Jacobean Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 I'm on the lookout for a young female Cocker for a family I know well. They can offer a great home. I've never had a Cocker myself before although have come across them in my time and have found them to be nutty, affectionate, lively little dogs. My friend has never had one before either but has wanted one for ages. I've been searching the internet for her for the last couple of days as has she. I've just found one on a well known rescues site that doesn't match her requirements as they say the dog has bitten. They also go on to say that in their experience Cockers are biters anyway. Is this true? My friend has 3 daughters aged 12, 14, 16 so although they're not very young I would like to be able to advise her properly. I've heard of the Rage syndrome that the odd one has but I thought most were fine just like any other breed of dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan/Billy Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 (edited) Cockers are fabulous dog and I don't regret getting my Billy for a second. They are cute and gorgeous but they are also strong willed dogs that need owners to be consistent. They also need a fair amount of excercise, I know if billy hasn't had a good decent hour and half a day he's a bit hyper in the house. I like to give him 2-3 hours per day ideally. Having said that i know cocker owners whose dogs are happy with just one hour per day. Not forgetting there are two very different types of cocker, show & working. Rage is very very very rare so I wouldn't even let that be a factor in my decision. I think it's quite irresponsbile for a rescue to make such a statement against a breed There is a great cocker website too:- www.cockersonline.co.uk There is a rescue section on there too. Edited July 14, 2007 by Jan/Billy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockergirl Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 (edited) I have contacted that rescue about that comment on Meg the cocker's post as it is very unfair and completely untrue. She appears to me to be a working type cocker or a working/show cross as well. Cockers are no more likely to bite than any other breed of dog and 'rage syndrome' is a term which is bandied about a lot but there is a lack of proper research into this condition. True 'rage' is extremely rare and some doubt that it even exists at all. Unfortunately cockers have been somewhat of a victim of their own success - their popularity means that there are a lot of unscrupulous breeders out there who breed dogs with no consideration to compatibility or temperament which can create problems but again unfortunately for cockers issues which in another breed might be treated more sympathetically with them tend to get mislabelled as 'rage' just because of the breed. I have 3 working type cockers and I adore them. They are wonderful dogs but have a very high working drive and need very large amounts of exercise and stimulation as with most working bred dogs. They are at their happiest when we are training or when they are out working and doing what they are bred to do. They have wonderful temperaments, the best of any dogs I have come across. I have never heard any of them growl let alone bite, they will share bones and can eat out of the same dish. It is just not in their natures to be otherwise, as it should not be in the nature of any well bred, well socialised and trained cocker. Show type cockers (which are what most people think of when they think 'cocker') are also lovely dogs. They are generally happy, busy characters who love people and other dogs. They can be noisy dogs, typical 'gobby cockers' but they are full of personality and exceptionally loving. As Jan says though, they are stubborn characters, they can be wilful and need firm, fair, patient and most of all consistent handling. I'd also recommend Cockers Online, it's definitely the place for cockerholics These are my 3 monsters... soaking wet as usual You can see that working cockers look quite different to show types. Edited July 14, 2007 by cockergirl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobean Posted July 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Oh Nicola how could you not show those 3 to us sooner than this. They are adorable. Yes we're definitley looking for show type. I've told the lady they are very active dogs and she says this is just what she wants. A dog that will go on a proper walk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan/Billy Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 (edited) And here is a pic of Billy on mummys bed . Show cockers have more coat & therefore more grooming. Billy is in need of a trip to the groomers in this pic, he's a bit scruffy with a big top knot Edited July 14, 2007 by Jan/Billy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobean Posted July 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Wowser. Must admit with looking at so many of these in the last couple of days I can see why people go for them. They're smashing dogs by the sounds of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel n Hardy Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 Bonkers lovely but bonkers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 When i went to see the luffly Peter Neville at a seminar (going again this year) he spoke a bit about Cocker Rage and as far as he was concerned it was a load of codswallop, his opinion was that the supposed rage was just misdirected frustration, a dog with a high working instinct and a sedate lifestyle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 they dont have an off button we probably have about 80 regular cockers on our books for grooming and of those, 2 are serial biters but both owners admit their dogs are spoiled, untrained and generally bad tempered and bad mannered if being made to do something they dont want to do so i would say cockers are no more likely to bite than any other breed. bloody willfull and strong minded little dogs though i have to say and do seem to benefit from masses of exersise, and mental work outs as well as just physical ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobean Posted July 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 I do keep pointing out to her that this breed is nutty and full on. She is used to Yorkies. I have a work colleague who has a cocker. I've said it could be a good idea for her to borrow that one if the owner was willing to see what she thought of this little nutty thing bombing round her house and demanding her attention. I've told her they are so different to yorkies but she keeps telling me she knows this and has researched the breed for the last year. Having read about them so much in the last few days I quite fancy one myself. They would suit me down to the ground. It's just as well we have a full house here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baileysmom Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 My 2 - Harvey (Black 11 months) and Bailey (Gold - 4 years) Agree with everyone else, they can be very stubborn and strong willed, but a joy to own and I wouldn't be without one. They do take a lot of grooming as well, so this is something else your friend has to consider, and at this time of year, grass seeds are a particular problem with their long ears. Good luck, I hope your friend finds her perfect dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobean Posted July 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 Oh my Thanks everyone this is helping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockergirl Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 How about this... working cocker heaven!! And this is my Alfie and Tilly; Baileysmom's Bailey and Harvey plus Crazyspaniels' working cockers Dobbie and Bilbo (black) and springers Willow and Paddy (liver and black and white)... yes we all live near each other! I'll stop now... if there's one thing I'm not short of it's photos of cocker spangles, I have millions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobean Posted July 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 That's fantastic. We used to meet up with people from the Hungarian Vizsla group. It's wonderful when you can get a lot of the same breed together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samjam Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 (edited) Well i couldnt recommend them enough I have a show Cocker Spaniel and he is a brilliant family dog. Very selective hearing, willful and bonkers at times, but one of the most loving dogs ive ever had. They can be very clingy and do love human interaction, and can get under your feet But i wouldnt be without mine for a minute. I have 3 kids, 5, 11, and 13 and he is brilliant with them all, i have never heard him growl and he has never ever snapped or tried to bite anyone. Another thumbs up here. Edited July 15, 2007 by Samjam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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