CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Puppies => Topic started by: DAVE D1953 on November 11, 2012, 06:09:49 PM
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Hi Everyone,
At the moment I am seriously thinking about buying a puppy cocker spaniel but I suppose, with Winter here, this decision is best left until Spring
Also, at the moment I have two 16 year cats and I am just wondering if there is going to be an issue for either pets.
Thanks for your advice
Dave
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Some will say spring/summer etc, as you might be up in the night, or out in garden with puppy while intially toilet training, we got Riley in April, much our preffered time and we planned this.
You are also going to get some saying winter so that the dog will be able for longer walks come the spring / summer etc, though that didnt factor for us, would much prefer standing out in garden in spring/summer etc.
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I think ideally it is nicer standing in the garden with pup in Spring/summer. Having said that, if you found the right pup, I wouldn't let winter put you off. We got Jem in February so did have to spend hours freezing in the garden, but she was worth it!
We don't have cats, but I know plenty of people on here do.
Good luck in your search.
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The best time is when it suits you - the weather this summer hasnt been the best anyway!!
I got Jinley in October last year which suited us with time off etc.
However if she had come along in September or February, it wouldnt have mattered! Waiting 3 weeks until I could bring her home was bad enough - if I had to wait months...!!
Pat
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I had Jenny in Novemeber and didnt find it a problem as that winter was quite milld Penny came home in May and was nice to get her out when the weather was sunny The first time I took her out in the garden even with door open I couldnt see her as she was Black and Tan as Jenny was gold Torch after that Good Luck in finding a puppy.
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We got Willow in feb and it was cold standing outside with her every 5 mins for toileting but she was worth it. ;) Those days are a distant memory now. :D On a plus side getting her in feb meant by the summer she was old enough to take out on nice walks etc.... If I had to do it all again I wouldnt change a thing ;)
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Tilly came to us in December...and Erin came in January....was a pain in the bum standing in the garden at 2 am 3am 4am with the wind rain and snow wearing pj's and dressing gown and wellies (not a good look) huddled under a brolly waiting on them to do their business...or chase a leaf..or eat the grass >:D...but was worth ever minute in the end...and it is short lived thankfully
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We brought Ellie home on the 30th December and it was a very cold January. It was hard work standing in the garden but Ellie didn't mind at all, the breeder sent her home with a little fleece jacket and the hard work was persuading Ellie to come in as she was quite happy racing around the garden in the frost & snow.. The plus side was by the time the nice weather came she was ready for proper walks.
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We brought Harvey home in November , I don't think it really matters what time of the year you get your puppy as there are pros and cons with any time. Regarding your cats we had a 13 year old cat who spent the first 9 months we had Harvey up in our bedroom, gradually she got braver and braver and look at them now.
(http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg599/Fenbles/Harvey/cf55fb786abb98acdba7059f759cf808.jpg)
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Hi Dave,
We've had Oscar for a week now and we've had some muddy paws to deal with but given the summer we've had it wouldn't make such a difference right?! Just be prepared for standing out in the cold last thing at night/early morning when toileting him/her. We leave Oscar in the crate overnight FYI.
As for cats, we have two oldish cats, one very nervous and one more willing to stand up for itself! Both have kept their distance from Oscar and are spending much of their time upstairs, Oscar won't be going upstairs at all. I've now moved the cats food dishes upstairs but to be fair they have recently started napping in the living room. Oscar has playfully chased after them a couple of times but both cats just run away. Nothing to worry about at all and who knows, we might have a similar situation to Fenby's!
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I never thought about time of year. Ours were august and September. That was fine. I don't think I'd like toilet training now though
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Jeff was a January puppy, in the snow. Lots of standing in snow in my dressing gown. Wouldn't change the experience, or him, for the world though :luv: :luv: :luv:
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I got Charlie at the end of October, I don't think there is a right or wrong time of year...
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Working cocker breeders (who work their dogs) generally don't have litters over the winter (as that's when their dogs are working).
You will see most working litters from May onwards ;)
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I brought Coco home at the end of October so spent many hours outside in the cold/dark/wet trying to get her to wee or poo :P As a result, I have always said that any other pup I brought home would have to be in spring/summer :005:
Having said that, you can't always plan these things so it depends on when the right pup is available. :-\ But, given the choice I would prefer to housetrain during the summer! :005:
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Hi Everybody,
Thanks for your comments as they have been very useful. They certainly highlighted the issue of what's involved in toilet training during the cold, dark winter months. I am glad I asked. Mind you I don't think it has put me off because I would be totally devoted to her. By having a puppy in the winter months and that it would be ready for walkies in the summer would be great because I love walking.
I do have a few more points that I would like to raise.
Firstly, I work as a self-employed handyman which means most of my jobs only take a couple of hours each. The plan would be to take her out in the morning, say for 45 minutes, and have her bed in my estate car so she could sleep. Do you think this is feasible ? Would she be ok travelling in a car.
Secondly, how much would I be expected to pay for a puppy from a reputable breeder.
And lastly, what are the initial costs for the injections etc
Again thank you all for your advice.
Dave
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Firstly, I work as a self-employed handyman which means most of my jobs only take a couple of hours each. The plan would be to take her out in the morning, say for 45 minutes, and have her bed in my estate car so she could sleep. Do you think this is feasible ? Would she be ok travelling in a car.
It wouldn't be feasible in the summer months as she would soon over-heat in the car even if you left windows down. Not so bad in the winter but you'll need a summer plan. Otherwise I'm sure she'll love being with you.
I'm a bit of a stickler for them learning to have time on their own too as there will be times they can't be with you, and even though I now work from home, in the morning mine still do wees and bed and sleep in another part of the house quite happily whilst I come and go.
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Hi Everybody,
Thanks for your comments as they have been very useful. They certainly highlighted the issue of what's involved in toilet training during the cold, dark winter months. I am glad I asked. Mind you I don't think it has put me off because I would be totally devoted to her. By having a puppy in the winter months and that it would be ready for walkies in the summer would be great because I love walking.
I do have a few more points that I would like to raise.
Firstly, I work as a self-employed handyman which means most of my jobs only take a couple of hours each. The plan would be to take her out in the morning, say for 45 minutes, and have her bed in my estate car so she could sleep. Do you think this is feasible ? Would she be ok travelling in a car.
Secondly, how much would I be expected to pay for a puppy from a reputable breeder.
And lastly, what are the initial costs for the injections etc
Again thank you all for your advice.
Dave
Show cockers are 'about' £700 - £750
They need 2 vaccinations, usually the 1st between 8-10 wks & the 2nd @ 12 wks approx. I think it depends on the area you live regarding costs but in total for both injections i would expect to pay between £50 - £60. :shades:
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Firstly, I work as a self-employed handyman which means most of my jobs only take a couple of hours each. The plan would be to take her out in the morning, say for 45 minutes, and have her bed in my estate car so she could sleep. Do you think this is feasible ? Would she be ok travelling in a car.
It wouldn't be feasible in the summer months as she would soon over-heat in the car even if you left windows down. Not so bad in the winter but you'll need a summer plan. Otherwise I'm sure she'll love being with you.
I'm a bit of a stickler for them learning to have time on their own too as there will be times they can't be with you, and even though I now work from home, in the morning mine still do wees and bed and sleep in another part of the house quite happily whilst I come and go.
Agree with this. If you do leave her in the car then she would need to be crated with no access to any of your tools which could be seen as dangerous chew toys. Although an older cocker might settle down for naps during the day a pup would soon get bored and could do lots of damage. My Aunt left her one year old pointer in her car for 15 mins once. When she came back, the seats where "skinned" of their material and the entire lining of the roof was ripped off.
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Firstly, I work as a self-employed handyman which means most of my jobs only take a couple of hours each. The plan would be to take her out in the morning, say for 45 minutes, and have her bed in my estate car so she could sleep. Do you think this is feasible ? Would she be ok travelling in a car.
It wouldn't be feasible in the summer months as she would soon over-heat in the car even if you left windows down. Not so bad in the winter but you'll need a summer plan. Otherwise I'm sure she'll love being with you.
I'm a bit of a stickler for them learning to have time on their own too as there will be times they can't be with you, and even though I now work from home, in the morning mine still do wees and bed and sleep in another part of the house quite happily whilst I come and go.
Agree with this. If you do leave her in the car then she would need to be crated with no access to any of your tools which could be seen as dangerous chew toys. Although an older cocker might settle down for naps during the day a pup would soon get bored and could do lots of damage. My Aunt left her one year old pointer in her car for 15 mins once. When she came back, the seats where "skinned" of their material and the entire lining of the roof was ripped off.
depends totally on the dog ;) Jarvis often goes with OH in his van to jobs (usually on farms so he's within sight and OH can leave the van door open for him. The only time he'll venture out is to see OH so he's quite safe. Jarv usually just curls up on the front seat and watches the world go by, and even ignores forgotten sausage rolls OH leaves on the dashboard :lol2: OH is an agricultural engineer and the van is full of greasy horrible tools - Jarv has been taught that he's only allowed access to the front seats and he doesn't even think going through to the back and wouldn't see tools as fun anyway :D
If your dog is used to a car and sees it as a safe place it's not a recipe for a disaster....although if you have a chewer it's a different story ph34r
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A crate in the car would be essential I reckon, especially when the pup is young ;)
Coco now travels in a soft crate in the back of my car. I am very glad I got one especially this weekend when I heard about a car accident where there were 2 boxers in the car. Both escaped - one was hit by another car and killed and the other was running around the Motorway in panic until, thankfully, she was caught :'(
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Im getting my pup on Wednesday so mid Novemeber and although im not excited about standing out in the cold im am excited about having my pup. I also think if i can do it in the winter the summer will be a breeze.
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A crate in the car would be essential I reckon, especially when the pup is young ;)
Coco now travels in a soft crate in the back of my car. I am very glad I got one especially this weekend when I heard about a car accident where there were 2 boxers in the car. Both escaped - one was hit by another car and killed and the other was running around the Motorway in panic until, thankfully, she was caught :'(
Sometimes you don't have the option - the back of the van is entirely filled with tools and equipment and is grim with no room for a crate ;)
If you look at statistics rear-end accidents are far more prevalent than head on's so potentially your dog is in more danger at the back of the door (our only accident in our car was someone on the phone driving into the back of us - Jarvis was thrown into the dog guard but thankfully was only a bit shaken up)
We make our decisions based on our circumstances and in our case a crate won't work :D We have a harness for him that attaches to the seat belt.
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I wasn't talking about you Helen :shades: I was talking to the OP ;)