Min, you made me laugh! Bonnie is all of those things, except at 18kg, she's a little bigger than your pocket rocket! Anytime I see a normal female cocker I can't help but go 'awww!'.
Gypsymum- like you I've have had a number of mutts and terriers over the years, and a working cocker spaniel is something else entirely. They keep you on your toes, will teach you about patience, and, in my view, be so rewarding you'll be hard-pressed to get another breed afterwards. I'm besotted.
You'll get so much good advice on here that I'll just offer one thing. If you train an athlete, you'll end up with an athlete. I think I tried to tire Bonnie out at first, and it just isn't going to happen. So for us the right amount of enriching activity and rest made for a more companionable companion. Since I stopped going for length of walk, and started going for quality of walk, it's made a big difference- she'll settle in the house much more easily now. (Apart from today when it was absolutely necessary to carry a stick longer than herself a mile home. She missed out on her sniffing and when she unceremoniously dumped the stick in the driveway and came indoors, she looked at me like 'will we have a proper walk now that I've sorted that out?').
She is nearly 3 now though too, so that might be helping! Waggawuffins has a great video about exercise, and some really good information on appropriate socialisation.
Looking forward to pics when the new button arrives.
Sheila and Bon
