thinking of buying a cocker spanial, any advice?

[broome]

ive never had a dog but allways said if i had one it would be a spanial of some sorts, the wife grew up with dogs so she knows wot its like to have one, so its a grey area for me!, the lady up the rd has a friend that breeds cockers & she has just got a 2 year old that the owners didnt have time for, lovely little thing & she was telling me the breeder has another, a boy dog, thats 18months old whitch i would prefer than a puppy pissing all over the place, plus its chipped, had jabs etc...so is there anything i should think about

[Mark-C]

I know of two people that have had them put down because of rage.

Cocker Rage Syndrome

• Cocker rage syndrome is the most severe behavior problem to afflict cocker spaniels. Though other dog breeds may have this condition, it has a disproportionate effect on cocker spaniels and is likely the result of a genetic mutation. Dogs with this condition engage in serious, extreme aggression that is unpredictable and unprovoked. Veterinarians believe the aggression bouts may be akin to a seizure, in which electrical impulses in the dog's brain overload, causing aggression. Some pet owners have successfully treated the condition with anticonvulsants and desensitization training. If your cocker spaniel randomly flies into aggressive episodes but otherwise behaves normally, it may have cocker rage syndrome. Contact a veterinarian.

Aggression

• Cocker spaniels exhibit aggression at a higher rate than many other dog breeds. In a study published in the journal of Applied Animal Behavioral Science, researchers found that 6 percent of cocker spaniels in the study displayed aggressive behavior toward their owners. The aggression is normally a result of fear and insufficient socialization and is not typically genetic. The small size of cocker spaniels may cause some owners to see the aggression as insignificant because a bite from a cocker spaniel is unlikely to be fatal. Even a small bite, however, can cause substantial damage, especially to children. Most cases of fear aggression can be treated by a dog behaviorist.

[dave the teeth]

I breed dogs so know a little if you have kids go for the girl they look at the kids like there pups and look out for them , i know cockers are not an aggresive type but girls are a better family dog .

make sure there eyes are ok and gunk free cockers suffer frome eye and ear infections and over active anal glands , they look like ET when they drag there arse on your nice clean floor

[broome]

i recon the wife has this rage thing somtimes!...

[Mark-C]

i recon the wife has this rage thing somtimes!...

That breed are all the same

[bigpower]

Ones i know of are nasty little bastards!

Id rather a bulldog ( english or french ) or a laparatso ( spelling ) as a small family dog.

Im used to larger breeds but a mate breeds the above and they are awsome smaller dogs


id also have ANY dog from a pup! rather than one thats 12 months plus! You can master the dog that way

[AJC]

Get a Labrador. The best dog to have IMO.

Loyal, clever, great temperament.

[TREVCOS]

Get a Labrador. The best dog to have IMO.

Loyal, clever, great temperament.

I'm with Andy here, if you haven't had a dog before the lab, retriever or a Lab Retriever cross is definitely the best breed to go for. Basically that's why they're the main choice for Guide Dogs, because of their even temperament. And our old dog was a Lab Retriever cross that came out of Guide Dogs, and he was the friendliest dog you could ever wish for. You could trust him with anyone. Miss him dreadfully.

I know a lot of people with Spaniels, and they're extremely lively dogs. You HAVE TO give them a lot of exercise to keep them happy or they'll just be bouncing off the walls. My mate down the road has got one and up until recently he had to give it 4 or 5 walks a day, no excuses.

Sabre my Shepherd needs at least 2 walks a day, and you can't get away with not doing it, rain or shine, whereas if you didn't want to go out with Norton he basically said 'fair enough' and was quite happy just to be with you.

I can't even take Sabre into the vets waiting room, I have to keep him outside on the naughty step until he's called in, whereas Norton just loved everyone. I love Sabre to bits but he's a lot more challenging than Norton ever was, and I wouldn't recommend a Shepherd as a first dog. He is exceptionally clever though, and he's so alert, he sees and hears everything.

If you like them, and they are quite an acquired taste, Greyhounds make a great dog as a pet. They don't actually need much exercise, they're actually quite lazy dogs, and they're so placid, even more than labs. I'm just not keen on the look of them. They're not very cuddly.

[Dan Le Moignan]

I'm still thinking of getting a dog.
Always had them growing up and miss not having one.
Can't decide between a pup or getting one from a proper doberman rescue center.
Thing is we have a cat and now thinking about kids so not sure if we should wait as some places say you should get a dog after you've had a child as they can get jelous if done the other way round?
Would rather rescue one as training a pup can be a nightmare, things getting chewed etc! But at the same time you don't always know what your getting with a rescue dog, although most places do seem to do proper assessments.
I want a doberman so not the kind of dog you want going nuts etc with a small child I guess.

[TREVCOS]

I'm still thinking of getting a dog.
Always had them growing up and miss not having one.
Can't decide between a pup or getting one from a proper doberman rescue center.
Thing is we have a cat and now thinking about kids so not sure if we should wait as some places say you should get a dog after you've had a child as they can get jelous if done the other way round?
Would rather rescue one as training a pup can be a nightmare, things getting chewed etc! But at the same time you don't always know what your getting with a rescue dog, although most places do seem to do proper assessments.
I want a doberman so not the kind of dog you want going nuts etc with a small child I guess.

I think what you've said is right, if you get a dog then have a child there's a lot more likelyhood of it getting jealous of someone new coming in and taking all your attention. Especially if it's a dog that has a strong bond to a person like Sherpherds and I guess Dobermans too. We want another dog as a friend for Sabre but we're not sure if it's a good idea as he's used to all the attention and I think he might try and dominate another more submissive dog.

[TREVCOS]

How could you not love that face though, taken a few secs ago with my webcam.



ps Do you like my chinese waving cat?

[BUSYBOY]

staffy all the way forget a cocker

[dave the teeth]

little rottys turn into big rottys probably one of the best dogs in the world the one in the pic is Mk3

also have a GSD a jack russel and a shit poo

[AJC]

staffy all the way forget a cocker

Your staffy is a cracker.

[AJC]

My 2. 5 and half month old.

Out trucking to Wales with me last week