Cocker Spaniels are the smallest members of the Sporting Dog class. They are also the cutest! There is little doubt about why these dogs are among the most popular pets in America. A carefully bred and socialized Cocker is intelligent, quiet, loyal, and tends to be a good choice for a home with children.
Cockers are what you'd call a 'medium' on the maintainence scale if they are kept as pets (high if kept for show). They can be clipped to avoid the otherwise necessary regular grooming, and their ears should be cleaned at least once a week to keep them healthy. They do not eat a lot of food (compared with other popular breeds such as shepherds or retrievers), and will thrive in almost any home setting so long as they are loved. They form strong bonds to their 'people', and will likely not want you out of sight. Their size makes them ideal for city or apartment living, and is also an advantage for someone who does not want an 'intimidating' dog. Cockers are docile creatures who are loyal to their owners. Their heritage provides them with excellent hunting and scenting instincts, and if nurtured, this instinct can develop into considerable ability. They are playful and make exemplary 'family dogs' and companions for the elderly (again their size is an advantage here, they handle much more easily than bigger breeds and are hardier than many of the small breeds).
Cockers, if poorly bred or socialized, can be as bad as any other dog. An unloved, mistreated, or neglected Cocker is indeed a miserable creature. It is especially important if you have children to make sure that your dog and your children are properly acquainted and treat one another with appropriate respect (no matter what breed of dog you own) You may find that for this reason, some Cocker breeders will not sell a pup to families with young children. While this is not my policy, I do understand it...and so should you. The breeder that will not sell to you because of your 4 year old does not hate 4 year olds. They hate that the dog gets his tail yanked, picked up by the ears,etc.,and when he finally retaliates by biting the dog ends up in the shelter (or worse). Please be respectful of people who have these policies, it is nothing personal. In fairness to your dog and your child, BE SURE that they are well integrated with one another!
When you are ready for a Cocker, you should visit several breeders in your area. There are as many different kinds of breeders as there are dogs, and you want a breeder who breeds the type of Cocker YOU want.
Are you looking for a pet? What color? Will you want to show? Will you want to participate in dog sports (Obedience, agility, hunting, therapy dogs, etc.)? Would you adopt an older cocker? Remember, if you take the time to get exactly what YOU want, then the more likely you are to be happy with your new friend, thus all the more likely that he will be happy too! Whatever you choose to do NEVER NEVER purchase a dog from a pet store, EVER! Also be wary of any 'breeder' that will not sell a dog with "standard guarantees", or who treats your relationship with him or her more like a one-time business transaction than the start of a long term relationship. You should be able to call this person YEARS from when you bought the dog and they should always be willing to help you. See "Tips for Purchasing" FMI. |
