after advice

[Graemejardine]

My wife and I have decided that we'd like a dog. After a lot of researching we've decided that a show cocker is the one for us.
My wife's biggest concern is that it may ruin her new kitchen, as that's the room it will stay in while we are out or at night. I'm a postman and am usually hoem from work about 1pm and the wife leaves for her nurse job around 8am is this too long to leave a dog for, would we need a dog walker? 
|A few people have said that these types of dogs are hyper and have far too much energy, is this the case with show and working type or just the working type. We would like a playful dog but not one that's constantly on the go and needing hours and hours of exercise.
We are planning to go to a reputable breeder here in  the North East (UK), so if you know of any that would be good. Obviously visit a few times ,meet the parents etc
We're happy to use a crate but what are the pros and cons?
Any advice on owning a show cocker would be very useful
thank you

[Theo961]

Hello and welcome to COL
I am a 1st time cocker mum so not really able to give you a lot of advice like the experienced owners on here but I can tell you how I have found things.
I have had dogs all my life but had basset's and Clumber spaniel ' s. After I lost my last clumber boy, I decided I wanted a smaller dog and after lots of research decided on a show cocker. I looked into breeders and found one I was very happy with who carried out all the health tests and had wonderful dogs and waited for the litter. I was aware that there was a working cocker in the pedigree five generation back and I was happy with this.
I have to admit the first few weeks with Reese were tough! He was far more active than any of my other puppies had been and I did wonder what have I done. I kept to routines and followed some good advice from here and got through the first few weeks.
Reese is 6 months now, he is a great character and so much fun to be with. He still has his moments but I have never had a dog with so much love for life and so much love for everyone and everything he meets. I do keep him busy, he is still a puppy and growing so still on the 5min a month rule for walking but I do brain training with him and also attend training classes. I know the show cocker are supposed to be less active than a worker, but I am not sure if it's due to him having a worker back on his pedigree or if all show cockers are like it but he is still an active bright dog that needs mental stimulation as well as physical.
I can honestly say I can't imagine having another dog now.
He would chew so I give him plenty of toys to chew, I crate and pen him at night as still feel he would chew when I am in bed and I am lucky he goes to my mums when I am working or I do leave him in his crate and pen for a couple of hours.
I hope this helps a bit but you are doing the right thing by researching. I am sure someone more experienced will be here soon.

Tracy  &  Reese

[Holly Berry]

Welcome to COL, you  will get lots of help and advice on here.

I've had show cockers for over 30 years as pets, and to be honest they have all had different personalities and behaviours. A couple have been chewers, some hyper, and some so laid back they are almost horizontal. All though, have in common, they need grooming, they need exercise and stimulation and attention, and downtime. Positive training and socialisation are also essential. Reward the behaviour you want and ignore what you don't. Set boundaries, they are stubborn little dogs and will try and get away with murder if you let them 

I have found that chewing is usually down to stress or boredom, so if you are going to leave them to their own devices, make sure that you have taken them for a walk, had something to eat and have been to the toilet ( the dog that is not you  ) I have also always left the radio on, either playing classical music or talking. You also need to have a routine.

This is obviously an over view and there are lots of individual threads on training, behaviour, grooming etc etc. I will say though I would never have another breed, they are wonderful dogs, small enough to live in a house, yet strong enough to walk for miles. Also they're not known as Velcro dogs for nothing. You will get back what you put in.

[bizzylizzy]

Hi and welcome!
Having a spaniel was on my bucket list ( ) - I'm now 64, so decided last year, its now or never!
I read loads beforehand and the only thing that did concern me was the amount of exercise etc he'd need, but also learned (on this site) how important mental stimulation is. By the time last winter arrived, which here at least must have been the wettest most dog unfriendly on record  , Humphrey was around six months old and outdoor activities were very limited. Mental stimulation, just hiding things for instance, would tire him out quicker than a half hour run.
Maybe we're just lucky, but apart from the odd "zoomie" in the evenings, I can't say he's hyperactive, he gets one good long walk in the mornings for about an hour, a training class once a week and a communal dog walk once a week, inbetween those times he's in and out of the garden and we'll have a bit of play. Having had other dogs before, all lovely, I can honestly say this little cocker has stolen my heart, friendly, fun and desperate to please. Walking nicely on the lead isn't a strong point but can be managed with training and, for those who like them, an anti pull harness.
As for leaving them alone, they are dogs who like company, but there are people here who work and have managed to find a compromise - i.e. dog walkers, day care etc. I believe its the quality of your time they receive not always the quantity that counts. You'd probably need to ensure someone's around regularly for the first few weeks however, until he's housetrained etc.
You'll get loads of support on here and there's always an ear willing to listen! Keep us posted and look forward to seeing pictures if and when your cocker baby arrives!

[daw]

Hi- I think you're being very responsible doing your research first! Wish everyone did. 

Firstly I wouldn't bank on a show cocker being less hyper than a working. You can get a working pup with an incredibly high prey drive and you will only keep him happy with either a job or agility or a lifestyle that gives him the same degree of satisfaction. However I've also see show cockers with just the same amount of energy and not sure where to focus it. I've also read of an owner who became so desperate with his show bitch he had to take up trialling to keep them both sane! If you really don't have a lifestyle that can include a very active dog why not look for another type of spaniel? A cavalier- though please be really careful about inherited diseases and ask questions to the point of rudeness of any breeder- or a Tibetan...or even (whisper it because some people will be offended) a first cross? there are people on this forum who own cockerpoos- a hybrid which may suit you better- and can maybe give advice. There's the added thing about having to leave a small puppy right from the outset so I'd consider long and hard.

I think some breeds of dog or crosses that will offer you and your wife less of a challenge. And having a dog is meant to be fun. Good luck.

[l3w15t]

Hi, I've previously had retreivers and now we've just got our first cocker and I must say, hands down, that she is by far more intelligent than the retreivers.   The retreivers were both very loving and cuddly dogs but there's a willingness to the cocker that I find astonishing.  I have found that mental games are great for her (much more so than the retreivers).  Also, I have met other cocker owners out on walks (both show and working) and I have to be honest I'm not sure there is much energy difference........  in fact one black show cocker we met at the woods last week gave Thistle a run for her money and that is saying something as she does like to play 

For me the best thing was to go and met a few puppies and breeders.  Have a look at the pack (energy, temperament, etc) and make a decision.  If they're a good breeder they won't mind at all if you wish to ask questions and meet the parents.  You'll get a feel there and then whether you 'like' the situation or not.   Hope that helps.

Oh, and as for the crate, definitely pro but only if introduced right and used responsibly.  We leave the door open on ours most of the time and she now sees it as a safe place.

[cindere528]

Instead of getting a puppy, why not consider an adult dog either from a rescue or an ex-breeder from a reputable breeding kennel? You should then avoid the chewing stage of puppyhood.

My first 2 cockers were puppies when I got them, and puppies are very hard work, rewarding, but hard. My first cocker puppy ripped the wallpaper off the newly decorated kitchen. My second one, Robin, dug a 3 inch deep hole about 8 inches in diameter in the kitchen floor! My next few dogs were rescues and most of them were a lot easier than puppies.

My latest dog, Vera, was an ex-breeding/show bitch from an excellent show kennel and she has been by far the easiest dog I've ever had. She's been here for about 18 months now, she will be 4 in December, and she's never chewed anything she shouldn't, or done anything destructive. She is very loving and likes nothing more than a cuddle/belly rub several times a day  .

[AlanT]

Mine has never chewed or damaged anything that does not belong to him.
We still have intact soft-toys, he had as a pup.

He takes about two-hours a day to work and exercise.

He's lively but not manic. He is "ball-obsessed" and scent-trained. This makes it easy to provide mental stimulation without wearing yourself out.

Personally I would not isolate a dog alone at night. They are pack animals and would keep together at night.

Crates are for puppies and sick adults. Not necessary otherwise.

See a photo of my dog in a current topic or look in Videos to see Archie doing stuff.

[sodpot2000]

I have had all sorts of spaniels in my life, but cockers have a special place in my heart. They are the 'Lords of Misrule' and you have to be prepared to accept that they will take the mickey out of you and that you 'negotiate' with them rather than issuing commands.

Physical activity is only one aspect of meeting their needs. They are frighteningly bright, but rather like the kid we all knew at school who was always cheeking the teacher and blowing the chemistry lab up! They easily get bored and lonely and that is not good. If they have someone to be with and 'doing' with then that is a happy cocker. Physical exercise takes second place really to 'helping' with a job.

If you want to have lots of exercise then you are unlikely to tire one out. They seem to settle into a steady cocker trot and they can keep that up almost indefinitely.

One of the best descriptions I ever heard of a cocker was that they will drive you to distraction and then do something so wonderful that you are laughing about it all week.

Oh and one other thing. You will find that dishwashers work much better after the pots have had a cocker pre-wash!

[BonnieScot]

Oh sodpot2000- does yours clean the dishes too? As soon as the door comes down, Bonnie turns into the 'pre-wash programme', often standing up on the edge to reach and making sure all those pots and plates are totally bare before the dishy gets them. 

[AlanT]

Somebody posted they are bright.

I can hide one,two or three balls without the dog seeing and then tell how many to find.
He will know and search and find the right number. Can't be bothered to try doing four.

You might get any dog to do this with a lot of training but not many will do it in the first hour of training.

There is a price to pay for this, it's boredom, willfulness and over-confidence.

I've had Terriers before. A Spaniel is quite different.

[Rowan Liver Roan]

I have had my show cocker now for 5 years (from a puppy), after a lifetime of Golden Retrievers. All I can say is I'll always have show cockers for ever more. Mine was a bitey puppy (like loads of others in here) but after that the most gentle loving and lazy dog ever. She doesn't like the rain, will only toddle round the block and we regularly get overtaken by OAPs. As I type she's asleep on my knee (that's usually where she is), she's not the brightest ☺️ I wouldn't change a thing. She still has her puppy toys as well. I love the cocker/retriever difference. Retrievers "what can I do to please you", cockers "what can you do to please me lol". I could share the breeder if you are interested as some of Rowan's relatives on here are similar too (Just outside Edinburgh). PS we all work different shifts, she sleeps (on the sofa 😉) when we're out and she is the love of all our lives. Good luck if you go for it!

[moneypenny]

Our experience has been the same as Rowan liver roan. Penny only needs a short walk (well it's not really a short walk, it's more a short sniff) a day. She'll do more if it's offered. She's never destroyed anything in the house except her own toys, even when she was a puppy. She just loves being around us.
I think leaving a cocker  from 8 am to 1 pm will be fine. The dog will just get used to this as an extra sleep time, if she's like Penny. She will have the bonus of the rest of the day to play with one or the other of you, or more likely catch up on more sleep on your lap.

[Ambler54]

Rosie is 9 months, She needs a reasonable amount of exercise ( We have 2 good walks a day) mainly to distract from the eating everything mode, but is also happy dozing etc when left alone ,She is also wondeful with the Grandchildren, loves cuddles, gentle, kind, loves mind games ie can find lots of Her toys by name, and is an absolute  joy.We are first time dog owners but not a day goes by where Rosie doesn't make us smile. We have a classic car and this weekend Rosie has been with us to car/ country fair events,We have met lots of dogs and owners but every Cocker owner We have met has enthused about their dog and every cocker has been so, so friendly.