie. When Izzie was about 3 months old I used to joke with my hubby that we'd been sold a springer! I get at Least 1 comment everyday whist out waking, people saying "Oh isn't she a lovely springer"  It doesn't bother us what she is any way we just love her to bits she has a happy, fiesty and adoreable temperament and gets on well with Jake (even though she can be a bossy boots)

* After my little bit  of research I think  that Izzie is a black & white ticked working cocker spaniel, but I'm not an expert so if anybody can help I would be very grateful.

I'll add pic (or at least try to) sorry it's not a very good one

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh163/shakyjakey/PICT0014.jpg

[Cazzie]

Awww they are adorable  She certainly looks like a working cocker  , she is lovely 

[*Lucy*]

Shakyjake - I'd deffinitely say you have one show and one worker!! You could post her Pedigree in the Pedigree Research section if you want and somebody would be able to deffinitely say one way or another - Maybe Izzie has some show lines in her?
My Honey is 1/4 worker and 3/4 show!

[Nicola]

Yes from that photo I would say without a doubt she is a worker. It's not very clear but from that photo I can't see any show type in her at all.

[Coco]

Kate,
As someone else said it's as much about any dog getting the mental and physical exercise it needs.
In Pollys case it will just be plenty of both.
Some people are built to relax daily, watch TV all day and are perfectly happy. Others need to be out and about and constantly learning and doing. If you trind to force each to swap places they'd get fed up pretty quickly and probably cheat or play up, it's the same with dogs.
You've got one who will need lots or doing and learning or she'll get a bit fed up and do stuff to entertain herself (like chewing the place up for fun and figuring out how to get out the gate and s0d off )
Seriously though, so long as she gets her needs catered for she'll be perfect.
If you do find she starts trying to run off, steals things etc think about her natural instincts and how to include them in her life without her trying to do it on her own and becoming a difficulty.
If she wants to hunt and retrieve, hide treats and throw a ball.  It's simple things, nowt to worry about. 

[shakyjake]

Thanks all for your help.  I have done a research page, even found some step siblings And can confirm she is a working cocker ..phew! Claire