WE'RE NEW AND WAS WONDERING!!!!!

[Gunner]

Hello my name is Charlotte and have been looking around the site for a while now what a great site!!

My family and I ( HUBBY, 2 YEAR OLD AND 5 YEAR OLD 2 YOUNG CATS) are hoping to add a Show Cocker to our family early next year

I have been reading some books on the breed and in one of them it says that " SOLID COCKERS are highly intelligent and therefore need a firm hand. If you have a family with kids, it might be wiser not to buy a red or black puppy because in that case the pup will have several 'masters' and will end up not listening to anybody! and that he might become slightly dominant

Has anybody experianced this as i would love a red Cocker but would have a parti colour if that would better suit our family

Your thoughts would be much appreciated

[Aearoniel]

As far as I have seen there is nothing to link temperament to coat colour, you should be fine with which ever colour you opt for as long as the breed is definately the one for you

[Cob-Web]

Your thoughts would be much appreciated

Not so much a thought as a question - what is the title of the book, who is the author and when was it published ? (OK, that's three questions  )

There are literally hundreds of experienced COL members here; all I can suggest is that you read their experiences, and draw your own conclusions 

[Coco]

I think some one will be along to give you advise re: coat colour soon. We were looking for solids (Black though we ended up with liver/chocolate) Even at the 6-8 weeks stage there was a real difference between litters and pups within the colour. If you look at a few litters you will see some pups are much more hyper rambunctious than others. Of course this can change as they grow but even within one colour you will find calmer and more active pups. If you do decide on a Cocker, try to see a few litters to get the right dog for you.

Also, some books don't seem to differentiate between working and show cockers when they talk about characteristics which I'm sure you know are very different.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[Gunner]

The book is " COCKER SPANIEL " Author Haja van Weesem is part of the PetLove range and was published this year

Thanks

[Hurtwood Dogs]

Hello there

There are quite a few posts with reference to this solid v parti-coloured thing already..

I have had a gold show cocker which I sadly lost earlier this year and currently own a blue roan pup. My gold dog was highly strung and had a lot of energy but a wonderful wonderful kind dog to own - my son came along when he was a one your old dog and he proved to be totally bomb proof with kids - because he trusted me and we had a good relationship before the kid came along. My new blue roan pup is a lot more laid back but is currently very bitey towards my now 5 yr old son, something all puppies do to a greater or lesser extent. Young children definitely inspire puppies to bite more too as they give all the right reactions - squeak,scream and run!. However, I expect my new pup to be just as kind a dog as my last was with the right handling and training.

I'm not sure what exactly the 'firm hand' is referring to in your book.. no pup is born 'bad' they all need to learn about how to interract with their human families and by far the best way to do this is by positive reward and consistant calm handling. Also avoiding situations that could cause problems - I'm currently keeping my puppy and son  mostly separate until the pup is a bit older and learns not to attack my son every time he walks past. 

Same as children, puppies don't learn how to be acceptable in our world over night it takes a long time. If they experience bad things or don't get socialised or introduced to new things in the right way, then they will react in a way that's natural to them; that we as humans, may not approve of. If a dog experiences pain or lots of shouty aggressive 'dominant' behaviour from us, it may well inspire aggressive behaviour in the dog.

Each dog, regardless of colour is unique and the key is knowing that you have the time, patience and are prepared to put a lot of kind hard work into your new charge and spend time learning about the best way to do it. Cocker's are not always the easiest dogs but they all respond to good training...

Good luck and keep us posted!

Hannah x

[Jan/Billy]

Your thoughts would be much appreciated

Not so much a thought as a question - what is the title of the book, who is the author and when was it published ? (OK, that's three questions  )

There are literally hundreds of experienced COL members here; all I can suggest is that you read their experiences, and draw your own conclusions 

Gwen Bailey has a similar write up in her breed book 

[Cob-Web]

Your thoughts would be much appreciated

Not so much a thought as a question - what is the title of the book, who is the author and when was it published ? (OK, that's three questions  )

There are literally hundreds of experienced COL members here; all I can suggest is that you read their experiences, and draw your own conclusions 

Gwen Bailey has a similar write up in her breed book 

Which is why I asked really; there are some authors, like GB and others, who promote more traditional dog behaviour/training methods, but having done a Google search, Haja van Weesem only comes up as the author of this book 

[Joelf]

I have this book & also one in the same series about labs.

Although a lot of the advice given in the books is relevant to the breeds an awful lot of it isn't & it does have quite a lot of ideas that are now out of date (particularly regarding choke chains etc)

More important than worrying about the colour of the dog is making sure that the puppy comes from a reputable breeder not a commercial breeder/puppy farm.

There is a useful link HERE giving lots of info on finding a good breeder that does the correct health checks & very importantly breeds from parents with good temperaments.

Good luck with your search for your puppy!!

[Jane S]

.. but having done a Google search, Haja van Weesem only comes up as the author of this book 

Haja is a Dutch breeder of particoloured show-type Cockers and this is her only book, as far as I'm aware. I'm sure it was published quite a few years ago unless there has been a recent reprint.

[Rhona W]

We have two solid coloured cockers - one gold/red and one black. We also have 4 children, who ranged from 17 to 7 years old when the dogs joined our family.
The dogs will 'listen' to all of us, especially if there is a treat in hand.  They are not dominant in any way. (If you believe that dogs do actually see themselves as dominant, which I don't.  )
And whoever said solid colours are highly intelligent had obviously never met Casper!   

[Beth]

I have a solid cocker, who will respond to all the family, he knows that different people do different things with him. I also have a 6 week old baby, and i trust Jarvis with him as much i could trust any dog. (E.g. My baby way laying on his playmat having a kick around, Jarvis was on floor next to mat getting repeatedly kicked in the nose without batting an eyelid Hardly a dominant dog )

It sounds like complete rubbish to me, and funny that it's a particolour breeder saying that.

ETA: Was in a rush earlier, i meant to say, go with your instincts, don't let what you read put you off.

[*jean*]

my rolo is a solid liver working cocker hes as laid back a lad as you will ever see. not a grumpy bone in him..   hes just a bit partial to stinky dead things!

[Shelley]

Hello and welcome to the board

I was told that show type roan's were more laid back than show type solids. I have two blue roan's and I have to say they are certainly not the mad speedy things my husband kept saying they were going to be, though the younger one is more laid back than the older one.

[Gunner]

Thank you all very much for your reply's i shall visit a few litters before deciding on a colour as long as the temprement is right i don't think we will be to fused on colour...
I am in the process of serching for breeders in the south east and will of course make sure both mum and dad have clear eye certificates etc....

Thanks again
Charlotte