Cocker Colours & Temperament

[henryjack1dogs]

Hi, I'm new to the boards and still trying to find my way around

I have had two gorgeous cocker boys in the past (Blue Roan and Black and White) and I am looking for a puppy at the moment.  I often heard when the boys were growing up that solid colours - black/Golds were more temperamental with some bad breeding out there, looking through the sites there are even more colours which are classed as solids.  I also heard black and tans were more crazier.  I am no expert and this was just dog walking chat I heard over the years !

I had it in my mind I would have another roan dog puppy.  I have been searching reputable breeders who do all the health checks etc.

I have had some good replies back with possible litters later in the year, but mostly solids.  I love all the colours, they are all gorgeous.

Can anyone offer advice/ or have owned do own a solid colour cocker and maybe have had a roan in past or also,  good or bad comments, looking for reassurance and hopefully it will open the opportunity of getting a healthy dog puppy this year.

Thank you everyone

[Marina and Saartje]

In the Netherlands (where I live) you here  mostly that the roans are more vived and the solids are a bit fiercely. But I have two solids en they prove that;s not always the case. Saartje a chocolate girl who is socialy reserved, shy against strangers, but very sweet to us. And Teun en gold sable boy of 18 weeks and his character is different. He's bold, brave and cool, very relaxed among strangers.

I think this proves, just al little bit, that al dogs are unique. And it's not only genes thats shapes the dog it's even so important how you socialize, educated en nurture them.

[Gayle and Bailey]

Hi there

It may be true that solids are stronger willed, but I havent had a roan so I cant really compare them.

I have had 2 black and tans and now have a solid black.  We have never had agression problems in any way.  The black and tans were bitches and I now have an entire male.  All very sociable with adults, children and other dogs.

I think most cases of aggression are down to either bad breeding or bad handling on the owners part.  I dont think a particuler colour within a breed are more prone tbh.  

You are doing the right thing searching reputable breeders who do health testing.  Meet the other related dogs the breeder has - this will give an indication as to how your pup might turn out.

Im sure your puppy will be lovely whatever colour you end up with

Gayle

[Karma]

Colour really doesn't come into it. 
There were some issues with bad breeding of solid colours (which were popular then, and so produced by commercial breeders with no consideration of temperament) but this has improved greatly!
Generally whatever colour you go for, you need to consider the temperament of the sire and dam, as this will be a much better indication of the temperament of the pup...

As long as the litters you have had responses about are health tested, and come from dogs with good temperament themselves, I wouldn't let the colour concern you. 

[johndoran]

I dont see how colour can have that much bearing on temperament, Bonnie Boo was part of a litter which included solids,black and brown and some coloured ones as well

[maggieann]

I've owned many colours of Cockers including goldens, blacks and blue roans and in my experience - colour had absolutely no bearing on temperament.

Good luck in your search for your new puppy. 

[Hurtwood Dogs]

Hello there and welcome!

There have been many many threads on this subject over the years and everytime the findings seem to be that no, colour doesn't effect temperament. Personally I've owned a solid gold boy who was a livewire and had a high hunt drive, but loads of fun and ABSOLUTELY BOMB PROOF with children, small furry animals and anyone - he was the kindest most affectionate love monster ever I've currently got a dark blue roan and he has been a little more tricky. He's very sweet now but was very aggressive as a pup and had guarding tendencies and I don't trust him with children to the extent I could my golden - that's not to say he's a problem now he's not a 'bad' dog he just reacts to pain or fear in a different way to my golden boy so I have to make sure he's being treated kindly and thoroughly supervise children with him - I'd never advocate this and obviously I'm always careful to make sure children understand how to treat dogs, but I knew I could trust my golden boy with children if I wasn't present, whatever happened to him.

They're all different and largely, it's down to how you handle them as a pup IMO - my blue roan could have been a real problem dog if handled in a different way as a pup but I'm pretty sure my golden boy would have been trusting, forgiving and lovely whichever home he'd grown up in. 

[supergirl]

I have Misha who is classed as a solid and she is a saint - she comes with me when I go and do homechecks (for rescue dogs) so that I can see how people deal with a busy little cocker.  She is great with children (and I don't have any) but I made every effort to socialise her when she was a pup.

Try to meet the parents of the dog - I was lucky enough to be able meet both dam and sire for both my dogs and all the dogs were lovely family dogs - its no surprise that both Misha & Roly have very good personalities and are very forgiving.  However a lot of effort has gone into their socialisation as puppies - this is something that should be a priority with any puppy and from as early an age as possible.

[K1m8]

i have a blue roan girl and a black and tan boy. i dont think the colour makes much difference or infact the sex as such. I believe all dogs are different (just like humans!) they all have there own characteristics and individual personalities. My blue roan is more affectionate & thrives from human contact she will always be laying next to me on the sofa or sitting on my lap. Whereas my black & tan prefers to lay in his own bed, he prefers his own space but when he wants a cuddle he will let me know! they are both very loyal though!
            Aswell as having their own unique personalities & characteristics a dogs temprement is also determined by its upbringing & how you train/socialise it.
Hope this has helped 

[Robbie34]

Colour has nothing to do with temperament.  The vital ingredient is upbringing.  Socialise, and start training your puppy before he is sixteen weeks old using positive reinforcement, as opposed to negative reinforcement, and you will end up with a happy, well balanced dog.

I have had three solid Cockers and all have been fine.  My present dog, Charley, is golden and you couldn't wish for a dog with a nicer nature.  You can do anything to him and he won't growl or snap.  Indeed, I don't know what you would have to do to get him to react badly.  He's fine with other dogs and animals, and hasn't a bad bone in his body.

[6thSense]

I was adviced against solid colour cockers when I got my first one and I got a Blue roan who I loved to peaces of course, but have always loved the solids and now I have a blue roan and 4 solids, 1 black, 2 golds and a red and really to me the blue roan is the naughtiest at times.   Like others have said colour has little to do with it and as long as you get your dog from a reputable breeder who does all the relevant health tests and the temperaments of the parents are sound. Then as long as you bring the pup up properly you really shouldn't have any problems. Good luck with your search.  

[JohnW]

We have 8 cockers now, 2 blue roans, 1 orange roan, 1 black, 3 golds and one solid liver. They all have their very own personality which differs to the others but on the whole they are all very much the merry cocker just at differing degrees of volume 

[rwasinski]

I think it is such a shame that people still associate solids with being temperamental.

Our two (one golden, one black) are lovely, gentle, loving, comical, merry dogs.

The colour of their coat has nothing to do with their behaviour.

[bajoleth]

I think it is such a shame that people still associate solids with being temperamental.

Our two (one golden, one black) are lovely, gentle, loving, comical, merry dogs.

The colour of their coat has nothing to do with their behaviour.

Couldn't agree with you more Rebecca

[henryjack1dogs]

Thank you to everyone for your views and own experiences.  I agree it is all about how you bring your dog up and ensuring they are socially adjusted at a young age.

I am only making enquires with good breeders who breed not only for good show quality but also fantastic temperaments.

I will continue my search for our new family cocker puppy, I have a couple of breeders I am going to visit and meet their dogs - litters are solid cockers - they are gorgeous.