Starting to get a little paranoid...

[k]

When looking into breeds for us I came across many who said workers din't make good pets but also many who said they did if exercised and mentally stimulated. It was me who really made the decision to get Bramble 2 years ago but we haven't looked back. He is lively and a bit mad at times but soon settles if there is no-one to play with and is a happy dog who loves everyone.I too have had the same comments from someone who lives nearby but his experience of the breed has been when out on a shoot when of course they never stop, so what does he know!! Commit the time to your dog and I'm sure you will have a smasher.

[Nicola]

At his socialisation class I always introduce Alfie as a "working cocker spaniel" and there is a little show cocker there as well so when its owner introduced it as a "cocker spaniel" the trainer taking the class asked "so will you be working her as well like Alfie?"

[janejohn]

You know you've done your homework on this breed and knew what you'd be in for , so as someone else said - just nod, smile and walk on by!!

Just enjoy him!

Jane

[Helen]

apart from the recent true-to-breed pheasant experience i am proud to have a mellow-at-home working cocker who is lying on my feet chewing a pigs ear and is very happy and content.

yes he is a *busy* boy when he's on his walks, and his constant excitement about life is contagious yet a little wearying.  and i don't think i walk further than anyone else with their dogs - he just covers the same ground 10x over in a rapid way!

he is relatively well behaved considering his teenage status and loves everybody to pieces....and i wouldn't swap him for any other type of dog

so....when you meet someone who thinks workers are hard work, nod and say 'yes, he's a nightmare...' and then say 'how do you stand your j.r yapping and nipping all the time' or 'oh you have a lurcher, i bet he kills cats' or 'lovely labrador, don't they all have hip displaysia' or 'gsd - wouldn't trust one of them' or 'lovely golden cocker - aren't you worried abour 'rage'?' or or or....

(please col'ers don't take any offence at the above - i mean (and believe) none of the comments i wrote about breeds above, but just have heard all of these before on my walks from know-it-all dog owners!)

[Penel]

(please col'ers don't take any offence at the above - i mean (and believe) none of the comments i wrote about breeds above, but just have heard all of these before on my walks from know-it-all dog owners!)

 

[Helen]

(please col'ers don't take any offence at the above - i mean (and believe) none of the comments i wrote about breeds above, but just have heard all of these before on my walks from know-it-all dog owners!)

 

i have bad pms today culminating in pms paranoia - off to rustle in the cupboards for a gallon of evening primrose oil....to go with my oven ready pheasant

[winewood]

Don't let other people get to you I don't have a working cocker I have 2 show cockers and from my limited experience with cockers Indi(15 months) does not stop running around, over the park this morning she ran the full length of the park at least 6 six times then played fetch with the ball for at least 30mins with breaks. Kody on the other hand (20 weeks) runs about but is more content to sit next to me chewing sticks or tree bark. A gentleman who was there with a GSD made the comment of how full of energy Indi is and what a handful she must be. Each dog within the breed is different and if your prepared for a high energy dog, enjoy, I was told Indi being a cocker would'nt be any good in Obed we are in the top class, brushing up on fine details before starting trailing, just gone up another class in agility almost ready to start competing, and we have started tracking and hoping to try field work. She is a high energy sporting dog , I know she won't win any field or gun dog trials because of her size and the terran the grass can be waist high and the same with tracking but maybe she will get a tracking tittle, field trials here are dominated by labs and gsp so we were told on our first day why did you get a cocker if you want to try field work my answer "thats what they were breed for" they have no spaniel trials here so its all retrieving trials. Here in Australia there are no working cockers to my knowledge did'nt know there was such a breed until I got onto this site enjoy your pup take no notice

[ali]

Thank you for all the thoroughly reassuring replies. I realised as I was writing the original post that I was being completely silly but it was just starting to bug me a bit. However, when the owner of a show-type cocker yesterday said 'why on earth did you get one of them then?' I was able to put your advice into practise and make a thoroughly grown-up reply about researching the breed and feeling it was the right choice etc etc etc. My sister was with me at the time and nearly fell about laughing as I'd told her about making this post the previous day.

Thanks again.

[Tracey Jane]

You know people make me laugh - they are always so quick to judge other people and dogs (I guess that's a judgement in itself but you know what I mean )

They don't know you at all and you certainly don't have to justify your actions to them 

You did your research and made the choice that you felt was best for you.  That's all any of us can do - be well informed and make a choice then deal with the consequences.

Next time anybody says anything say ' Yeah but isn't he gorgeous ' smile sweetly and walk away.  The important thing is that you love him and what anybody else says is irrelevant.  What they mean is that they couldn't cope - whatever they say is just a reflection of how they feel not of you.

You just go ahead and enjoy him 

Sorry if this is a bit of a rant   

[Helen]

Thank you for all the thoroughly reassuring replies. I realised as I was writing the original post that I was being completely silly but it was just starting to bug me a bit. However, when the owner of a show-type cocker yesterday said 'why on earth did you get one of them then?' I was able to put your advice into practise and make a thoroughly grown-up reply about researching the breed and feeling it was the right choice etc etc etc. My sister was with me at the time and nearly fell about laughing as I'd told her about making this post the previous day.

Thanks again.

we  working cockers

 - let's get a bumper sticker done (don't worry...i hate bumper stickers...maybe t-shirts or coasters?) 

seriously, with us it's more...oooooh she's (jarvis HATES that _) reeeealllllly cute...what is she

(i feel like saying 'actually he's a miniature curly eared rottweiler* crossed with a man-eating american wolf - this one's quite placid and has only severely wounded 5 children...which plastic surgery will sort out....but DON'T GO NEAR HIM...he hasn't had his breakfast yet...the farm is delivering an entire cow later on for him')

(* now mollycuddles you know how much i love tess - it was just another reference to misunderstood breeds!)

[cbabe]

I was handing working springers when i was 8 - so i think youre getting into it a bit late Age is irrelevant, it is your attitude which matters. You have to be strong willed with working spaniels - if you have got what it takes attitude wise then you are on a winner whether you are 8 or 80!

Good luck

Clare x

(incidently i have the aroma of muddy swamp having taken 3 springers for a walk/wade/splash earlier! There is nothing quite as friendly as a wet gun dog!)

[Mollycuddles]

we  working cockers

 - let's get a bumper sticker done (don't worry...i hate bumper stickers...maybe t-shirts or coasters?) 

seriously, with us it's more...oooooh she's (jarvis HATES that _) reeeealllllly cute...what is she

(i feel like saying 'actually he's a miniature curly eared rottweiler* crossed with a man-eating american wolf - this one's quite placid and has only severely wounded 5 children...which plastic surgery will sort out....but DON'T GO NEAR HIM...he hasn't had his breakfast yet...the farm is delivering an entire cow later on for him')

(* now mollycuddles you know how much i love tess - it was just another reference to misunderstood breeds!)

No offence taken....it' surprising how people wrongly judge different breeds... .

Molly is a busy ...working type...but when I was poorly the other week for 3 days and could not go for long walks she was quite happy to just potter around the garden with the other two...well when I say potter whizzing around the garden chasing the cat and digging holes and such like....indoors she is as laid back as anyothers....providing their active minds are occupied they cope well........it's all down to the owners at the end of the day.......

At training classes she's at the same level and even in front of some that started the same time as her ..the only difference she is livelier and more loving than some of them we tend to get picked out to do the odd demo to newbies as she is one of the most responsive there ....I show her up...