Cocker advice

Came here for Joe.
Living legend.
I is disappoint.

We have a working Cocker - they are amazing creatures but you have to put the effort in. We don't work her but she is trained to a whistle.

They do need stimulation but note this isn't the same as taking them for long walks (that'll just make 'em fitter...). Simple things like getting them to look for treats in long grass. Let them sniff on lead walks!

Best advice I can give is to look at the Working Cocker Spaniel UK Facebook group - lots of great advice there!

I’m puzzled about the difference between a Cocker Spaniel and a working cocker spaniel. Is there a difference or is it just a marketing/price hike/ kudos type thing? We have Jack Russells crossed with somethings, they catch mice and rats, does that make them working dogs? Both asleep on the settee at the moment, not working!

Working cockers tend to have shorter hair, smaller ears and a less domed head. All cockers are 'high energy' dogs but ones from a working line tend to be more so. Show cockers tend to be more sedate (note this is relative!!!) and are more feathered.

Not noticed a difference in terms of price hike or kudos though... Just a question of knowing the breed.

Here is a link if your interested: https://spanieldogs.com/working-cocker-vs-show-cocker-know-all-differences/

@peter1979 rescue dogs can be trained, very faithful and good fun. Cheaper and more reliable health- we’ve never been disappointed! Don’t get fixated with a breed, we had an RSPCA Staffy, an excellent family dog, an ex traveller jack russell/schitzu breeding dog, the best dogs you can have without the inbuilt genetic health problems that you get with “pure” breeds. Hope this helps.

There is a significant difference between a show cocker spaniel and a working cocker spaniel. They're one of a few breeds (goldens, labs) where there is a clear difference between the strains. Both in temperament and looks wise, both are obviously capable of doing the other ones jobs but a working cocker spaniel isn't really going to have the ideal temperament to stand in a ring for as long as it takes. Equally a show cocker wont have the drive required to do long days on a hunt. Other breeds there hasn't been this clear distinction and they're expected to do both jobs and therefore this looks difference hasn't taken place.

Our friends working cockers aren't trimmed - the lad has a 'scouse perm' - there is a reason for not trimming as it protects them when they dive through undergrowth.

I asked them about it, but they leave them un-trimmed as much they can, but they do go for a tidy up on a regular basis for a cut and blow ! Sounds expensive to me !

Lovely dogs, high energy, but very inteligent - just need stimulation. I always go round with treat sticks. If the 'sticks' are too hard, the dogs will leave them outside or burried until they are softer - they have a soft pallet so can't chew hard stuff.

As for being with kids, they are fab. I mucked about pretentding to be a dog with the male (I was pissed at New Year) and he loved it - I chased him round on all fours woofing ! They are really fun dogs - kids will keep them busy.

We’ve had three show cockers. Henry# is now two and just spent four hours out walking with me. They are the Ferrari of the dog world. Full on energy and need that burnt off. Surprisingly, they get that from mental work. Our show dog (never shown) loves finding a ball by scent. So park in the dark for example for a good work out will see him spend ages looking for a ball (that may not have been thrown).

Great dogs. Not too big (think poo collection), so good for doubling up later. Respond well to training. My stepfather has a working cocker and previously a springer. There’s little difference in temperament between any of them. Working cockers are more stocky and slightly thicker set than show cockers. Normally brown or black. American cockers have different head shape. Show cockers come in several colours, black, red blue roan.

#Henry’s father was a best in breed at Crufts, but Henry has a LOT of cousins!

Thank you for the clarifications both, that’s perhaps my problem, dogs bred to look a certain way in the ring and therefore enhance the value to the owner, or, to “work”. A relative of mine bred Clumbers and also Irish Setters to apparently a high standard, a former neighbour of ours bred GSP’S. Grandfathers breeding with granddaughters, making a lot of money and all under the Kennel Club banner. Health problems for all down the line?

Cocker spaniels are awesome. Well, Spaniels are awesome and, up until my Springer died, I would have said Springers are more awesome. Cockers are just a more convenient size.

Anyway, I have a working cocker. He's nearly 14, nearly deaf, mostly annoying and very clingy. His idea of a relaxing day is sleeping on my lap when I am trying to work. BUT... Both he and his brother used to get three walks a day and a lot of training (his brother, the Springer, was a working dog, both are working strain) and this kind of settled them. They need stimulation, something to exercise the mind as well as their bodies. You put the effort in, they are 100% worth it. If you can't they are little sods. Ralph (cocker) got bored one day when he was a puppy and ate the broadband, twice. And a flipflop. The flipflop cost us 3 grand.

There will always be people breeding like that and with the rarer breeds it becomes difficult to not do that in order to try to keep the breed going. There's plenty of breeders out there who ridiculously analyse generations and lines to get the best out of the breed and never merge the lines like that. Just being a kennel club assured breeder doesn't guarantee the quality of the puppy you're buying I'm afraid because I dont think it's all THAT difficult to become one. I'd be looking at the club for whatever breed and speaking to the secretaries etc. who know all the lines and which ones to avoid for whatever health problems exist.

Nuts but brilliant…

My last one, Orla, gobbled down some horse manure whilst we were talking to someone. The stone she swallowed cost the insurance company £4k. We still have the stone but sadly not the dog. Liver cancer at five.

The breed is normally robust with relatively few issues (another reason for choosing them). But it’s the size and “real dog” features/energy (10 mile walks are fine) that sold us when the kids were 3 and 5. Now the kids are adults they miss the dog not the parents 😂

I wanted a clumber spaniel this time but slobber put Mrs TiRed off. On a cycling related note, Chris Boardman has several clumbers.

We had one, she was no problem, great family dog

We had a rescue springer when I was a kid that was more hyper, but again, not difficult

The collie X spaniel X retriever we have now is on another dimension in comparison. Total batshit.

I think it's very easy to underestimate the 'stimulation' required for working breeds as a new dog owner. You're going to think a nice big walk is going to do it and that'll be that job jobbed for the day. Nope! Even the walk isn't as simple as head down and off you plod, you need to create and maintain the love bubble otherwise they'll find their own entertainment, so every time they look at you 'yes' and give them a treat so that they understand that being with you is a worthwhile place. If that look doesn't come and they start to range further and further away, turn around and walk in the opposite direction without a sound or a peep so when they eventually think 'where's mum/dad' you're off in a new more exciting direction, maybe it's worth them keeping closer to you after all. The love bubble will play an important role when you expect a recall and you dont just ask for one in a required situation, you ask for several as you go. Occasionally during walks put them back on the lead and expect some nice walking before you release them again, you now have credit in your bank that you've given them freedom several times. You need to play games with them as you walk, ask them to do some of your training you've been working on, have special toys you ask them to find and engage with them. Without this plus much more they will find entertainment elsewhere because they're working dogs and you'll be one of those spaniel owners who stand screeching trying to find your dog.

Then once they've rested from their walk they're going to want more engagement or they'll make their own. So several training sessions through the day, sniffing games, puzzles, just going to places and watching the world go by so they get stimulation. This I'm afraid is the reality of getting a working breed puppy, I have one at 9 months old, feel free to send my sanity!

As a kid we had retrievers, and my sister currently has a lovely lab, but they are big dogs. We also had Cavaliers, but they are lazy dogs - other sister currently has a pup, and it's a waste of space compared to my cat's (big ragdolls). We do cat's now as we're out at work alot. Ragdoll's are quite like 'dogs' !

Deffo get a Cocker with kids. Very clever animals and they just respond to input.

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Our new spaniel girl is wonderful but hard work. We need to give her more of a mental challenge.

Cottage cheese and banana mix in a frozen Kong, didn’t take her long to work out by picking it up and dropping it caused loose bits to break off and fall out.

Our girl gets an hour walk a day, mostly off lead…seems fine with that but as others have said she needs stimulation aside from walking.

Having said that we sometimes miss a day walking due to weather/circumstances, doesn’t seem to phase her…very adaptable.

The flipflop cost us 3 grand.

<flippancyn> Havaianas have got pricey! </ flippancy> £6k for a pair, you woz robbed!

We used to hide the kibble around the garden to get ours interested in finding with his nose. Soft toys last minutes as I think he sees it as a challenge to remove the stuffing (which must smell). Hair is an order of magnitude lower than a retriever. He does get a few nice trims and a blow dry though. But likes swimming of course!

They do love finding things. Teach them “middle” to sit under your legs, and pretend to throw the ball behind you. Release the spaniel and watch them work. Walk around a bit and drop the ball downwind to make them work harder. They do learn to go downwind and work their way back. Much more fun than lobbing a ball and fetch. Then keep the ball for special play or they will become fixated.

Our first one used to fetch an aerobie but never bothered to find with his nose. Having said that it took him three years to learn to walk through a partially opened door! The second was a lot brighter. They are all different but I would not say they have personalities. Sex doesn’t really change their behaviours with the way deception of males wanting to mark their territory.

Head to dogstrust, go through your situation etc with them and they will match you with a great dog. I follow a few rehoming charities and they are inundated with pups.

We rehomed a few years ago, wanting a specific breed but came back with a boxer rotty cross who was the most amazing boy and fitted our life perfectly. We only had him a few years as he was an older boy, but if you're prepared to wait, a younger dog will come along.

Came here for Joe.
Living legend.

Likewise, but I may have some bad news for you...

Came here for Joe.
Living legend.
I is disappoint.

I was hoping for Jarvis, also let down 🙁

Advice?
Don't get a dog.

Spend your energy on your kids.
Try taking them for a walk instead.

we have a cockapoo from working cocker mother; the breeder warned us that we have to keep her busy or she'll go self employed, and you won't like the jobs she'll find for herself.

She couldn't have been more right. She will rest but she needs to be worked a few times each day, as someone said above just walks only make her fitter, she needs to sniff and hunt and play tug of war and find the ball that we haven't thrown (10 years, still hasn't sussed it). But we found her very trainable, excellent recall, etc. - as long as there's a treat on offer.

She's slowing down a bit, she's 10 now but still needs brain work more than longer walks.

My sister has a working cocker. He's just about a year old and is absolutely mental.

I'd seriously consider if the breed is the right one - incredibly rewarding but not to be taken lightly.

And a kind of nod to Rustyspanner. It's an idyllic thought that it'll be a family dog that your kids will help with. They won't, they'll love it but they won't walk it in the rain, won't pick up its shit in the garden, and once they get to teenage years absolutely won't be the ones that get up at 0630 to let her out when she barks to tell you she needs a piss. It'll be your dog, with your wife's help maybe.

Disappointed. We lost our gas connection yesterday and I came on here thinking I would get a recommendation for an electric oven.

While I'm here, I'm thinking about a range cooker with induction hob. Anyone with an opinion?

I love working cockers. Fantastic dogs and great fun. Loving the comments from everyone who has one.

BUT (and it is a big one) I would never recommend one for a first time owner. They require a lot of stimulation and focus.

One of my colleagues has just got a beautiful little girl working cocker but she actually does dog training and is looking for the drive in her. Sadly she posted on the group WhatsApp that one of the boys has been returned at 12 weeks as the family couldn’t cope with him. Difficult and brave decision but right one as he can get a new home so much easier and still be very trainable.

range cooker with induction hob. Anyone with an opinion?

Rangemaster Elise, quality thing that looks like a Lacanche for half the price.

Fwiw, my vote is for a Golden Retriever
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Get a rescue!

Lola: half fox half squirrel

22kg of joy.

8years old but quite trainable.

Great with kids* bundle of fun outside interspersed with happy dog sleeps...

*Cool calm and collected incredibly gentle at taking food from them.

Hands down the best thing that drains our bank account.

All generally positive and similar to what I have already heard/read about.

It's a big decision and not one I expect will be taken for a couple of months yet as I have to dog proof the garden and get a family trip out the way first.

Obviously I'm no expert here, but a couple of comments about not being suitable for first time owners and cocker spaniels being difficult is something that is playing a lot on my mind. To be honest I've read this about lab and border terrier etc too and feel like potentially this could happen to anyone with a tricky dog who is underprepared or not willing to stick with training. Am I wrong here?

It seems with dogs/puppies there are always a lot of people quick to tell you not to get one or that certain breeds are unattainable to you. But then there's been 20 or more posts above saying how great they are.

My position is not what breed to get just to get a rescue there are thousands of great dogs that need homes

Not just problem dogs proper delightful creatures ready to be part of team Peter & fam. Some are already trained. Cheaper too...

Appreciate the rehoming posts too. It's something we have looked into and enquired about. Particularly lab rescue as some friends recently adopted from them. Having small kids seems to be a real problem when trying to adopt.
Also, having a puppy is much easier for integrating into a family where our kids haven't had much exposure to dogs.
My son had a bad experience recently and having a grown dog in the house right away could be counter productive.

Also, having a puppy is much easier for integrating into a family where our kids haven’t had much exposure to dogs.

Ahaha. Puppies nip and chew beloved toys.

We had issue getting a rescue and not meeting the criteria. Lola came from a Romanian charity. She had previously been adopted by a family that fell apart. She was ready made for family life.

Re your son's experience. You have to get right into that a particularly nippy puppy could make things alot worse.

Try to borrow one, any dog will do. We looked after a friends Cocker many years ago for a week when they were away and that was really helpful for the rest of the family to understand the responsibility. I always had dogs as a kid so was a bit more aware.
Whatever breed you get they will rarely adhere to a pattern. I had a Lakeland terrier that was basically agoraphobic and we have now have 2 Cockers. One 9 and one 2. The older is a Blue roan and quite predictable, calm and loving but full of energy. The younger one is bonkers and actually quite challenging. She is a solid colour and quite difficult to walk on a lead, she acts more like a working cocker and is incredibly high energy. Love them but wouldnt have 2 dogs again....

Oh pro tip...

Lola has a curly tail when it was it wags over her back. Nothing has been knocked over by the dog. By me on the other hand... About once a day.

Get a dog with a curly tail save your carpet.

Sorry if my post reads like 'dont get a cocker', just be aware that they need a lot of input.

Someone said the Ferrari of the dog world, if by that they meant an involving drive that if handled properly will reward you in spades, but if not will have you backwards in a ditch in no time, then I agree. If your ambition is to pop down the shops for a pint of milk, get Kia.

Re the fear of dogs, all puppies nip and chew until you can train it out of them. Having one in the house should help with your son's wariness but there will potentially be a worse before it's better situation.

In the spirit of recommending what you have, I have a half cocker / half springer. Undoubtedly the best dog in the world, but I am biased.

Nice medium size, 13kg. Can lift over fences (not often required, she can clear a 4ft fence with ease), doesn't take up much space, not too big or too small
Can sleep all day without complaint or will run 30km around the hills when we go biking
Brilliant with kids, just loves being with her family
Doesn't bark
Doesn't chew, she still has the first toys she was given as a pup 6 years ago
Doesn't get ill
Gets injured (she is a spaniel) but regenerates within 24hrs like a new dog
Adores training / being worked but doesn't need to do it, just loves it when she does.

I don't like designer names given to dogs but have a look at Sprockers (cocker/springer)

Labs and retrievers are wonderful, trainable, lovable family pets. They are just big. I always had retrievers as a kid but I would choose a lab first, just because of the volume of hair to clean up.

First time dog owner, though had dogs as a kid - I have a WCS pup (11mo now). My wife was dead set on a WCS because she had them as a kid. They’re a great size for a dog. Mine’s lovely, absolutely beautiful and very fun. She’s also unflinchingly lovely towards my 7 year old who is quite rough at times. I love her and I’m glad we got her but here are the words of caution you asked for:

She’s a PITA sometimes when I’m trying to get on with E.g. cooking a meal and she’s just jumping around trying to get my attention. As above, the promises of help with a puppy from my wife / son have evaporated and I’m always the one getting up early / cleaning up the not infrequent ‘accidents’ / going out in this utterly shit weather. She won’t pee alone, so I have to stand with her, even when it’s raining. Although she doesn’t like the rain, either, so usually saves her pee until she’s inside. If I open the French doors in the wrong way she’ll bark at the reflections and completely forget why she’s there. Sometimes she’ll get completely preoccupied with shadows and anxiously run around the house chasing them - with no prospect of a ‘reward’ for a successful hunt. A lot of this is WCS specific traits so would perhaps have been easier with another breed. Our small house and winter also make this stuff much harder.

It’s also a lot more difficult to do things as a family - we don’t tend to leave the dog for more than a couple of hours which is quite limiting. Hard to go away for the weekend or on holiday. All of this leads to moaning from the rest of the family.

Some weird things I didn’t anticipate: I fully expected to be getting up early for walks, but I didn’t expect to have to coat the glass on my French windows with a non-reflective semi opaque coating so she doesn’t get spooked by reflections. I can’t use my phone around her because the light from the screen reflects on the ceiling.

My wife (who is a dog lover) frequently tells me she regrets the decision to get a dog. That’s the hardest thing - and of course there’s not really any going back so it’s impossible to manage those feelings.

Anyway, you clearly caught me at a good time for a moan. Dogs are ace.

We have a 10 month old WCS. We did lots of research and found some puppies from two dogs that generally result in easy to train gundogs with an off switch. They also have a lower than average (but still high) COI (coefficient of inbreeding). Our WCS has a very high prey drive and for the last 8 months we have put an enormous about of time and energy into training him on every single walk every day. He gets lots of off lead time, has a great recall to a whistle and walks to heel off the lead. He also largely ignores birds and squirrels now. He is a superstar. Walks are getting a bit more enjoyable now as we aren’t constantly interacting with him but we still have much work to do to and I’m sure all the work would quickly unravel if we stopped. He’s great and it’s been a lot of fun (most of the time) but it’s been way harder than we thought it would be!

He is also great in the house - the off switch bit is important I think. We have been lucky in that he relaxes quite quickly and easily though we have encouraged and rewarded this from when he was 8 weeks old. I think some WCS puppies need much more help to learn how to relax.

Pippa Mattinson has written lots of stuff on spaniels that is worth reading. We also used her books and online courses to train him. The best thing we did was buy one of her books before we got him.

I want your one with the off switch ^^^

I try to avoid 'working cocker' threads as there's often an overload of information but, as an owner [of cockers that actually do go working] and breeder I'd say this:
Working cockers are great and justifiably popular - great with kids, right size [for us] etc.

Although they will run all day they will also sleep all day if 'needed'. Leaving them alone all day is not acceptable (same for any dog, they need their 'pack')

Out walking they really need to be off the lead in a area with lots of cover that they can 'work'. You don't actually need to go huge distances, they will do it for you in the right environment.

Train them to the whistle ASAP. Get them to walk to heal ASAP - ideally they should do this without even being on the lead.

Having them clipped is a slippery slope.

Buy from a known breeder and very definitely look at the pedigree first - what you're looking for are ancestors with FTW (field trial winner) or FTC (field trial champion) by their names, the more the merrier! A dog from a great pedigree will have baked in instincts and will be steadier and much easier to train.

If you have the option get one that's been partially docked (this is very much linked to the point above).

Ours sleep outside in everything down to about -5 and they love going to bed! That said, they do sleep in a big box in a stable on a double layer of memory foam mattress, vet bed and are covered in fleeces if it's cold!!

I've got one of each. Definitely different temperaments, but they get on like a house-on-fire.

The Working lad (Ozzy) loves nothing more than charging about off lead in the woods and swimming in any body of water he can find.

The show girl (Maple) will follow him about (cant keep up he's super agile and fast), then eventually when she's tired come and walk with me.

I found both were very mouthy when they were puppies. The show type less so, but maybe that's because she had Ozzy to bite and play with instead of our fingers/ankles.

They're great dogs and as long as I take them for at least a 15 min walk (i walk, they run about like lunatics) twice a day they're pretty chill and will curly up on the sofa with us.

I think your comment about a puppy being better as they'll grow with your children shows that you're new to this whole dog ownership phenomenom. Puppies are an absolute nightmare!!!!! They bite, they chew, they chase, they don't understand that none of that is okay and trust me when I say there teeth bloomin hurt. For the first few weeks my OH's arm was COVERED in scratches and marks because he didnt listen to my instruction and guidance. Now throw into the works your children and their waryness and wanting to run away. I would actually recommend an adult dog in a family with children who have never had a dog before. Once you get over puppyhoood, you then have adolescence when everything you've taught goes out the window!

Our Cockerpoo Alfie has a working cocker mum and a miniature poodle dad.
He’s by far the cleverest dog I’ve know, I’d swear he’s close to talking.
Very easily trained, as a pup he only did a couple of wees in the house before he was completely House trained.
He’s extremely loving and very communicative.
Loves coming out on the bike with me, I only take him to the local forest on quiet singletrack. I treat it as his time so it’s mainly me following him at his pace, letting him explore etc.