Looking for a Cocker

[medaka]

Hi All

A friend said that I should visit/register on this site,
 and maybe ask here if anyone knows/has a cocker spaniel around 2 -3 yrs old, sex isnt an issue. dog or bitch would be fine that they would like rehousing?

A bit about myself..

I live in cheshire, nearing 46 yrs of age. I have a heart condition & live in a bungalow very close to open park lands. I am married and have two children still at home, both in their teens. I was brought up with terriers (Cairns and westies) but had a aunt who kept cockers, and always wanted one,but my parents only liked terriers. My wife now thinks that now would be a good time for me to get a dog, as I no longer work, and therefore a dog would make an excellent companion for me.
My other interest is tropicalfish, mainly Siluriformes(catfishes) As well as being the secretary of the Catfish Study group, there is a photo of me on our site (under committee) http://www.catfishstudygroup.org
And I also moderate on two catfish sites a) http://www.planetcatfish.com
 & b) http://www.scotcat.com
I have looked at the post about Chelsea, but I am afriad I cannot stretch my meager finances to that amount, As I said I live in Cheshire, but I am willing to travel, my friend (who has an american longhaired dacthhound) lives in Kidderminster and is willing to help me with travelling.

Regards

Adrian

[*Jay*]

Not rtying to be funny but if you can't afford to pay a £90 adoption fee, are you sure you can afford the lifelong expenses that any dog will cost you? ie food, worming treatment, flea treatment, grooming, insurance, vet treatments that are not covered by insurance etc etc.

If you are holding out for a free dog, then please remember that there will unlikely be the back-up that you would receive if you went through a reputable rescue. If for some reason things did not work out, then the rescue would be able to take the dog back - this would be unlikely to happen with a private rehoming. The rescue centre would also be at the other end of the phone for advice if you needed it.

[Cob-Web]

I'll be honest - I would be surprised if a rescue centre or responsible owner would home a cocker spaniel of the age you describe to someone who has a diagnosed heart condition  Although you may be able to offer the, in some cases significant, exercise requirements of a cocker now, are you confident that your condition will not deteriorate and mean you are unable to offer 1-2 hours brisk exercise a day that many cockers require in a few years? A run around the park twice a day is not enough for many cockers - they are gundogs and bred to spend the day in the field with a shooting party.......


I agree with your wife, a dog is an excellent idea - but one which will not make unreasonable demands on your health, now and in the future 

Have you considered rescuing an Oldie? There are lots looknig for the right home to retire too - and most are still full of life and fun!

http://www.oldies.org.uk/ Try here for some gorgeous older doggies in need of a loving home 

[Elisa]

I'll be honest - I would be surprised if a rescue centre or responsible owner would home a cocker spaniel of the age you describe to someone who has a diagnosed heart condition  Although you may be able to offer the, in some cases significant, exercise requirements of a cocker now, are you confident that your condition will not deteriorate and mean you are unable to offer 1-2 hours brisk exercise a day that many cockers require in a few years? A run around the park twice a day is not enough for many cockers - they are gundogs and bred to spend the day in the field with a shooting party.......

Rachel, I'm not picking promise, but I find this paragraph quite surprising 

I'll be honest - I would be surprised if a rescue centre or responsible owner would home a cocker spaniel of the age you describe to someone who has a diagnosed heart condition 

I don't know if this is true, re the rescues but surely any rescue should take any potential new owners personal circumstances on merit, and match up the right owner with the right dog.  Lots of people have heart conditions of different severity, and it certainly shouldn't mean they all incapable of looking after a cocker! 

Although you may be able to offer the, in some cases significant, exercise requirements of a cocker now, are you confident that your condition will not deteriorate and mean you are unable to offer 1-2 hours brisk exercise a day that many cockers require in a few years?

No-one can guarantee their future health, I can't 

A run around the park twice a day is not enough for many cockers - they are gundogs and bred to spend the day in the field with a shooting party.......

How many of us here on COL spend a day in the field with our cockers and a shooting party? 


Anyway sorry to go off topic.  Welcome to COL Adrian, but have to agree with Gill re the donation.   

Good luck anyway. 

[Cob-Web]

Rachel, I'm not picking promise, but I find this paragraph quite surprising 

I'll be honest - I would be surprised if a rescue centre or responsible owner would home a cocker spaniel of the age you describe to someone who has a diagnosed heart condition 

I don't know if this is true, re the rescues but surely any rescue should take any potential new owners personal circumstances on merit, and match up the right owner with the right dog.  Lots of people have heart conditions of different severity, and it certainly shouldn't mean they all incapable of looking after a cocker! 

I have to say I assumed that mentioning it, along with the fact that Adrian has said he has given up work at an early age implied that the condition has had a significant effect on his life - if I am wrong, I apologise Adrian 

Although you may be able to offer the, in some cases significant, exercise requirements of a cocker now, are you confident that your condition will not deteriorate and mean you are unable to offer 1-2 hours brisk exercise a day that many cockers require in a few years?

No-one can guarantee their future health, I can't 

No, thats true  I would be wary of making commitments if I had been diagnosed with a condition that could have a significant effect on my future capabilities, though.

A run around the park twice a day is not enough for many cockers - they are gundogs and bred to spend the day in the field with a shooting party.......

How many of us here on COL spend a day in the field with our cockers and a shooting party? 

True again, but there is a misconception that cockers are happy with a trot around the block twice a day - with some cockers, espacially at the peak of their life, they need far more than this 

My comments were not meant to cause offence, Adrian, and I apologise if they were taken in such a way.
I do agree that if a £90 donation is financially difficult for you then a long term commitment to a dog may be too much Molo got a grass seed in his ear last year, on a Saturday lunchtime - a trip to the emergency vets to remove it cost £115 

Have you considered fostering for a local rescue centre....its another possibility to consider 

[sarahp]

Hi and welcome to the site 

Not sure whether a cocker is for you or not - only you and the rescue centre can decide what is best for you and any potential dog. 

My only comment would be that you may find that £90 is the going rate for adoption fees at a reputable rescue.  I have two rescue loons and my donations were considerably more than that ; my choice I grant you, but even so the going rate is around the £100 mark.  Gone are the days when £20 or so will cover the vet, neuturing and micro-chipping costs 

Good luck in your search, let us know how you get on 

[PennyB]

I'll be honest - I would be surprised if a rescue centre or responsible owner would home a cocker spaniel of the age you describe to someone who has a diagnosed heart condition  Although you may be able to offer the, in some cases significant, exercise requirements of a cocker now, are you confident that your condition will not deteriorate and mean you are unable to offer 1-2 hours brisk exercise a day that many cockers require in a few years? A run around the park twice a day is not enough for many cockers - they are gundogs and bred to spend the day in the field with a shooting party.......

Rachel, I'm not picking promise, but I find this paragraph quite surprising 

I'll be honest - I would be surprised if a rescue centre or responsible owner would home a cocker spaniel of the age you describe to someone who has a diagnosed heart condition 

I don't know if this is true, re the rescues but surely any rescue should take any potential new owners personal circumstances on merit, and match up the right owner with the right dog.  Lots of people have heart conditions of different severity, and it certainly shouldn't mean they all incapable of looking after a cocker! 

Although you may be able to offer the, in some cases significant, exercise requirements of a cocker now, are you confident that your condition will not deteriorate and mean you are unable to offer 1-2 hours brisk exercise a day that many cockers require in a few years?

No-one can guarantee their future health, I can't 

A run around the park twice a day is not enough for many cockers - they are gundogs and bred to spend the day in the field with a shooting party.......

How many of us here on COL spend a day in the field with our cockers and a shooting party? 

If a rescue matches up personal circumstances of the person then this would mean looking at the lifestyles of people and whether they could give the dog the exercise they need and I feel a 2-3 year old cocker is still a young dog that still requires quite an active lifestyle. I also think Rachel was suggesting that was what cockers were originally bred for but while our own lifestyles and social structures have changed the cocker hasn't so would still need a certain level of exercise and they certainly aren't lapdogs which is sadly a popular misconception of the breed.

I would suggest may be contacting Cocker Rescue in the north of England (think there's a pinned threa don this here) for an older cocker that wouldn't necessarily want/need a huge amount of exercise. These cockers aren't advertised on the net so you'd have to ring them. Am not sure what the donation is for them.

[medaka]

HI All 

To clarify:
Yes I am and was aware that cockers require a lot of exercising. If any one would like to check with a heart failure nurse or cardiac specialist ., exercise is now in a lot of cases recommended for heart problems as this strengths the heart muscle and creates new blood vessels in the same way as  muscles do in body builders. I no longer work as a change round in circumstances meant that my wife works and I look after the domestic duties and write for a semi-scientific journal . I posted the  links to the catfish sites in hope that anyone looking at my replies to post there as a moderator in these forums, may get a small insight in to what I regard responsible pet owners. I was once a manager of a fish rescue, which rescued "large fish"from people who just wanted to say that they had kept such a fish or did not understand the needs or growth of certain large fish, and had gotten fed up of keeping them. or could not afford their upkeep, which brings me on to "finances"!
Yes £90 may not be a lot of money to some, however, after initial travelling expences & (with respect to whom ever my be thinking of offering me a cocker) the first thing I would have to do is have the cocker checked over by my vet, Other veterany expenses would be taken care of in future years via an insurance policy that I would take out, as my family has done with all our dogs. So what I am trying to say is that an initial £90 plus travelling expences and an unknown vet examination fee, would be stretching things abit, after all my fish research & breeding programme and 30 +aquaria cost a bit to run..

Sincerly

Medaka

PS one last though: -
TV personality Paul O'grady had a heart attack around the same time as me, as well as his TV work he runs his own small holding,
&
PM Tony Blair had a heart problem around the same time,and he runs,,, Oh!  better not go there!

[Cob-Web]

I'm sorry Adrian - I made assumptions about your circumstances, and I should not have done.

I stand by my comments about your concerns over cost though - your current pets absorb a lot of your finances, and they are obviously your priority. Insurance policies do not cover all eventualities (pre-existing conditions, routine vaccinations etc) - and £90 (plus travel and vets exam) is a tiny proportion of what you might expect to pay to meet your dogs needs every year     I know that a one-off cost is different from routine weekly costs - we had a monthly figure set aside for "dog care" every month - and we saved this for months before we actually had enough to "buy" a dog, and all the equipment we needed.


I think if you do go down the rescue route - you may find that you are offering a home, rather than someone "offering you a cocker" - rescue organisations will home check, and have very high expectations of the homes they place their charges.

[Elisa]

I stand by my comments about your concerns over cost though - your current pets absorb a lot of your finances, and they are obviously your priority. Insurance policies do not cover all eventualities (pre-existing conditions, routine vaccinations etc) - and £90 (plus travel and vets exam) is a tiny proportion of what you might expect to pay to meet your dogs needs every year     I know that a one-off cost is different from routine weekly costs - we had a monthly figure set aside for "dog care" every month - and we saved this for months before we actually had enough to "buy" a dog, and all the equipment we needed.


I think if you do go down the rescue route - you may find that you are offering a home, rather than someone "offering you a cocker" - rescue organisations will home check, and have very high expectations of the homes they place their charges.

Agree with all of that! 

[Fletty]

Adrian. Good luck to you.  I find it reprehensible that someone would suggest that you should be “barred” from owning a dog because you have a heart condition.  The exercise you will do yourself will assist your condition.  You don’t need to be an athlete to give your dog sufficient exercise.  For every mile you walk, the dog will cover 5 times that if off the lead and will receive ample exercise.  When my daughter was young I had to take her with me when on walks.  I would take her out in a stroller and let the dog run free.  He always came home well exercised and didn’t suffer from my “slow” pace.   It is also recognised now that the unconditional love and companionship of a dog will reduce stress, which will aid your condition.  (This is what the “pat dog” movement s all about). What about guide and hearing dogs?  These are generally retrievers.  I don’t often find my friend, who is blind, out with the local shooting party exercising his dog.   I might be on dangerous ground here and run the risk of being accused of supporting the exploitation of dogs for the benefit of humans.  This might sound an extreme statement, but judging by some of the comments on here I don’t think I’m too far off the mark.
As far as the expense is concerned, we all know that there are ways and means.  If we love our companions enough we will find a way.    Or are these people suggesting that everyone who is on low income should be barred from owning a dog.
Come on people, get real and support this guy. Instead of trying to find reason why he shouldn’t have a dog come up with some reasons why he should! 

[Cob-Web]

I find it reprehensible that someone would suggest that you should be “barred” from owning a dog because you have a heart condition. The exercise you will do yourself will assist your condition.  You don’t need to be an athlete to give your dog sufficient exercise.  For every mile you walk, the dog will cover 5 times that if off the lead and will receive ample exercise.  When my daughter was young I had to take her with me when on walks.  I would take her out in a stroller and let the dog run free.  He always came home well exercised and didn’t suffer from my “slow” pace.

I wasn't suggesting that Adrian could not offer a dog a home  but a lively, 2-3 year old cocker spaniel may not be the most suitable companion for the the type of home he can offer.......
There are a lot of dogs that are content with the level of exercise you describe, but many others of varying breeds become stressed and develop behaviour problems if they are limited to the same few walks and exercise type day after day. They need stimuation and interaction while out and varying enviroments and places.
This is not generally appreciated by a lot of owners, and one of the reasons that more and more dogs are requiring behavioural intervention (and why TV companies are making programmes about it  )

It is also recognised now that the unconditional love and companionship of a dog will reduce stress, which will aid your condition.  (This is what the “pat dog” movement s all about).

I agree with the stress-relieving effects of pets entirely - there is medical research to support it, but.......rehomed/rescue dogs often require a great deal of dedication to help them overcome issues - which is one of the most stressful things ever, as many COLers will testify to  People are reduced to tears - I remember the feelings of terror I had when my rescue dog had a fight, or ran off - it wasn't good for my health and I don't have a diagnosed condition 

What about guide and hearing dogs?  These are generally retrievers.  I don’t often find my friend, who is blind, out with the local shooting party exercising his dog. 

There are lots of retrievers which never make the grade - they are unsuccessful guide dogs as they do not have the personality for the limitations of the role. Also, guide dogs get mental stimulation all the while they are working, and this is as important as physical exercise for intelligent dogs  A pet dog gets less of this type of constant stimulation as the role and relationship between owner and dog is totally different 

Or are these people suggesting that everyone who is on low income should be barred from owning a dog.

I assume I am one of "these people" you refer to - IMO, knowing you are able to financially support a dog is an essential consideration. I could understand it if Adrian was saying that the cost of a pedigree puppy was too much for him (£600 or more  ), but a £90 donation (plus travel and vets fees  ) is no more than you might expect to pay out for a minor medical procedure or routine treatment. Insurance alone is between £10-£15 a month, so it would only take 6 months of setting this amount aside for Adrian to be able to "afford it"    Sadly, it seems that any initial outlay is resented by some people.
Many of us have been or are involved in dog rescue - it is extremely disheartening when significant time and money has been invested in the heath and temperment of a dog, only for someone to come along and expect a lifetime of companionship from a dog, but not be prepared to contribute to the significant costs of rescuing the dog in the first place 

[Magic Star]

Just to add my point here......

Sorry Rach, but I too felt the initial comments to Adrian where a bit harsh and if i'm honest with you, bang out of order     You didn't raise the plus sides of Adrians circumstances, he his home all day to spend time and care for the dog for a start, something we all can't offer, but would be a box ticked to a rescue centre   As Elisa says, we all cannot guarantee our future health, it applies to everyone not just to Adrian, it certainly wasn't a question I have been asked about when I was rescuing     Also on the finance side, peoples circumstances change there too (I was never asked by a rescue on my financial situation)   I agree these are all considerations people should take on before going for a dog, however, I haven't seen you mention all this criteria to anyone else only Adrian, which I feel is a darn shame, the guy has come on here having been told this is the right place and hes going about things in the right way, only to be interogated about all these factors, just because he mentioned he had a heart condition   Sorry Rach, I am just being honest with my feelings about this one with you

Adrian, I commend you for seeking the advice of the people here on COL, it is generally the best place to come if you are looking for a cocker spaniel, or advice about them   To give you a bit of encourangement, my brother is in a similar situation to you he has MS and has two dogs   He doesn't work, but his wife does, he can't unfortunately do the dog walking himself, but those dogs get the best of everything including walks by the other members of the household     I wish you every luck in finding a suitable dog for you and your family, I would not be discouraged by any comments that have been made on this thread, obviousley, you need to look at the finance side of things a bit more, but other than that, you sound like you could offer a dog a wonderful home

Forgot to say too, my cocker spaniel is not walked for hours on end each day, she is more than happy to go with the flow, she has the garden to play in and the run of the house.  She is very much a lap dog and I think many cockers are
Please let us know how you get on

[Woody's Mum]

Come on people, get real and support this guy. Instead of trying to find reason why he shouldn’t have a dog come up with some reasons why he should! 

Utterly agree! I think there is a bit too much 'shouting down' on this forum lately.

Good Luck with your search Adrian, I'm sure there are plenty of Cockers in rescue just waiting for a home like yours.

Keep us posted   

[Fletty]

IWlass.
I am now detecting a degree of fascist elitism.  What is being said here is that unless you are 100% fit, both physically and mentally and have a large disposable income, then you are forbidden by the Cocker Police from owning a Cocker Spaniel.  Oh, and by the way, while we are at it, if the dog doesn’t have a pedigree as long as your arm with numerous champions in its provenance then it shouldn’t be mentioned in public.  

Emma and Daisys mum
well said