CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => General Cocker Spaniel Discussion => Topic started by: Opher on September 07, 2012, 03:03:13 PM
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Hello
I am hoping to rehome a 3-4 year old cocker spaniel from the RSPCA this weekend and would appreciate any advice anyone can give me on owning this breed, I have done some reading on the breed online but would like some advice from actual owners.
Thank u in advance.
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My cocker is nearly 4 years old and he's still mad as a hatter, but I wouldn't change him for the world. Obviously we spent time training him from a pup, so getting a dog that age could bring its own problems. Ozzy is good with kids but boisterous, house trained but likes to pinch socks. I'm not sure how you would find out your dogs temperament without a history of its previous owners, etc. If you've got kids this might be an issue.
I'd always say yes to getting a cocker, as long as you have the time to give/receive cuddles, go for long walks, expect him to come home filthy from long walks.
I'm sure someone will come along in a bit to tell you their experience of giving a forever home to an older ;) dog.
Whatever you decide, good luck
x
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Thanks for your reply,
I'm not sure that we will find out much about his past as he has come from Ireland and is currently at the RSPCA in brighton. We've got a 14 year old so I'm hoping that isn't going to be too much of an issue. We're all really excited about meeting him properly on Sunday and taking him for a walk, fingers crossed it all goes ok.
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I'm sure a 14 year old with be fine with him :)
Our cocker is nearly 9 months old now. She is our third dog.
I would say she is a very loveable loony! She is still a pup though. She is funny, clever and affectionate. She wants to please but can also turn a deaf ear ;)
She is very greedy, which does help with training.
I'm not sure they are the easiest breed to own but would I recommend them- yes, absolutely! Hope you get on well.
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Welcome to COL :D i hope your meetup with your new boy goes well, they truly are a lovely breed, i have had cockers for the last 20 odd years :D If you look at the meetups, you will see we have a meet up in Sussex on the 27th October and you will get a chance to meet up with some of our Boys and Girls :shades:
Stephanie, George and Hamish xxx
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A warm welcome to you. All I can say of this breed, is once they enter you heart, you never look back and you will wonder what life was like without them, I have a cocker who I have had from 8 weeks and a cocker who I rescued at 5yrs. I adore them both and can't imagine life without them. They are happy, loving, funny, sometimes frustrating (in a cheeky way) but always always a delight. You won't have a choice but to love the back :005:. They need and love their cuddles just as much as they love their walks. I'd say the perfect all rounder. Oh except for the fox poo rolling :o
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Welcome to COL.....
Looking forward to hearing more. Xxxx
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Hello Welcome to COL. :D We have a nutty 7 year old orange & white boy. He is so lovable with lots of cocker kisses, he is very nosy :005: and he has lots of energy, he loves his walks and especially swimming.
Good luck. hope to hear more about your new addition.
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Welcome! Do you know if the dog is working or show strain? They have slightly different appearance and exercise needs! Working dogs are bred to work and are much more active and need lots more exercise as well as mental stimulation. Show types are bred to sleep on the sofa next to you ;)
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Welcome! Do you know if the dog is working or show strain? They have slightly different appearance and exercise needs! Working dogs are bred to work and are much more active and need lots more exercise as well as mental stimulation. Show types are bred to sleep on the sofa next to you ;)
I wish someone would tell Archie that! He obviously thinks he's a worker ;)
Opher, welcome and good luck for your meeting on Sunday.
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Welcome! Do you know if the dog is working or show strain? They have slightly different appearance and exercise needs! Working dogs are bred to work and are much more active and need lots more exercise as well as mental stimulation. Show types are bred to sleep on the sofa next to you ;)
I wish someone would tell Archie that! He obviously thinks he's a worker ;)
Haha maybe its the name. My Archie definitely didn't read the rule book for show strains
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I wish someone would tell Archie that! He obviously thinks he's a worker ;)
Haha maybe its the name. My Archie definitely didn't read the rule book for show strains
Penny hasn't readthe rule book either!
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Hi and welcome to the forum.
Well done for giving a cocker another chance at life. :clapping:
We rehomed a 7 month old cocker, Milly, from a rescue centre some eighteen months ago and, being perfectly honest, our little black furry person has brought a whole new meaning to life for us....Hectic.:005:...But now we wouldn't have it any other way. :luv: :luv:
The best thing we did, as newbies to cocker spaniels, was to join this forum and benefit from the experiences of other, more experienced, owners.
Just reading the posts will give you a very good idea of what you've let yourself in for but I doubt if anyone on here would have it any other way. I've learned that there's something very special about cockers that makes them a breed apart.
Just try and keep in mind that a rehomed cocker has already gone through some huge upsets in life and is probably feeling really confused and unsure of things. You and your family have to provide the rock that he can start rebuilding his life on. Be gentle and understanding and I'm sure that you'll find that he'll repays your love and affection many times over.
There will be a period of adjustment on both sides but try and remember that, just as you don't know details of his past, he doesn't know you either and will need gentle guidance to become all you hope of him.
Good luck this weekend, fingers crossed and hopefully you'll soon join the wonderful world of Cocker Spaniels. ;)
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Thank you everyone,
The meet up went very well and our new dog Eddy is currently laying on the sofa next to me!! I hope to be able to use all your knowledge and experience of this breed via this forum and i am also very interested in attending the get together with other owners in Sussex in october.
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Oh wow! Glad it's clearly gone so well. Can't wait to see the pictures ;)
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Good to hear your new boy has claimed his position on the sofa :005:...a sofa not a sofa if there is not a cocker curled upon it
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welcome home Eddy :D
looking forward to hear how he's settling in and seeing some photo's ;)
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Oh that is lovely news. :D Welcome to the mad world of cocker ownership. ph34r I am sure Eddy will bring a lot of fun, love and laughter and maybe the odd ' what have I done" :005: moments into your life.
Need to see pic's when you have some.
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Welcome to the forum and a huge welcome to Eddy, love the name. You are so lucky to have become owners of a cocker boy. There will be times when you wonder what the hell you have let yourself into >:D don't worry post any problems or any anxieties that you have and maybe you will get an answer and solution. One things for sure you will get the support.
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Lovely news :luv:
Good luck with settling Eddy in :luv: if you ever need help/support you will always find someone on here to advise ;)
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Welcome to you and Eddy :luv: the sofa is a perfect place for him, best for cuddles and being adored ;) Enjoy, and take it as it comes, there will be bumps in the road, but hey, thats life, we are all here to help if we can.
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I have Three Spanglies now :luv:. Our latest addition came to us in June, she came from a home where she had been kenneled outside from a pup, she is now 22 months old. She doesn't seem to have had the best start in life as she is very nervous and cautious or everything and everybody. Although she is now in the house she dives outside at every opportunity and hides under the hammock. She does seem to be getting worse, she has started stealing things and hiding them outside, but we will not give up on her, she is a beautiful dog. The saving grace at the moment is that she adores my 12 year old son and goes to him for affection. She does not play although she does wag her tail at us and then runs off :huh:. She will take food off any of us but woofs it down like you are going to steal it :005:.
We are just glad we found her when we did, she is hard work emotionally but we love her. :D
Good luck with Eddy, glad he is doing well xx
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Hi,
First of all, its great to hear you are adopting a little cocker, i wish you and the family every bit of success.
One of the biggest bits of advise i give cocker owners is to register with this site with you have already done and use it, ask questions, read threads....... (aswell as removing all cream/white carpet/sofas and so on from your house :lol2:)
We have learnt loads from the site over the past couple of years and are grateful of everyones input.
Jon
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I fell in love with my Pippa in May when I went to babysit my three grandchildren for the weekend only to find that as well as the children and my daughters whippet I had my daughters friends two cockers to look after and I fell in love with Pippa who was described to me as naughty, I was also told that her owner didn't know whether she would keep her. Well pippa at that point was 18months old and left alone with the other older cocker for at least 7/8 hours a day, no she was not naughty she was an intelligent dog who loves company and was desperate to learn. After my weekend with her I told my daughter should this lady want to rehome Pippa I would love to be her new mum I am retired and have all the time in the world I also have a thirteen year old poodle and a three year old Chinese crested powder puff and last Sunday I got my Pippa she is a joy very quickly settling in, I do 10 minutes obedience with her a day and we enjoy our walks and of course she loves the company.
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Welcome to COL Joyced, another cocker rehomed :cool4: So pleased things are going well.