Owning Spaniels - What's it like?

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Thistletide

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Hi there,

I'm a long-time lurker of the forum, so I thought it might be a good idea to get some advice insight into my breed choice. After much toing and froing, I'm pretty confident that I'll be opting for an English Cocker Spaniel. Though I prefer the more 'moderate' appearance of field-lines and actually quite enjoy the fizzy personality, a bench-line Cocker seems a more sensible option for my lifestyle as I don't intend to use my dog for hunting. I'd be interested in pursuing scent-work and agility, but not on a competitive level.

I'm just wondering if anyone here might be able to give me insight into what living with such a dog actually entails? I'd love to hear about people's experience with the breed, whether that has been through owning one or through simple interaction.

I have also looked into Springers, so I'd be curious to hear how similar they are to Cockers. Again, I'm pretty confident that I'll end up with an ECS—but I'm still quite interested in them. I've always assumed the two weren't all that different due to their history.
 
Bench bred is an American term, OP, where are you based? The US show line cockers tend to be bigger framed and less energetic than working lines. The working line Cockers in USA are quite different from UK/Europe except for imported lines. Larger and more head strong than the UK equivalent.
 
I was bitten on a private plane by a Cocker spaniel so that put me off them! She always sat next to pilot (ex brother in law) and he called me up to take the controls and Ms Cocker wasn't happy!

I have a working bred Springer. Mad as a box of frogs, loyal, intelligent, independent, can be anxious, needs and gets loads of exercise, both physical and mental. He is more my husband's dog but I do agility with him.

Would I get another? Probably not. I prefer larger breeds.
 
I do agility and there are loads of Cockers - biggest issue I see is when the dog actually won’t start - just sits in front of the first jump. Other than that they’re pretty biddable. ESS seem to spend all their time with their nose on the ground though.

We’ve had both breeds (for working) and my opinion is that they are the Official Fun Police, and potentially jealous towards other dogs. Not a problem if you only have one dog, and don’t ever make a fuss of another!
 
druid said:
Bench bred is an American term, OP, where are you based? The US show line cockers tend to be bigger framed and less energetic than working lines. The working line Cockers in USA are quite different from UK/Europe except for imported lines. Larger and more head strong than the UK equivalent.
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Oh, I’m based in the UK actually. I didn’t realise that bench-bred was an American term; I’ve always used bench and show equivalently. That’s interesting though—I’ve never really considered how much lines in different countries can vary despite still being show or field.
 
Cockers are great fun but they lack an ‘off’ switch more than most of the spaniel family 😂. It might be a good idea to look on the KC website for fuller definitions, There are ‘working’ cocker spaniels who tend to be the most hyper of the lot and ordinary cockers, now sometimes referred to as ‘show’ cockers - although they might not be show standard. Field spaniels are a distinct breed with their own registrations not to be confused with working cockers although some are excellent workers if trained properly. The field spaniel is often regarded as the ‘quieter’ type of spaniel. They are much rarer than cockers and can be slightly shy until they get to know you. Springers again divide into show and working lines. The workers much busier and smaller than the show type. There seem to be lots of smaller springers around and there are lots of springer rehoming groups. Spaniels on the whole are a little less greedy than labs although both are happy to help themselves to a quick ‘snack’ should they chance upon something within easy reach.😇 Good luck in your search @Thistletide 🐶🤔💨
 
Others will speak better to training and temperament needs but something to be aware of with show cockers vs workers is the coat maintenance. Show standard types can grow a LOT of coat, it can be fine and porous, prone to matting and takes a glacial age to dry. I only occasionally look after a pair and absolutely couldn't be doing with the level of grooming needed to stop them smelling cheesy.
 
I have a (working type) cocker. He is the best. He is needy, alert, far too smart for his own good, somehow both soft and very opinionated, been called ‘relatively calm for a cocker’, but I spent the first few years of his life just trying to keep the lid on and sometimes still do, enthusiastic, an incredible scent and search dog, drivey, nosey, everybody’s best pal, stays close off lead unless he finds something he wants to roll in, generally intense, always ready to do something and be involved, hard work and constantly finding ways to outsmart me but absolutely brilliant with it.

I don’t think I’ll ever be without a spaniel now, I love their natural movement, search style and enthusiastic smarts - but likely a springer next. From what I’ve experienced (mainly with search and rescue dogs) they tend to be more straightforwardly consistent (eg once they have learnt something don’t try to find one million ways to shortcut it and outwit you next time), and whilst they might be madder/rangier outside, seem to settle in the house better.

And yes, they will always find a way to have wet ears full of bits of undergrowth or sticky buds or grass seeds.
 
Clodagh said:
It’s not just cockers. It’s all self motivated, wilful, don’t care yet clingy hyperactive, needy and neurotic things. I mean spaniels. 😁
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It’s a fair assessment tbh. (Although, I would say mine cares intensely - did you drop something!? Let me get it for you! Fast! Are you going to fall? I’m so worried I’m going to jump on you! Have you lost something? I’ll find it! Fast! Was that the faint sniff of a forgotten tennis ball? Let me run 500m to find it, and then parade joyously around you with pride!)
 
I love my little working cocker. We taught him from day one to chill out and he will spend hours snoozing but the second you move he's like a spring.
He is very needy and likes to be touching you at all times but he is also so smart and we have done scent work and man-trailing with him and he has picked each up incredibly quickly and always wants to do more.
He is nervous though and wary of people - if there's a noise he jumps.
I have seen lots of people get into bother with them resource guarding as they don't understand the instincts of the breed. We started to get this when he was a pup and I did lots of work with drop, leave it and trading toys but I can see where the resource guarding could have had a tipping point if I hadn't got on top of it at that moment.
 
Thanks for the insight, I really appreciate it. Choosing a breed is a bit of minefield to be honest. 😅

I was initially thinking that I'd might be better off with a Labrador or a Golden Retriever. They come across as more... uncomplicated. It's the size that puts me off though. I know Cockers can be exuberant, but I don't think I have the strength (nor the space) to deal with a rambunctious Lab pup. The smaller size is just so much more convenient for me.
 
I’ve had three springers. Would have them again in a heart beat. My friends working cocker isn’t wilful at all. Quite laid back. She wanted to do agility etc so it’s a mismatch! Show bred one I know barks hideously in the car. But is a sweetie. Loads of coat! I think my next might be a terrier. Or maybe just a food old fashioned mongrel. If I can find one! Always have rescues. Won’t go to a breeder s owe will see! For a few more years with the crazy Lurcher first!
 
OH's aunt has a show line cocker. He's very sweet but I would agree with many of the terms used above - clingy, hyper, slightly neurotic, tennis ball addict. He also barks a lot to make sure that everyone knows exactly when he's not getting the attention he believes he's entitled to! He needs regular trips to the groomer to keep his coat under control.

Honestly, as sweet as he is, our two much bigger dogs are far easier to live with in my opinion.
 
I found the first 6 months with my cocker spaniel way harder than I've found 4 weeks with my German Shepherd.
Fraggle was clingy, we never successfully crate trained him and I often wondered WTF have we done. He is my first Spaniel. After those 6 months he has been a joy to have. We went to puppy classes when he was 12 weeks old. He couldn't be left on his own without howling so he went to Grandma when I worked (3 days a week).

In comparison I've had numerous GSDs and they have been much more straight forward. They've always fitted in easily and I've never had puppy blues with them. They want to be with you but dont have to be on top of you.
I've no idea about any other breeds and what they're like as pups.

Both dogs are current sleeping - spaniel Fraggle on the sofa with me. Puppy Kismet on the floor sprawled out.
 
FionaMc said:
It’s a fair assessment tbh. (Although, I would say mine cares intensely - did you drop something!? Let me get it for you! Fast! Are you going to fall? I’m so worried I’m going to jump on you! Have you lost something? I’ll find it! Fast! Was that the faint sniff of a forgotten tennis ball? Let me run 500m to find it, and then parade joyously around you with pride!)
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Clodagh said:
It’s not just cockers. It’s all self motivated, wilful, don’t care yet clingy hyperactive, needy and neurotic things. I mean spaniels. 😁
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😂 This.

I believe that my rescue is actually a sprocker, although we were initially told he was a cocker. He would tend to prefer to sleep during the day and comes alive in the evenings so he's not full on 24/7 like some can be but if he's not been able to sleep all day like he'd like to, he's knackered by the evening which means we get a night off from constant entertainment 😂.
However, when he is awake, everything is a rush and a competition of how fast he can possibly do everything. You can't sniff without him thinking you're going to do something or make any sort of noise without him thinking it's about him. Everything must be about him, surely? I adjust myself on the sofa and he's flying up thinking I'm going to go somewhere. So despite being needy because they just love you soooo much, he's actually been very trainable and just so loving despite being totally wired for the best part. He's had moments where he decides it's much more fun becoming "self employed" and sprinting at 100mph in huge circles, crashing through bushes but he's a lot better and knows when to stay at heel and when he's free to go but not too far. His retrieval on things when he's told to "find it" is incredible too and he absolutely thrives off being given tasks for a ball, even just the basics of sit, back up, lay down, paw etc, anything to be told he's a good boy!

Mental stimulation tires them out much quicker. Mine could run for 6 hours straight before being tired but take him to a friend's house for an hour and he'll be conked for 24 hours after that! Overall, it is usually total chaos but trained to know the boundaries and when to settle.
 
Hi Thistle- I actually went looking for a lab/retriever and ended up with a half a springer spaniel (other half pointer). A lot of what everyone says rings true but mine has a great off switch.

She absolutely needs a job, the jobs can be silly, 20 minutes of find blue ball/now find red ball/now find monkey / sit/wait/walk backwards etc satisfies her more than an hours walk. Her main job is she goes to our garage gym in the evenings with my husband, waits patiently for him to give her commands inbetween sets and then assumes waiting position again. She loves it and this helped her confidence loads too as we switch between quick wins and more complex instructions. The number one thing to tire her out is an excursion even if it's just going to the pet shop. That's not to say she doesn't need a good leg stretch, she really does but she is happiest after brain work/brain work as part of her walk. If nothing is happening and she's worked her brain she can be found nestled in a blanket/trying to crawl into my skin. She is really very good with other dogs too which is an unexpected blessing as she wasn't socialised much as a pup.

I wouldn't be without mine, she is like velcro, never met a person she didn't like, thinks visitors to the house are there to see her, loves kids, super affectionate, loyal, not too barky in the house, doesn't react to fireworks etc, clever (i wouldn't mind her a bit less clever tbh) , and a big goofball. Main challanges were lead walking and separation which may be because of her previous home but seems common within springers. She is definitely more springer than pointer in her behaviours.

I look forward to seeing what you end up with as when i was contemplating a dog I'm pretty sure I started a thread asking about labradors 😁
 
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