[Misc] OT - Cocker Spaniels

[Triggaaar]

Recall isn’t difficult to teach, start as soon as you get your pup.

What tips can you offer on recall?

 

[Triggaaar]

SPANIEL RAGE SYNDROME!!

Suggest that you google this. Single colour Spaniels more prone ( Golden, blond, black and red ).

Never heard of it. Sounds just like Cocker rage though.

In my experience your best bet would be to go for a Blue roan. Great dogs, love exercise, great with Children and families. Have had Spaniels since 1984.

Why a blue roan, over an orange or liver (chocolate) roan?

 

[BN9 BHA]

Been watching this thread with interest as my Wife and I are thinking of getting a dog and I have always loved cocker spaniels. We have never had a dog before so have no idea what we would be letting ourselves in for and wondered if I could get some advice from the experienced owners on here?

We have 2 young kids and would like to take our dog in to work with us (a busy office environment) so need a breed that is good around children and people. Do you think that a cocker may be too high energy and difficult to train for someone with no experience with dogs?

Also reading about spaniel rage as per the post above, any tips on finding a reputable trustworthy breeder?

I am not a dog owner but I walk with my friends and their dogs, I occasionally look after friends dogs.

One of my friends has a cocker spaniel that will be a year old this summer, my friend is a dog trainer and her dogs have lots of walks and exercise.
Just my advice but after spending some time with the cocker spaniel, I wouldn't take this dog into a busy office environment.
Cracking dog, very friendly but bonkers

 

[Triggaaar]

We have 2 young kids and would like to take our dog in to work with us (a busy office environment) so need a breed that is good around children and people. Do you think that a cocker may be too high energy and difficult to train for someone with no experience with dogs?

They're not too difficult to train if you 'get it'. Some people seem to understand how to train a dog, and others just don't. So if you learn how to do it, and it makes sense to you, a Cocker isn't a problem. They need to be near people (not left at home while you're at work all day) and most young dogs aren't suitable for an office. Is the office your own business, and how many people are in it, and how do they all feel about a dog being in their, and would you have your own room for the dog, etc?

Also reading about spaniel rage as per the post above, any tips on finding a reputable trustworthy breeder?

Just google cocker rage (it's like the have a fit - their eyes change and they attack whatever's close by, then afterwards they shake being somewhat unaware of what's happened). I think it's only with solid colours, and obviously not all of them. There's a ton of information to find a good breeder. After visiting the breeder for ours, we've friended her on facebook and get to see all her pictures and videos. You can tell the pups are well loved and socialised - so they're seeing lots of friendly people, and when we've gone to see them they're confident around us and our children. You continue this for them after you get them, so they grow up thinking people are great.

 

[Half Time Pies]

They're not too difficult to train if you 'get it'. Some people seem to understand how to train a dog, and others just don't. So if you learn how to do it, and it makes sense to you, a Cocker isn't a problem. They need to be near people (not left at home while you're at work all day) and most young dogs aren't suitable for an office. Is the office your own business, and how many people are in it, and how do they all feel about a dog being in their, and would you have your own room for the dog, etc?

its our own business, office is single story old farm building with plenty of outside space, We have 7 office staff and a team of 60 caregivers working out in the community, some of whom will pop in from time to time, they are a friendly and caring bunch so I think the dog would get plenty of attention and offers of walks from some of the staff. Did even have thoughts that we could maybe even take the dog out to see some of our elderly clients if it had the right temperament and training. No separate room for the dog though, it would probably need to be in the main office which is open plan for most of the day.

 

[Honky Tonx]

Never heard of it. Sounds just like Cocker rage though.

Why a blue roan, over an orange or liver (chocolate) roan?

1. Found in Cockers and English Springers, hence Spaniel rage syndrome. Does occur in other breeds.

2. Why Blue Roan? Temperament.

 

[Dr Q]

What tips can you offer on recall?

As Mr Putdown suggests, start damn early.
Enthusiasm is essential, the pup will want to be with you, so anything exciting will bring it in. Make it a game/play.
Be consistent with command, (dogs name) COME or HERE?
Reward with treats and fuss, eventually just fuss, you can drop the treats.
Practice in different areas, if not nailed on recall, get a horse lunge line (cheap <£10) and use that so they don't run off.
Practice whilst dog is distracted, e.g. maybe with another dog, if you have a friend with a dog, let them meet then recall away (on lead initially if required).
Maybe use a whistle (but that has to be introduced slowly as recall progresses).

Hope that helps? I teach a lot of Cockers as I teach Obedience classes in Harrogate and also run Gundog classes with a specialism in HPRs (and work 3 German Shorthaired Pointers). Its amazing how many people have bought Working Cockers and wonder why they are so driven and headstrong!!! Love seeing them work, most popular dogs on most of our shoots for beating and retrieving.

Have fun

 

[Triggaaar]

its our own business, office is single story old farm building with plenty of outside space, We have 7 office staff and a team of 60 caregivers working out in the community, some of whom will pop in from time to time, they are a friendly and caring bunch so I think the dog would get plenty of attention and offers of walks from some of the staff. Did even have thoughts that we could maybe even take the dog out to see some of our elderly clients if it had the right temperament and training. No separate room for the dog though, it would probably need to be in the main office which is open plan for most of the day.

Sounds good. We plan on taking ours to nursing homes and the like as a petting dog. Have you asked the 7 staff what they think of the idea? If a few aren't keen it could be an issue, but if they all like the idea, why not? One option would be to get a rescue dog that is already calm etc, but finding that could be pretty difficult. If you go for a puppy, you'd need to make sure it was from a good breeder (as described earlier), and that you get the pup from 8 weeks. If you want to go down that route, I'm happy for you meet our pup and see what you think.

 

[Triggaaar]

2. Why Blue Roan? Temperament.

I've never heard that the blue roan has a better temperament than the other roans.

 

[Chicken Run]

Can anyone recommend a good vet in Hove?

I'd like to check out the prices of decent local vets to see if they're similar, or if any are more extortionate.

Thanks

Haven’t had any problems with South coast vets in Portslade, our pup is 15 months now.

 

[Shopes]

We've had one of our Spaniels for a year and the entire time he's had a problem with his ear. He arrived, from Romania, with a severe ear infection and since then it's been itchy, gunky and smelly. I've tried countless different products but the vet continuously said there wasn't any concern he "just has a waxy ear". We took him for his booster jabs and checkup yesterday and saw a different vet, who was rather concerned about his ear and said it's a definite cause for concern. He's on a final batch of ear drops and if they don't work, they'll have to put him under GA, take a further look and perhaps operate. It's all a bit worrying but I'm glad they're finally taking it seriously.

I know ear problems are quite common with floppy ear dogs, has anyone else has experience with chronic ear infections?

 

[Half Time Pies]

Sounds good. We plan on taking ours to nursing homes and the like as a petting dog. Have you asked the 7 staff what they think of the idea? If a few aren't keen it could be an issue, but if they all like the idea, why not? One option would be to get a rescue dog that is already calm etc, but finding that could be pretty difficult. If you go for a puppy, you'd need to make sure it was from a good breeder (as described earlier), and that you get the pup from 8 weeks. If you want to go down that route, I'm happy for you meet our pup and see what you think.

That’s very kind of you to offer, thanks I may well be in contact if we decide to definitely go ahead. We did have in mind that it could become a therapy/ petting dog, we also hold a memory cafe for people living with dementia and they might enjoy having a therapy dog there.

We have casually mentioned it to staff and nobody has objected so far but you are right, we really need to make sure that they would be all on board with it!

 

[Triggaaar]

Haven’t had any problems with South coast vets in Portslade, our pup is 15 months now.

Thanks. I can't find them, do you have a link? Or are they called Coastway Vets, or something else?

 

[Triggaaar]

We've had one of our Spaniels for a year and the entire time he's had a problem with his ear. He arrived, from Romania, with a severe ear infection and since then it's been itchy, gunky and smelly. I've tried countless different products but the vet continuously said there wasn't any concern he "just has a waxy ear". We took him for his booster jabs and checkup yesterday and saw a different vet, who was rather concerned about his ear and said it's a definite cause for concern. He's on a final batch of ear drops and if they don't work, they'll have to put him under GA, take a further look and perhaps operate. It's all a bit worrying but I'm glad they're finally taking it seriously.

I know ear problems are quite common with floppy ear dogs, has anyone else has experience with chronic ear infections?

Yes, our Cocker's ears became a nightmare in her later years, and she eventually had to have an operation and she went completely deaf. Why did you get your Spaniel from Romania?

 

[Triggaaar]

we also hold a memory cafe for people living with dementia and they might enjoy having a therapy dog there.

If we're successful with training ours to the level needed for him to be a petting dog, we could bring him over for you visitors.

 

[Shopes]

Yes, our Cocker's ears became a nightmare in her later years, and she eventually had to have an operation and she went completely deaf. Why did you get your Spaniel from Romania?

We didn't intentionally set out to get a dog from Romania. I was just looking through the list of the dogs at a local rescue (Holbrook), read his backstory and thought we could give him a loving home. I always have a soft spot for any rescue Cockers I see online.

 

[Mr Putdown]

Took the team to the local yesterday and thought of this thread.

 

[Triggaaar]

Took the team to the local yesterday and thought of this thread.

View attachment 109319

Nice to see well behaved queuing for their pints.

 

[Chicken Run]

Thanks. I can't find them, do you have a link? Or are they called Coastway Vets, or something else?

Yes sorry mate, Coastway, if you take up a plan you have access to all their sites, Guy is a fabulous vet based at Portslade They have a sizeable hospital too on the Kemptown industrial estate

 

[BN9 BHA]

Took the team to the local yesterday and thought of this thread.

View attachment 109319

Great photo.
Treats involved to get them lined up?