Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
If a puppy is the smallest of the litter when born will it always remain a small dog or will it grow and catch up as an adult? Your experiences please.
Jack was the runt of the litter....he is now over height and is bigger than his siblings.
In my experience, and whilst they will to a degree 'catch-up', they're unlikely to reach the same stamp as they're siblings.
HOWEVER, what it is about the undersized I don't know, but they are often those which are the most nimble, the most athletic and are generally and mentally, quite 'quick'.
Many years ago a genius of a sheepdog man advised me to pick the smallest and the ugliest pup, and in over 30 years, his advice has stood me in good stead.
Out of interest, why do you ask? It's a topic of interest to me.
Alec.[/QUOTE
Possibly looking at some working cocker pups but don't want anything too big. The smallest is the colour I prefer and to my mind would suit me best on size so I wouldn't want it to grow too much. As you are one of the best experts to my mind on this forum could you please answer me a question? I love spaniels but do now consider springers to be too mad for me these days, don't want a show cocker and thought that a working cocker would be ideal as I have land and plenty of time to train it. However today two people have told me they are a mad breed and worse than springers. My question Alec is whether this true and whether they need a huge amount of work and exercise to keep them calm or does it depend very much on each individual dog? I am now in a dilemma as to whether I should get this puppy which I haven't yet seen in the flesh. Sorry one more question - are the working spaniel pups only normally for sale during the summer when the bitches aren't out working on shoots?
Has Jack been castrated, and if he was, at what age was the op carried out?
Alec.
I'm no expert but have a springer pup and know many people in gun dog community who have both cockers and springers. I have always been told that Springers work for you, cockers are self employed. A Labrador is born half trained and a Spaniel will die half trained. Generally I think Cockers are supposed to be much more hard work than Springers
Has Jack been castrated, and if he was, at what age was the op carried out?
Alec.
He was done at 5 months on the vets advice due to a retained testicle causing issues so early really.
…….. I love spaniels but do now consider springers to be too mad for me these days, don't want a show cocker and thought that a working cocker would be ideal as I have land and plenty of time to train it. However today two people have told me they are a mad breed and worse than springers. My question Alec is whether this true and whether they need a huge amount of work and exercise to keep them calm or does it depend very much on each individual dog? I am now in a dilemma as to whether I should get this puppy which I haven't yet seen in the flesh. Sorry one more question - are the working spaniel pups only normally for sale during the summer when the bitches aren't out working on shoots?
There are no hard and fast rules regarding cockers, in my view. 40 years ago, just about every cocker which I saw or owned, was bloody hard work! 'Then', they all needed an early start in the discipline department! 'Now', I've changed my view! Somehow they seem to be far more sensitive to correction and a more sensitive approach needs to be made. From a work perspective, they need to be allowed their heads, they need to be allowed to be 'children' if you like. Correction for cockers needs to be delayed until they are confident and capable of accepting it. That may be 3 months or 9 months, or even not at all.
A couple of years back, I bred a litter of puppies by the Field Trial Championship winner of 2013, who is a serious hard case(!) and out of a lovely confident and Ch x Ch bred bitch. The puppies had nothing restrictive done with them and were allowed virtually a free rein. I'm in touch with most, some in pet homes, and for reasons that I'm not sure, but they're all a bit diffident and shy.
Cockers tend to be quite intense. They also tend to 'own' their owners and can be easily offended. It all depends upon the individual animal, regardless of what the breed aficionados may tell you!
Thinking about it, there's a fine line, and the time to start with a bit of discipline, is when they decide that they know best, and they don't want to listen to you. Within a litter of 6 puppies, you may well find that each and every one of them is totally different! I love my Cockers, but they aren't everyone's dogs.
Alec.
Thank you Alec you have helped me make my mind up.
AAHH, but in which direction? I'm hoping that I haven't put you off. The best rewards are generally achieved from the most difficult dogs, and Cockers can be a bit tricky! A bit perverse, I'll grant you, but it's to do with the challenge of getting inside a dog's head, and having the dog 'wanting' to comply. The better that we achieve that, so the happier the dog that we have.
Alec.
You've certainly got me thinking and I need to take stock instead of rushing in headlong. The question is am I the right owner for a cocker? I suspect they are the canine equivalent to a fell pony and I reluctantly recognise I am too old to deal with that breed any more!
And Flatcoats are born and die impossible to train
a fell pony on speed
Oh Nicnac, why are you always so rude about flatcoats? I have had them for 35 years and every one has been brilliant and easy to train. Full of fun,enthusiasm and willingness to please.
n my experience at gundog classes alot easier and less hyper than any spaniel.
Sorry, I dont often get on my high horse, but you touched a nerve there about my favourite breed!
OMG then I'm certainly too old!
Oh Nicnac, why are you always so rude about flatcoats? I have had them for 35 years and every one has been brilliant and easy to train. Full of fun,enthusiasm and willingness to please.
n my experience at gundog classes alot easier and less hyper than any spaniel.
Sorry, I dont often get on my high horse, but you touched a nerve there about my favourite breed!
^^^^
As a compromise, you could always approach one of the rescue outfits and see if you can find one which if not old and doddery, at least displays some level of sanity! Though perhaps a bit thin on the ground, they do exist!
Alec.
Ets, if you google Gundog Training Forum, there's someone on there who operates a Cocker Rescue. My opinion of the person concerned isn't really printable, but you may find that if you 'rescue' from a 'Rescue', if you see what I mean, that you may find what you're looking for. Good luck! a.
…….. . Out of interest why do these dogs end up in rescue - is it because people can't handle them or that they are gun shy etc.?
If you really would like a work-bred Cocker, don't give up, there are plenty which are as amenable as you could wish for, it's just that 'selection' is the key!
Alec.