Cocker Spaniels

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Dizzle

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OH has his heart set on getting a cocker at some point in the future, I have to say I don't know a huge amount about them.

Firstly I've been told about the rage gene thingy, I know all dogs won't have this, but some can, can you test for it? Assume it is hereditary but how do you know if the parents carry it?

Secondly, I've also been told that ALL cocker spaniels when they start to age suffer with issues where their heavy ears pull their facial skin down, effecting the eyes and causing the eyelashes to curl into the eye ball. Have never heard of this before but have been informed that it effects all cockers when they get older??

I also know you get a working type and a show type. Differences? I think I prefer the look of a working type dog tbh. She'd probably be spending the days either with my border terrier (who likes to play, a lot, he's only 15 months) or out in the van with OH.

Any information grately accepted, it won't be for a while yet but I like to know what I'm potentially dealing with.
 
Hi. My main breed is flatcoats but I know a bit about the working strain of cocker.

Rage. It was an '80's problem, mainly in solid coloured show bred. Also in golden retrievers. Not heard of many cases since then and I know breeders worked hard to reduce it. Any grumpy cocker now seems tarred with the rage brush, but trust me it is very very rare.

Working bred dogs are very high drive and need a job. Agility, search and rescue, beating all keep them happy.

They have a strong desire to hunt, but you can direct that to finding toys etc. brain work and exercise is the key to a happy cocker :)
 
I am intersted in this thread as just brought a working cocker puppy which we get in a few weeks. I havent had one before but work with springers. I have heard the working have a higher drive and need to have a purpose we have a manic gsp and plan to do agility when old enough.
 
My cocker - St Sweep will be 15 in a couple of months - been to the vet a handful of times for minor things in all that time:D

Previous cocker was 12 when I lost her - she was gold - never had any problems behavioural or otherwise with either of them:D

Unless you count thieving and general spangle selective deafness........ :rolleyes::D

Generally the are lovely friendly happy dogs who love people and walkies:D

Mine were both 'show' type:D
 
I have a cocker x springer, her sire is a working Cocker. She needs to be active all the time, be it physically or mentally but she's fantastic, so friendly and happy. We haven't worked her just as OH who is the person who shoots just hasn't had the time since we got her due to work (he's a farmer) but she is never happier than she is in the woods in the dense cover. She will retrieve anything and will be out all day if needs be, always ready to go and do something.
 
Twizzel said:
I have a cocker x springer, her sire is a working Cocker. She needs to be active all the time, be it physically or mentally but she's fantastic, so friendly and happy. We haven't worked her just as OH who is the person who shoots just hasn't had the time since we got her due to work (he's a farmer) but she is never happier than she is in the woods in the dense cover. She will retrieve anything and will be out all day if needs be, always ready to go and do something.
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I bet that is a fantastic cross - I have had both. Black cocker, in the '80s, allegedly a rager but what he was in fact was extremely possessive, and an elderly vet told me the breeding line to check for - he had a triple cross! So no, probably not something to worry about. I have also had a Silly Springer, and she was such a kind devoted but energetic dog, she was brilliant.
I gather the roans are better temperament wise, but I wouldn't hesitate to have another cocker, of whatever colour. Just bear in mind they are retrievers, bred to hang on to things, so don't be surprised if they get a little possessive. Easy enough to remedy if you know how:D
 
Rage was significant more in the golden.

Are you looking at working or show types?

I've never heard of the ear thing and I'd suggest that it's a load of tosh (happy to be corrected by more knowledgable person)
 
I've never heard of 'rage' before but does explain a lot about a neighbours two golden show cockers they had a few years back, they were positively dangerous and would attack anyone who got close enough. They were both PTS at about 10 months old as they were by then completely uncontrollable even towards their owners. They then had a blue roan pair and they were delightful, loving pets who adored everyone. I would love a working cocker but OH prefers the springers.
 
The thing with the eyes is not an age related problem. They do sometimes suffer with entropian as do a few breeds where the eyelids roll inwards. Generally good reputable breeders will not breed from dogs with entropian as its a hereditary fault so like everything it's worth researching breeders and having a good look at the mother.
 
JillA said:
I bet that is a fantastic cross - I have had both. Black cocker, in the '80s, allegedly a rager but what he was in fact was extremely possessive, and an elderly vet told me the breeding line to check for - he had a triple cross! So no, probably not something to worry about. I have also had a Silly Springer, and she was such a kind devoted but energetic dog, she was brilliant.
I gather the roans are better temperament wise, but I wouldn't hesitate to have another cocker, of whatever colour. Just bear in mind they are retrievers, bred to hang on to things, so don't be surprised if they get a little possessive. Easy enough to remedy if you know how:D
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She is fantastic, but then I am biased :D
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Rage as said above is seen in the golden lines. It is a show disease and its vile.

I have two blue roans, a show and a show x working. One is 12 super fi and lovely but thick.... Younger is very active but a complete cutie .... Love them both so much!
 
Highlands said:
Rage as said above is seen in the golden lines. It is a show disease and its vile.

I have two blue roans, a show and a show x working. One is 12 super fi and lovely but thick.... Younger is very active but a complete cutie .... Love them both so much!
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Rage is a form of epilepsy and is seen in working as well as show lines -actually the last time I saw it in a spaniel was a black working bred cocker. I have also seen it in labs and it is known in springers in the USA. It is not a "show disease" it is a lack of care in selection of breeding stock disease so is not uncommon in puppy farmed dogs.
 
My working bred lad is gold, and I am constantly told he will turn on us one day by "experts" Not fearing for our lives just yet ;)

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Sounds like a good match for my Border Terrier. :D

Interesting about the Rage Gene in Golden Retrievers, my sister was attacked by one as a child (unprovoked attack, I was watching, resulting in a serious facial wound requiring 3 skin grafts and about half a dozen operations.)
 
_jac_ said:
Killing a flatcoat ;)
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Love this :D

We have had a show cocker, they can have problems with their eyes. But apart from that he was a completely soft little tanky thing :) However he did have a clash of personalities with one of our springer dogs, so he went to live with my cousin.
 
Wow, Twizzel - what a fab cross, she looks mega! Bet you can't wait to work her!

I'd say I was more of a springer person, in my experience springers seem more trainable and more able to concentrate, saying that I'm very fond of the cockers. Scappa is a golden working bitch, rather lively, needs quite a lot to keep her occupied otherwise she will cause a fair bit of trouble!

with the springer:
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and Scap's puppy, Snipe :D
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Snipe is identical to my daughters pup! Daughters pup is 4 months, working strain and the first Cocker we've had. She is lovely, comes to the whistle, sits etc. Very bright, very active! She does go the the office with my daughter most days where she stays under the desk with lots of walks at break times. Other days she keeps our working collie company in his run until I walk them. She is incredibly sweet, certainly less mental than the collie!
 
RunToEarth said:
Wow, Twizzel - what a fab cross, she looks mega! Bet you can't wait to work her!
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I still think she would be fabby at beating, trying to persuade OH to take her out next season. Last year was a bit of a write off as he ended up driving a potato harvester from May-Dec but hopefully he won't be this year so we will have a little more time to train her and take her out :D

another gratuitous Rosie pic-
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And spot the spaniel!
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they are a.m.a.z.i.n.g!!!!


i love my little lad - hes full of energy....happy and just nuts!!!!


the recall you have to get on at the from day 1 imo.... mine is 99% good :)

they try their hearts out working wise and mine always wants to be with me, its lovely :D



mine is working type (better type imo...!)... but alittle wonky with his front legs and hips but as happy as larry :D

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I like the look of the working ones more tbh.

Recall, well, the BT is starting private lessons to work on his so when the new one arrives I’ll probably take them both to private lessons, hopefully the BT should have the hang of it by then.
 
I've known two cockers that had rage - both were golden and both were put down due to unpredictable aggression. It's very obvious, literally like a switch goes and the dog completely changes. Generally if you have a bi colour one they seem fine, but I've known some solid coloured cockers that have been fine as well.

Not sure if the eye lash curling in (entropion) is common in cockers as I don't have much experience with the breed, however entropion can easily be treated with a minor op. Main thing would be to check eyes on a regular basis, particularly for pigmentary keratopophy which is caused by irritation from the eyelashes rubbing on the cornea (my dog had entropion as a secondary problem).

Lovely dogs, but like any spaniel, a bit too high energy for me!
 
I can't say it enough, but training and temperament are so important! I have three springers (and know of a gamekeeper's wife with nine!:eek:) and they know when to go crazy and when to be quiet:

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We have three all of whom are incredibly loyal, great companions, thrive on work (sulk all the summer due to NOT being allowed to sort the pheasants out!) and are generally very easy going lovely dogs. They do believe that they are experts on everything that you are doing from gardening to dealing with the sheep but are very trainable. I have always had labs and retrievers before but now I would not be without a cocker. My advice would be, as with any breed of dog, research the breed lines, and buy from a reputable breeder that you respect. When we went down to Devon last year to get the latest addition we were asked to take our other cockers down and we were very carefully watched how we interacted with them before we were allowed to meet Meg and approved for ownership. Very responsible breeder wish there were more like him.
 
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