Cocker Spaniels

Okami

They shed worse than labs? What? All the cockers I've known hardly shed at all.. they basically have the "human" type coat.. it keeps growing longer and longer, falls out at a slower rate... instead of it constantly falling out and replenishing. otherwise I don't have any other info than that, sorry!

Copper and Penny(the 16y/o) shed worse then labs....IDK why....but Cinnamon(Coppers Mom) hardly sheds.

ETA 0 Copper is a buff parti, and Penny is a light buff.....lets just say you ***do not*** wear dark clothes around these dogs

My grandpa had a cocker while I was growing up - and that dog never shed. There's probably some sort of under lying medical problem if those dogs are shedding that much.

Cockers are prone to a LOT of skin and ear problems - my grandpas had several warts removed before he passed away, and the ears are always a battle. Don't get a cocker if you aren't devoted to giving him proper medical care and nutrition.

Rusty was my best friend - that was until he attacked me out of the blue one day. It's called cocker spaniel rage, sudden, unprovked attacking. I ended up in the ER with stiches in my nose - he went for (and got) my face - which is why I would NEVER reccomend a cocker for a family dog. NEVER. We took naps together, shared food - he was MY dog and one day he snapped. I just sitting on the floor, petting him, it was nothing I did or anyone else did - he was never abused.

They are also notorious for being difficult to house train - my grandpa used a crate (and this was many years ago).

erica1989

and that dog never shed. There's probably some sort of under lying medical problem if those dogs are shedding that much.

I figured it was something wrong....The 16y/o I can understand with her age and all....but all 3 cockers I know are from BYB(and I think Penny was petstore...I'm not 100% thou).

erica1989

Cockers are prone to a LOT of skin and ear problems - my grandpas had several warts removed before he passed away, and the ears are always a battle. Don't get a cocker if you aren't devoted to giving him proper medical care and nutrition.

Erica - you know me better then that! As many dog-food related questions and health-related questions as I ask....by the time I actualy GET one IF I get one, it'd be the healthyest Cocker in a 100mile radius(LOL....hopefully!)

erica1989

Rusty was my best friend - that was until he attacked me out of the blue one day. It's called cocker spaniel rage, sudden, unprovked attacking. I ended up in the ER with stiches in my nose - he went for (and got) my face - which is why I would NEVER reccomend a cocker for a family dog. NEVER. We took naps together, shared food - he was MY dog and one day he snapped. I just sitting on the floor, petting him, it was nothing I did or anyone else did - he was never abused.

I've heard a LOT about how unstable there tempements can be. Snappy, agressive, slpit-personalities basicly....That does concern me a LOT...I'd be going thru every training class I could get too......I read somewhere that most of that is casued by being over bred so much years ago, and the GOOD breeders are still trying to get a good temperment back in the breed. If I get one, it woould be from a shelter or rescue group if the right dog came along, if not a very, very good breeder(and then spuetered of course....I have no interest in showing anyway)

I'm sorry that happened. I know most people would be terrifeid of dogs after something like that...

erica1989

They are also notorious for being difficult to house train - my grandpa used a crate (and this was many years ago).

Copper was/is....he wasnt house trained properly. At there new house, they've crated him because of new carpet and such...

misstrouble

I've heard a LOT about how unstable there tempements can be. Snappy, agressive, slpit-personalities basicly....That does concern me a LOT...I'd be going thru every training class I could get too......I read somewhere that most of that is casued by being over bred so much years ago, and the GOOD breeders are still trying to get a good temperment back in the breed. If I get one, it woould be from a shelter or rescue group if the right dog came along, if not a very, very good breeder(and then spuetered of course....I have no interest in showing anyway)

Cocker rage is not the same as poor temperament (although that is ALSO a problem in MANY popular breeds that have been over bred). 

I think it is neurological.  Almost like the dog has an episode.  Nothing to do with training or socialisation - there is NOTHING, you, the owner can do can "prevent" Rage Syndrome.  If the dog has it, he has it and one day he will "go off".  At least - I think.  I do not profess to be an expert on Rage Syndrome.

Chuffy

I think it is neurological.  Almost like the dog has an episode.  Nothing to do with training or socialisation - there is NOTHING, you, the owner can do can "prevent" Rage Syndrome.  If the dog has it, he has it and one day he will "go off". 

That's exactly it. Some DO have poor temperments, due to breeding, but some just have that 'switch'. Rusty was managable, he was put in the bedroom whenever I was over, and I DID NOT interact with him any more (mostly due to fear on my part). And yes, it's a miricle that I was not left petrified of dogs - although, I feel off my bike and was injured too many times to count, and I still rode. I guess I just don't learn my lessons

ETA: It's not a common problem, and it is more-so found in solid colors, not the partis. (Rusty was solid red...) There is also no test to see if the dog has rage or not....(also occurs in Springers, btw)

 And there is no cure is there

misstrouble

I know they shed worse then Labs, but I'm not worried about that!

I have a Lab, and I had a Cocker Spaniel....Labs shed 110% way more than a Cocker!

My Mom gets their Cocker (used to be mine) groomed every 3 months or so, and it's about $40 + tip. So, the grooming expenses does add up. And health issues.....if you're going to adopt/rescue more than likely the dog won't have health tested parents, so, there's a chance of problems there (like cherry eye, which is common).

no - no cure, just management....

hmm, i've heard of range syndrom in cockers and always thought it was a myth. you know, like the one about dopes and the 'problem" with their skulls..

but yeah, cocker spaniels are great. they can be a bit difficult to housetrain, but to be honest i didnt have that many problems with moca. i think if you do it right, it is totally managable, mainly BECAUSE they are so eager to please. they sometimes just take a while to catch on.. lol...

also, cockers are very prone to submissive urination. and THAT one takes a lot of getting used to and in some cases really good management... (like keeping the dog away from people that just do NOT get it- until it's more calm...)

skin and ear problems have been mentioned...

they do have quite the prey drive too and *I* would never trust one around a smaller animal. i used to have my sister's guinea pig at my house and kept them completely seperated...

a lot of them have a natural thing for fetch. moca is a sucker for it!

for energy level, i am not sure what the norm is. all i can say is that moca is perfect! she can keep going all day, if something is up (like when we go to my dad's place), but is also content to just sleep on the couch without much fuzz even if we cant do walks for a few days...

the hair does need upkeep, but they do not really shed, in that sense. they can be constantly losing quite a bit of hair (and you are right, i have now completely stopped buying black clothes - just not worth the trouble..). for me, the biggest pain is really the upkeep with the growing coat. good news is they still look great in shorter trims (less of a "butchered" look than other breeds), so if you are as lazy about brushing as me, it is a good alternative...

mostly though they are just stinking cute!!!

So the Random Rage thing is just that - random. No control. No nothing. I'd love to know why it is only perdominate in solid cockers.....

janetmichel3009

 mainly BECAUSE they are so eager to please. they sometimes just take a while to catch on.. lol...

It's like with Pugs "There so ugly there cute!" excet with Cockers its "There so smart there dumb!"(not meaning to be offinsive to anyone)

janetmichel3009

also, cockers are very prone to submissive urination. and THAT one takes a lot of getting used to and in some cases really good management... (like keeping the dog away from people that just do NOT get it- until it's more calm...)

I know. I was fore-warned when I met Penny, and even Copper is a submisive pee-r.

janetmichel3009

a lot of them have a natural thing for fetch. moca is a sucker for it!

Copper is worse then my BC Tuck....he ALWAYS has a tennis ball in his mouth. LOL

janetmichel3009

for energy level, i am not sure what the norm is. all i can say is that moca is perfect! she can keep going all day, if something is up (like when we go to my dad's place), but is also content to just sleep on the couch without much fuzz even if we cant do walks for a few days...

Copper is super high energy for such a 'small' dog.....but he is denied walks. Penny was med-high. and Cop's Mom was extremely LOW!!! Maybe it's just depends on the dog?

janetmichel3009

the hair does need upkeep, but they do not really shed, in that sense. they can be constantly losing quite a bit of hair (and you are right, i have now completely stopped buying black clothes - just not worth the trouble..). for me, the biggest pain is really the upkeep with the growing coat. good news is they still look great in shorter trims (less of a "butchered" look than other breeds), so if you are as lazy about brushing as me, it is a good alternative...

It's sort of like people shed?? it's still sheding to me...LOL! I don't really care if a dog sheds of not. I just know that *if* I want to wear black, I put the dog away, and change RIGHT before I leave!

janetmichel3009

mostly though they are just stinking cute!!!

I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! EEEP! They are just so CUTE!!! It's like, a bigger, FUZZY beagle(sort of....beagle people, please dont kill me over that statement)!!

 Nice article on the rage syndrome issue: http://www.essfta.org/Health_Research/aggression.htm

Never been a fan of sporting dogs.

I thought you liked Poodles...  http://www.redhuntingpoodles.com/

misstrouble

I think I have a new breed of intrest every week....this week it is - Cocker Spainel's!!!

Lol! You remind me of myself- for me it was breed of the week and sometimes even breed of the day! It's fun researching new breeds and deciding which one to get. :)

One thing about Cockers to consider is the amount of grooming. American Cockers have a ton of long, thick coat and it takes a lot of maintenance. Most people have them clipped every 6-8 weeks and that makes things a ton easier. They have a lot of energy (at least the ones I've known have) because they were bred to run in the fields all day. I think most of them still have the energy to do that.

I've found that a lot of them have high strung personalities. I've met a lot of them over the years and these aren't pet shop, backyard bred dogs that I'm talking about. To me most of them seem "wound a little too tight". I think Cockers are more prone to biting than a lot of breeds (not Cocker rage), but just being snappy when they don't like something. That's not something you can completely control with training either- some dogs can be unpredictable or just have a shorter fuse than others.  Separation anxiety is common. They are devoted, adorable little tail waggers though... I really do think they're an enigma.