Martin Clunes' Dog's Life

[beepee]

I've just started reading this book and have got to the part where his breeder describes the differences between orange and blue roan cockers. Notably "Oranges are more vocal" and "the blue ones are quieter and probably lazier.If you threw a ball for an orange it would go on picking it up till it dropped dead. A blue would pick it up a few times and then hide it under a tree."
We now own an orange after two blues and have found this description is absolutely spot on. Has anyone noticed any other differences between the colours?

[BabyB]

Me and my husband have two orange roans, my mum and dad have two blue roans (who I bought with my parents and lived with them until they were three yrs old, then left home).

I have to say Morgan (BR) was soo like Henry (OR) at Henrys age now - 16mths.  A right little sod    Whilst Katie (OR) and Dylan (BR) are similar too.  I'm not saying Katie and Dylan don't have their moments, but when I compare how Dylie was at Katie's age (27mths) they are very much alike 

Henry is always on the look out for mischief  , Morgan was exactly the same at that age  .  Dylan was what we call 'crafty'  and didn't like getting caught out - Katie is exactly the same  .

So IMHO, I think the colouring doesn't have much to do with it, more the genetics.
Either way, you gotta love 'em

[JaspersMum]

Definately true to my Orange roan, Louie (the blue roan) not so sure, he's quieter and doesn't do the ball thing but he isn't lazy and usually too busy blazing a trail through the undergrowth 

[Colin]

Notably "Oranges are more vocal" and "the blue ones are quieter and probably lazier.If you threw a ball for an orange it would go on picking it up till it dropped dead. A blue would pick it up a few times and then hide it under a tree."

It doesn't apply to my dogs. Stevie ( O&W) is the quietest of my three ... she'll wander around all day with a toy in her mouth at home but once in the park quickly loses interest in a ball, preferring to snuffle around on scents instead.  Misty ( blue roan) is ball obsessed on a walk, she's never hidden one yet though.  She's also extremely vocal when going through her crazy greeting routine, whereas in the same situation Stevie is quieter than a church mouse.  Personally I think these things are down to individual personality or maybe breeding lines rather than colour.

[Annette]

Buddy (blue roan) loves running for a ball, unless something else takes his fancy. But he certainly isn't a very busy/manic dog.

[hamfam]

Buddy (blue roan) loves running for a ball, unless something else takes his fancy. But he certainly isn't a very busy/manic dog.

Now that made me chuckle

[Jane S]

Notably "Oranges are more vocal" and "the blue ones are quieter and probably lazier.If you threw a ball for an orange it would go on picking it up till it dropped dead. A blue would pick it up a few times and then hide it under a tree."

It couldn't be more different for ours - our oranges are quieter than the blues and don't bark much unless there's a very good reason (like their dinner being late ) None of our oranges are ball obsessed either - in fact, Ruby refuses totally to have anything to do with balls (it's not edible therefore not it's not interesting).

Generalisations about colour shouldn't really be taken seriously - of course people are bound to have come across some that fit the stereotype but there are many more that don't

[*Lucy*]

Notably "Oranges are more vocal" and "the blue ones are quieter and probably lazier.If you threw a ball for an orange it would go on picking it up till it dropped dead. A blue would pick it up a few times and then hide it under a tree."

It doesn't apply to my dogs. Stevie ( O&W) is the quietest of my three ... she'll wander around all day with a toy in her mouth at home but once in the park quickly loses interest in a ball, preferring to snuffle around on scents instead.  Misty ( blue roan) is ball obsessed on a walk, she's never hidden one yet though.  She's also extremely vocal when going through her crazy greeting routine, whereas in the same situation Stevie is quieter than a church mouse.  Personally I think these things are down to individual personality or maybe breeding lines rather than colour.

Colin, you have just described Honey & Molly - Honey is quiet, toy in mouth etc, Molly is very vocal with visitors and LOVES her ball on walks!!

[starboy]

Only have a Blue Roan but have to say that he is the noisiest dog I have ever had. He loves to bark and "talks" all the time. I don't think it's a question of colour just the personality of the dog.

[Ellie]

I only have a blue roan and she is the quietest dog I have ever known.  I've never heard her 'talk' and she only barks when people are approaching our house or next doors dog barking sets her off (well she begrudgingly joins in after a while, just to show willing!).

As for chasing balls, if you throw one she will sometimes go and have a look at what you threw, check that its not edible and walk off in disgust  , show her a chip wrapper blowing in the wind and she suddenly turns into an olympic sprinter 

[elaine.e]

My orange roan William is the most laid back, relaxed Cocker I've ever had. He's very affectionate, loves everything and everybody and is a very happy, but not manic or hyper, dog. Practically nothing bothers him and he very rarely barks.