cocker personality-has anyone else got a cocker like mine??

[k shaw]

I have a beautiful tri colour boy called Max, he is 14 mths old and as soon as I got him at least 6 people told me of their experience with their crazy cockers, I was told they are completley hyper and he would drive me mad.Having no experience of the breed I expected the worst..however..Max is the most docile dog I have ever knownm, he is scared of the dark, shadows, other dogs even the cat makes him jump.He needs to be cuddled all the time and I mean full on paws round my neck, sitting on my knee.He hasnt a clue about chasing a ball or a stick he just looks at it and carries on trotting by my side. Is this because he has a lot of show dog in him or is he a little bit slow?? Has anybody got a cocker the same???

[Colin]

Errm no - my 3 are all crazy and totally ball obsessed.  They do have their calm moments too though. I'd be  a bit concerned about him being so clingy and afraid of other dogs etc - it might help to  maybe not give into him being so demanding of your attention and also try and build up his confidence with other dogs. You're lucky he sticks to your side though - not many Cockers do.

[Jane S]

Is this because he has a lot of show dog in him or is he a little bit slow??

Definitely nothing to do with show breeding - show dogs don't get very far unless they have merry, extrovert temperaments Sounds like your boy is clingy & lacking in confidence which could be partly genetic and partly down to his early life ie if he wasn't socialised as a baby puppy by his breeder. Do you know much about his early life before he came to you? What sort of breeder did he come from?

[Top Barks]

Douglas my  choc roan worker is a scaredy cat. I think a lot of this is to do with combination of a a lack of socialisation as a pup and  his genetic makeup.
I have had to work hard to get him used to everyday things such as the hoover, but it can be done.
It sounds as though your dog needs to have his confidence built up.
Careful with all the cuddles as well as this could unwittingly reinforce how he is feeling.
Have you trie clicker training with him?
What is his background?
I also have a show cocker called Oliver who would rather I fetch the ball if it meant he had to get off the sofa.
He is soooo lazy but even he has responded to the clicker.
I also have my typical mad boy Bayley who is crazy, just llike the reputation suggests but they are all different.
Mark

[cazza]

Fern lives up to the stereo type of a total mad cocker  and enjoys doing the wall of death and bashing into us if we get in her way

How old was Max when you got him?

[Black Angel's]

When did you get your Max? how old he was? I think that your Max has problem,and you can solve it if you can find reason why he is so scared(his life before he came to you,like Jane wrote)...Solving this kind of problems take a lot of time,but if you will be patient you can help him!

[Sarah.H]

Our first cocker was absolutely lovely and friendly but not at all playfull with people or dogs (unlike the others), but we got him from a puppy farm when he was 3 months old.  I know it's no excuse but we didn't know any better, I do wonder whether the lack of socialisation affected him as he was completely alone when we got him 

[PennyB]

Careful with all the cuddles as well as this could unwittingly reinforce how he is feeling.

I was going to say this as well as sometimes we can inadvertently perpetuate some behaviours by cuddling them every time we think they may be fearful

[k shaw]

Max was 8 weeks old when we got him, I think the breeder was a good one but I cant be sure. He came from a farm in Doncaster, the family seemed nice enough, I have to say though he didnt stop shaking for 2 days after we got him so he has always been a bit of a scardy cat.I'm not really sure I want to change him I love him to bits the way he is and our other 2 dogs (springer spaniel and border terrier) certainly make up for Max's lack of enthusiasm, they're both bonkers! I just wondered if he was unique or if others had cockers like him. I sometimes wonder if our Springer is responsible for Max's personality, we got the springer 10mths before Max and he is definatly the dominant dog, they get on really well but Sam will never let Max have anything to himself so I think perhaps Max just gives up trying when it comes to chasing balls etc.

[Black Angel's]

he has much deeper problem then that I though,unfortunately it seems that he was born with character problem,it's all in genes(probably some of his forefathers had the same problem)  in his case.. I've got this conclusion 'cause I've seen and heard for many,many cases that pups where bit scared when they've been separated from their mom,that's normal if it lasts for few weeks or month,but Max is already real "dog" and his adaption time should be finished...
I'm sure that you love him,without any doubt....

[waisis]

Bailey's personality as a puppy was what the breeder called "reserved".  When we saw him at the breeders, we were deciding between him and his sister.  His sister came charging up the stairs when let out and jumped all over us and ran around the room--kinda normal confident puppy behaviour.  Bailey on the other hand, went around exploring the room calmly, but slinked away from us when we tried to pet him and shook when we held him.  He was our first dog and looking back now, we should have been worried about his behaviour/tempermant/socialization.  But we got him and we socialized him like crazy.  During those first weeks, we diligently went through long list of things/peoples/situations to socialize him to and enrolled him in puppy class and doggy daycare and his confidence skyrocketed.  Still in terms of nature versus nuture, Bailey continues to be the type of the dog that is cautious and will bark and be fearful of things he finds slightly odd/different  (e.g., people being piggy-backed, kids in puffy snowsuits).  He is a lovely, sweet, and calm boy aroudn the house (although not a big cuddler) and energetic and fun when out.

[debrand]

Barney absolutely loves other dogs unless they are very big but was very nervous around strangers when he was younger. Now he loves people coming to the house and will sit at their feet and "grumble" until they give him some attention. I always tell them just to ignore them and he will go and lie down when he sees he is not getting any.
He is not a hyper cocker at all and is completely the opposite although he is on medication for epilepsy.
He isn't at all interested in chasing a ball but if someone was to throw a sausage that would be a different matter!