Why did you chose a cocker?

[debbiedaywalker]

Since I was a child I'd always wanted a dog of my own, but my parents aren't doggy peeps, so I had to borrow family and neighbours' dogs to take for walkies.  I wanted a golden cocker (my neighbour had one and I adored him).

I was 27 before I was in the position to have a dog of my own, along came my Tessa.  By then the colour didn't matter, as long as I could have my own dog.  She was my best friend, we went through alot together.  When I lost her I didn't want another dog, I would never find one like her again.

I heard about Dexters litter through a customer and I thought 'I want one.'  My husband had already expressed his desire to have a cocker puppy.
My husband had only known Tessa for the last 2 years of her life and it was a tribute to her that he wanted another cocker.

I really couldn't imagine owning any other dog, Dexter is very different to Tessa but they share the mischievious streak and sense of humour.  Plus cocker kisses and cuddles are the best!

[louis mum]

I was cocker converted at a young age by my mum and dad. We had the most beautiful blk and white boy called Woody  He was my best friend throughout my younger years  I couldnt have any other breed tbh, I just want a houseful of bustling cocker bums 

[Beth]

I didn't in fact both breeds i have weren't what i was looking for at all, when i got Lucy i wanted a BIG dog, and ended up with, well... a lucy Jarvis wasn't planned at all, his breeders were friends of the family and i went 'round one day when his mummy was quite pregnant, and they said "So, do you want a puppy then?" and the rest is history

[M4ndy]

This is a lovely thread, some really nice stories.
My 10 year old Staffie died this summer when I was heavily pregnant with my son. I wanted another dog straight away but we were moving house as well so had to wait until the New Year. I did a lot of research in the meantime. I loved my Staffie and wanted a dog of about the same size and with as much character but without the aggression to other dogs and something that would be 'acceptable' to take out shooting on the odd occasion. Our neighbours at the time had a very cute working cocker that kept coming in our house but it was a bit 'mad' and I wasn't sure. Then one day I met a gorgeous golden show cocker at the local pub. I was smitten and as soon as I could started looking for solid show cocker. Jasmine was born in November and we saw her when she was 4 days old. It is quite hard work at the moment with 2 small children and a puppy but it is sooo good to have a dog in the house again  

[BabyB]

My father was a Royal Marine, and when we lived in Exmouth (I was 6-8yrs) there was a springer who lived nearby.  I seem to recall my dad saying he'd like a cocker when he left the Marines. 

So when I was 14yrs old and my dad had 'come outside' we went across Bodmin Moor to Delabo to collect our first cocker puppy - Katie #1 - she was solid black but for a flash of white on her chest .

She would sleep during the day and be awake at night, so my dad slept on a camp bed for 2 weeks  . 

She died 7th June 1998 of a stroke 3 mths before her 13th birthday (22nd Sept).  She is buried in the garden between two apple trees and my mum and dads wedding anniversary present from me, a bench, has a brass plaque with her name on it.  My mum still cries now when thinking of her  and likes to sit on the bench and talk to her 

We decided to get another, but got two instead - Morgan & Dylan (blue roans) who are 11 yrs old this year.

When I bought my own home I had a house bunny (Baxter - hence my name BabyB) who died 4th July '07 aged 6. So as we knew what we were letting ourselves in for  , we decided to look for a cocker but my husband wanted an orange roan - so we found our lovely breeder and have Henry  .  Henrys breeder approached us last year about taking Katie, Henry's cousin, as we'd been thinking of getting a second doglet - so now we have Katie #2 another orange roan 

So now we have 4 cockers between me and my parents - and we love them.

I think for me, it's the dog you knew as a child - and if your parents like the breed, then you tend to follow them too IMO.

I look at other breeds and couldn't have anything else 

[Stacey]

Me and OH wanted a family dog for our 18 month daughter to grow up with (we both had dogs growing up - both collies) so after much researching we decided a cocker would make and fab family dog! We got Archie and that we 3 years ago and never looked back. I also now have a weird cocker obsession and have to need to give them all big squishes!

When we were looking for a pup we had not colour preference of colour or sex - we just let the dog pick us 

[NuttySpaniel]

I grew up with a cocker who past away about 9 years ago. My mum got a yorkie after because she wanted something small and easy, then I wanted a more active dog so then we got Millie 

[EmmaA]

My great grandad used to breed and show cockers and although I never knew him or any of his dogs my Great Uncle carried on the family tradition and had two gorgeous little black cockers when I was a child. I absolutely adored them, they were called Lady and Emma  So when the opportunity arose for me to get my own dog (after much badgering of my OH who does not like dogs) it just had to be a cocker. Although I have to admit my experience with my own cockers has been totally different to how I remember Lady and Emma they were both very chilled out and laid back little ladies. Both the cockers I have had have been  although I no longer remember Groove that way I have only remembered the best bits about him now 

[Han]

Neither hubby or I have even owned a dog and aren't universal big dog lovers - so big dogs were out for us both. We wanted something small but lively that would love being outside and be able to walk all day - we do a lot of hiking/ climbing etc. A "proper" dog if you like!! I've always had a soft spot for spaniels (it's the ears!!) but hubby said no to a cav as they don't really fit the above criteria (!) and springers are too big. So cockers it was. The fact that they are friendly, good with kids and relatively easy to train all swung it even more in our favour.

I found COL and researched the difference between the strains then found a localish breeder through the kennel club. We had wanted a blue roan boy but the breeder lost one litter  so we ended up with 3 golden girls to choose from. Darcey was the darkest and tiniest in the litter and I loved her. She pooed on hubby the first time he held her and so the deal was sealed 

[wrenside]

We needed a good all round gun dog to take shooting. Labs/retrievers were too big, springers too bolshy, GSPs/setters etc.... too specialised.... we were running out of ideas  Then we were on a shoot and met Bella's mum  She was warm and huggy (it was a cold wet day), she had beautiful soft eyes, had beautiful proportions, gorgeous face and my doG was she good at flushing, retrieving and recall/sit  So we asked her owner all about her and what working cockers are like as house dogs, we were told that she's like a cat in the house and curls up in front of the fire or squeezes herself onto your lap for a stroke    Suddenly we had decided what type of gun dog we wanted!! 

We wanted a pup fro the same lines as Ella (Bella's mum) so left our contact details with Ella's owner in case he heard of any pups with the same breeding, or if Ella ever had pups. One year later we got a phone call to let us know that Ella was going to have a litter, and were we still interested in a working cocker? That's how we got our little golden girl, and I have to say she has been the best decision we've ever made. She's an absolute joy to take out on a shoot and worms her way into the hearts of everyone she meets  (even the toughest of gamekeepers have been known to give in and give her a little cuddle  )

Mary xxx

[LinzHenz]

I've always loved animals but my mum was never keen so we were only allowed hamsters and rabbits as kids. I was always drawing dogs and my favourite kids tv programme characters were sweep, hong kong fuey and dogtanian and the three muskahounds! Cockers! Didnt really think about having a dog until I moved in with my (now ex boyfriend) who had never had pets. I wanted a rescued greyhound coz I thought they would suit a working couple but was a bit put off that all the websites warned that these greyhounds had really bad recall...didnt see the point of having a dog if you couldnt let it off for a run. So in the end I got a house rabbit (strange compromise!), who has the nickname 'dog face' as she's quite a big bunny and can look like a dog (lop ears) sometimes!

Then when i moved out into my own place and bought my horse I decided what would complete the dream of walking to the stables from home would be the addition of a little dog. Moving jobs to being 5 mins from home meant i could come home at lunch so a dog seemed possible. Had a look at the local rescue and liked a parson's terrier but terrier and house rabbit were never going to work! Then a girl at the stables turned up with her little black cocker pup and I knew I wanted that breed so set about trying to find one. Eventually I found a nice lady in the village where I grew up. She'd said there was only one left, a little girl (I really wanted a boy) but when we got there, there was the boy and girl as someone had changed their mind. I had it in my mind that I wanted to have a quiet, steady dog. Got both the pups out and the girl legged it across the kitchen totally uninterested in people. But the little squidgy bummed Henry sat on my lap looking all serious like he was going to read the broadsheets over a cup of earl grey   so that was it he picked me! A year ago on Monday!x

[Sheryl]

I have absolutely no idea why I chose my first cocker.  I am just glad I did.  Maybe it is the part of me that enjoys a challenge! (I got more than I bargained for with Lyla )

[Helen]

..but the little squidgy bummed Henry sat on my lap looking all serious like he was going to read the broadsheets over a cup of earl grey   so that was it he picked me! A year ago on Monday!x

awwwww lovely description, can just picture him 

[SJP]

oh, and one Jarv's best mates is......Chalky Parsons  

What a fab name for a dog - Chalky Parsons 

I used to have a Golden Retriever, who went to live his latter years with my mum in the country, as by then we had two children under two. 
Then no dog for about 15 years. 
OH is not keen on dogs at all, but had promised when we moved to the country (before we retire) that I could have one.  I badgered him a lot saying things like "but what if we never move......"  
Anyway he relented and said I could have one.  To be fair to him I asked what breeds he liked and his reply was "I really liked Mark's dog" (fat old springer spaniel who had recently died).  I know a tiny little bit about dogs and said well I think a Springer would be too mad for us, "what about a Cocker?" - good size dog not too big, not too small. 
Found a breeder on the KC website (who failed to tell us they were working cockers, we thought we were on our way to see show cockers), all the way over to see them I was chanting to myself and daughter "if we don't like what we see we will walk away".   I can remember the breeder coming towards us with Lola's mum and me saying "but she doesn't look anything like a cocker spaniel"     
I'm ashamed to say we did it all wrong, saw all these gorgeous little poopies (5 boys, two girls all black with white bits on), fell in love, left a deposit and came home having no idea about working cocker spaniels (didn't know they existed up til that point). 
We picked up her two days before Christmas ..... and I spent Christmas Day sitting on the kitchen floor crying my eyes out thinking what on earth have we done getting a puppy she'll have to go back to the breeder.
However, I wouldn't have it any other way now.  She is the perfect dog for me, she is happy to walk for hours, do the wall of death or just chill with me on the sofa watching a film.  (Even our Vet says what a lovely laid back cocker she is.)
She's certainly not perfect but I love her too bits.

[allylou]

My daughter, then 6, really wanted a dog - i wasn't that keen but OH had been brought up with dogs and was quite keen. OH started a spelling competition with daughter, giving her 50p for every one she got right and agreed if she reached  £400 and still wanted a dog he would get one.

Well,  2 years and 800 correct spellings later she was even more keen on a dog.   By that time she had convinced me a dog would be lovely and after quite a bit of research we decided on a cocker spaniel. We first met Marley on New Year's Eve when he was five weeks old and it was complete love at first sight   which was particularly lucky as he was the only pup still available.
The last 3 years he has been such a complete joy, so much so that we got our second worker 3 months ago - i love the breed so much that i can't actually imagine ever having any other type.