Advice please Cocker Spaniel people

Cliqmo

Cliqmo

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Hello!

OH and I are thinking of getting another dog, some of you may have seen my whippet thread a few weeks ago?
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Well now we have moved on from Whippets (lovely as they are!) and are looking at cocker spaniels as a real option...

Personally I prefer the appearance and demeanour of the show lines (that dopey expression gets me every time!) but are they really as docile as they appear? We lead an active life and enjoy hiking, mountain biking and general outdoorsey stuff- would a show cocker enjoy it? Or are we better looking for working line cockers??

Any advice gratefully received
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Docile.....errrrmmmm....not a word I would use to describe young Henry that's for damn sure
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He loves his outdoor time - gets walked for about 1.5 hours a day and loses his marbles if that's reduced for too long a period. He swims in just about any weather and will walk for miles and miles - I had not had him long and we did a 12 mile hike - that was before he was fit and he bounced back from it in a matter of hours! He has been known to swim for the best part of a mile, along the canal with me walking alongside on the towpath. He loves to use his nose as well as any spaniel.

So yes, I think a show spaniel would do just right for an outdoors life
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Personally I prefer the appearance and demeanour of the show lines (that dopey expression gets me every time!) but are they really as docile as they appear?

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What Show Cockers have you met!!??
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They're all as mad as a box of frogs!!
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I don't think many Spaniels are 'docile' and I don't think there is one Spaniel breed not suited to an active lifestyle! (I do not count a CKCS as a 'real' Spaniel!
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Wow Hopping_Robin- Henry is awesome
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Thank you
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Now that he has reverted back from being the Spawn of Satan I agree
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Although if you look at my posts from last week you'll see a different view from me - all because he was not getting the exercise he needs
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They really do need good runs to keep them steady and sane, based on my expereince so far with Henry
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They really do need good runs to keep them steady and sane, based on my expereince so far with Henry
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That is exactly what I wanted to hear, as the vizzys are exactly the same
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I won't post the pic cos it isn't mine - but here is a pic of us on the long walk I mentioned:
http://www.norfolkywg.org.uk/29_Honingham/29_page0001.htm

It was filthy weather, muddy, horizontal rain and Henry was at the time obese - yet you can see that he is rareing to go even after a whole morning
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Now, he would eat a walk like that for breakfast!

I was a size 12-14 when I got him - I now take a 10 thanks to all the walking he needs
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If you want a dog to interact with your vizslas, you may find that a spaniel is more intent on work than play, whereas a whippet will play more (generalisation I know). Our two spaniels, working cocker and springer, have no interest in playing, being outdoors means working to them, that's their natural instinct, whereas all the whippets I've known (and mine is nearly a full whippy) want to chase and be chased!
 
My Henry is docile and lazy- Will walk as far as you, but happy not to
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Wouldn't be bothered to keep up with a bike (And is too into smells to come back reliably
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) He is show bred
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No they are not all docile....we infact get alot through rescue with attitute probelms and I can say in the 25 years my mam has rescue we have destroyed 2 dogs that where not workable with aggression issues.
1, cocker spaniel (show bred)
2, Dalmation

We have never had any issues with the working cockers and send them to the prison service but they wont touch the show cockers usually they describe them as attitudy and stubborn.
They have needs, and must be exericed and trained not molly cuddles, spoilt and babied no matter if show or working.
If you want an active happy little dog that is high energy, then go for it, if u want a more docile laid back pet thats less energy don't go for it.
I personally would not own a spaniel and would rather have a springer than a cocker, saying that I own a friggin wire haired pointer and I reccon he can out run and is higher energy than both a cocker and a springer
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but saying that I have met a few nice ones, I groom a gorgeous well mannered non pampered female cocker and my friends is a friendly but stubborn little fella, not for me, but then I have lots of whippeys and greyhound x's
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Adog is what u put into it, esp from a puppy(u have no excuse)
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Both of my cockers were from 'show' lines - they are happiest when charging around in mud, water etc etc My old cocker was walking for 8 hours a day on Skye and Mull for a fortnight only months before she died - she was 12 then!!
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Never forget her face as she 'fell' into a peat bog!!
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Still was as happy as a sand boy and nothing a pint of Caffreys in the pub wouldn't put right!!
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Spangles are spangles and need loads of excercise to keep them sane - but are the most gorgeous, friendly, happy dogs and every house should have one!!
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Including CAYLA..................
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We have 3 working cockers - and they genuinely do work as my OH is a sporting agent - so lots of picking up, rough shooting etc etc

My mother has 2 rescue viszlas - when I take my lot over to hers, my dog ignores hers - but then he ignores all dogs, the older bitch steals one of their toys and prowls around defending it, and the 2 year old bitch runs like there's a swarm of wasps behind her and the viszla boys can't keep up - they think she's wonderful but strange!

They get on brilliantly .... although each in their own way!
 
Get one!!! Get one!!!

How could you not want one of these Cayla?

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We live on a working dairy farm and I'm hoping we can tire Harvey out, once he's old enough. I love Cockers. My other one was from a show lines too. His only fault was recall, but I blame me more than him. In every other aspect he was 100% the perfect family dog.
 
Spangles....docile.....erm NOT!!!


Mad as a box of frogs the lot of them. Up for anything and always jolly. You will find yourself smiling a lot if you own one!
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I own a Cocker and she's nuts - LOVES her walks and will walk all day if she could!
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However, mine is actually quite a calm dog unless of course you provoke her into getting wound up and playful!
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We've had our boy cocker Louis for 18 months now and wouldn't be without him. He's a show type and is extremely energetic.

In the mornings he wants to go straight out for a walk and ends up jumping on top of me in bed and will not let me or husband lay in. If he's not walked by 9 am then our lives are not worth living- he will whine and follow us around, he doesn't understand that the horses are just as needy.

That said it's our fault for letting him sleep on our bed. We just couldn't resist his sad eyes.
It is similar to having a small baby/toddler that has no patience. When Louis is awake the whole world has to be awake.

I would definitely recommend them as a breed, if you love the outdoors and are active. Louis came on holiday with us to Herefordshire and loved it, spent 5-6 hours walking and did not tire in the slightest.
 
Not sure about cocker rage. it is still referred to in books about the breed. Our boy is blue roan so can't really comment.

Thought I would also mention that I was surprised to hear people comment that their cockers aren't hugely playful. My Louis is extremely playful with other dogs once he realises they are friendly. He loves nothing more than playing/bundling with my mums minature schnauzer, would do this all day if allowed to.

He also tries to play with parents cats, which can be interesting! He doesn't seem to mind being smacked by them, seems to think that this is great as they are interacting with him and must like him. Louis likes to collect friends-he is always happy to meet new people.

His tail doesn't stop wagging. When I was playing with him the other day he whipped his tail into my eye which was rather painful!

I have never known a dog that loves life so much. It makes us sick sometimes that he can be so happy all the time!

His only downside is recall, if he has found a scent. He will come when called at any other time, however once on a scent, he becomes deaf and blind to us. But always comes back eventually. Oh and he rolls in poo a lot- however have known many other dogs that do this. His nickname is pooey Louis due to this and the fact he took ages to toilet train!
 
So far as I nderstand it, "cocker rage" was more prevalent in the show lines as they tend to be more inbred (ducks and hides) than the working lines

Red cockers do tend to be hotter tho
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That's interesting!

I'm still debating on what breed of dog to go for myself....might go to crufts and the 'discover dogs' section as I am so torn by what breed to get! a JRT is probably too much work but that said I work from home and I'm happy to go for an hours run with a dog in the morning and a walk in the evening (or up the stables).
 
I was always told it was Black Cockers that suffered rage, more so than any other colour, and the common advice was to not buy a black where both parents were solid black too. Black Cockers often pop up randomly in alot of mixed colour litters and these would be a good choice to go for apparently. My Jasper was from a black daddy (who's sire was a golden) and a black and tan mummy.

I've heard alot of people say that Solid Golden Cockers have more health problems than other colours, but I have no idea if that's statistically correct.

I went for my litter because the parents were blue roan and orange and white. Plenty of varying gene pools there.
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