What you should know about "cockers"....
Most people can easily tell you many wonderful traits that cocker spaniels have: they are incredibly loyal, active, wonderful with children, and sooo happy! However, there are things that some people would consider hard to handle, so take a look & see if this is the kind of dog for you:
~While they are loving & loyal dogs, they do like their own space. They absolutely LOVE attention, being pet and played with. They are very apt to sleep at the foot of your bed whether you invite them or not. LOL But they probably are not going to snuggle on your lap for long periods of time, and while they might share your bed they probably won't be trying to sleep in your arms.
~Cocker Spaniels traditionally are "one-person-dogs" meaning they bond very closely to one person in the family. Do not take it personally if they do not bond as closely to you as they do to someone else in the family. They truly love all who live with them, but sometimes there is just that one person who makes the world go round for a cocker.
~They are sometimes shy & in our experience independent (which can be interpreted as stubborn). They can be a lil' tough to train, but they are a joy to live with once they have things figured out! We do not recommend a Cocker for first-time dog owners unless you plan to enroll in puppy training classes (not just at-home videos) and regularly socialize the pup -both with humans & other dogs- during your free time. Because Cocker Spaniels are so independent, they need more socialization than other more "people pleasing" breeds such as a Labrador simply to get them acclimated to being around different people without fear.
~Play time is super important to cocker spaniels. They love to work, and get bored if left on their own. This is part of the reason many puppies chew through household items: boredom. Puppies learn very fast, so they can be taught games (tricks) like "sit" "lie down" "dance" "fetch" "find it" etc before too long. Try to avoid giving tons of food treats as rewards, instead you can substitute a favorite chew toy or ball. Jewels liked food treats, but to really make her happy we'd give her a tennis ball! Playing often keeps their minds busy and allows them to burn energy that they are overflowing with. Many cockers really thrive in agility training and soar through agility courses. To humans that might seem like a bit of work, but to a cocker it's the best game in the world! A cocker spaniel who cannot run & play regularly is very sad, often over weight & often very "naughty". Please, if you do not have time to play with your puppy consider a different breed.
~Grooming is essential for the breed. They will not only need their nails trimmed regularly, but also will need their coat clipped on a regular basis & brushed just about daily. If their coat is left to grow out, it will mat (causing them much discomfort), overbear their face (often impairing their ability to see) and retain loads of unwanted odors, dirt, body fluids and general icky-ness. Please take time to read reviews and ask friends for their experiences in order to find a caring, gentle, REPUTABLE groomer. The frequency that you take your pup to the groomer is up to you. Just remember that the hair in/on their ears can prevent good air flow into their ear canal & this causes many ear infections. Also, matting does happen quickly- especially under their "armpits"- and pulls on their skin OUCH!! So please keep an eye on your dog's coat and groom when needed. **Grooming can be stressful to your new baby, so to help ease them into the experience: 1) handle their paws daily so that they will not fear the groomer touching & holding their feet for nail trimming 2) Brushing daily will help them to be more comfortable with the brushing part of their grooming session even though a "stranger" is doing it AND helps keep them clean & free of mats 3) Give your baby a bath regularly since this is also a part of the groomer's routine.
*We do handle our pups and socialize them as soon as is practical. They start potty-training early and are also started on basic leash & commands before they leave us. It is important for you to understand that this training and socialization needs to be continued to avoid behavior issues. Most of all, your puppy will need time and attention. They will be your best companion and dearest friend if they are given the things they need.
~Cocker Spaniels traditionally are "one-person-dogs" meaning they bond very closely to one person in the family. Do not take it personally if they do not bond as closely to you as they do to someone else in the family. They truly love all who live with them, but sometimes there is just that one person who makes the world go round for a cocker.
~They are sometimes shy & in our experience independent (which can be interpreted as stubborn). They can be a lil' tough to train, but they are a joy to live with once they have things figured out! We do not recommend a Cocker for first-time dog owners unless you plan to enroll in puppy training classes (not just at-home videos) and regularly socialize the pup -both with humans & other dogs- during your free time. Because Cocker Spaniels are so independent, they need more socialization than other more "people pleasing" breeds such as a Labrador simply to get them acclimated to being around different people without fear.
~Play time is super important to cocker spaniels. They love to work, and get bored if left on their own. This is part of the reason many puppies chew through household items: boredom. Puppies learn very fast, so they can be taught games (tricks) like "sit" "lie down" "dance" "fetch" "find it" etc before too long. Try to avoid giving tons of food treats as rewards, instead you can substitute a favorite chew toy or ball. Jewels liked food treats, but to really make her happy we'd give her a tennis ball! Playing often keeps their minds busy and allows them to burn energy that they are overflowing with. Many cockers really thrive in agility training and soar through agility courses. To humans that might seem like a bit of work, but to a cocker it's the best game in the world! A cocker spaniel who cannot run & play regularly is very sad, often over weight & often very "naughty". Please, if you do not have time to play with your puppy consider a different breed.
~Grooming is essential for the breed. They will not only need their nails trimmed regularly, but also will need their coat clipped on a regular basis & brushed just about daily. If their coat is left to grow out, it will mat (causing them much discomfort), overbear their face (often impairing their ability to see) and retain loads of unwanted odors, dirt, body fluids and general icky-ness. Please take time to read reviews and ask friends for their experiences in order to find a caring, gentle, REPUTABLE groomer. The frequency that you take your pup to the groomer is up to you. Just remember that the hair in/on their ears can prevent good air flow into their ear canal & this causes many ear infections. Also, matting does happen quickly- especially under their "armpits"- and pulls on their skin OUCH!! So please keep an eye on your dog's coat and groom when needed. **Grooming can be stressful to your new baby, so to help ease them into the experience: 1) handle their paws daily so that they will not fear the groomer touching & holding their feet for nail trimming 2) Brushing daily will help them to be more comfortable with the brushing part of their grooming session even though a "stranger" is doing it AND helps keep them clean & free of mats 3) Give your baby a bath regularly since this is also a part of the groomer's routine.
*We do handle our pups and socialize them as soon as is practical. They start potty-training early and are also started on basic leash & commands before they leave us. It is important for you to understand that this training and socialization needs to be continued to avoid behavior issues. Most of all, your puppy will need time and attention. They will be your best companion and dearest friend if they are given the things they need.
To sum it up...
Cocker Spaniels are intelligent and very loyal dogs. However, they do require an energetic and firm owner, as they are very playful and active, aside from being infamously stubborn. This lively breed is in a neck to neck race with Labs to be the US’ most favorite household pet dogs. Cockers should not be left outdoors for a long period of time. Their long hair is better off trimmed, and most especially in hotter weather since it prevents them from keeping cool.
- Separation Anxiety – medium
- Barking tendency – medium (this, along with chewing, increases if left alone for long periods)
- Aggressive tendency – low
- Compatibility with other animals – high
- Suitable for children – high
Feeding Tips....
~~~The food tips below are found at Eukanuba.com These guidelines apply no matter which puppy food you choose. We want to avoid the common problem of over-weight cockers, and these guidelines will go a long way in keeping your puppy fit throughout their life. ~~~~~~
Once you've purchased your puppy's food, it seems it would be simple to feed him—just open the bag and pour, right? But there are a few things you can do to turn his food into a meal.
- Think like a dietician and measure portion size correctly. To determine it, start with the daily amount recommended and divide by the number of times you'll feed your pooch (usually breakfast, lunch and dinner: after four months of age, feed only in the mornings and evenings.) Remove the bowl after he's had a chance to eat for 30 minutes. This avoids overfeeding which leads to unhealthy weight gain. (While puppies need to chew frequently, they shouldn't snack like humans.)
- Think like a canine connoisseur and serve his meals at room temperature, the way he likes them.
- Resist the urge to play chef and mix in cottage cheese, hamburger or eggs into his chow. Such foods can interfere with the absorption of minerals provided in dog food. (Plain old puppy food might not look that enticing to you, but neither does chewing a shoe.)
- Always provide your pup with fresh water. Just one dropped kernel of kibble can contaminate his bowl quickly.
* Training Tips & Playtime Ideas *
What is a good way for my puppy to meet new friends? Socialization is important for young puppies of any breed, so no matter who you add to your family, be prepared to help your little one meet new people & pets in a fun, safe manner. Use a leash. Ask other pet owners "is it ok for the puppy to meet your pet?" Allow them to sniff and even yip a little- watch body language of your puppy & be calm at all times... even if you think things are getting out of hand. Simply say thanks to the other owner, call your puppy calmly & casually walk away. RESIST THE URGE TO PICK UP YOUR PUPPY! Unless he is getting bitten, calmly walking away is the best course of action. This way even if your puppy has been a little rattled/nervous they can see that you are ok with things. Your puppy will relax quickly & be less apt to react nervously next time when they see you being calm & relaxed in a hectic situation.
How do I teach my "stubborn" cocker to come when called? Cocker spaniels are notorious for having a mind of their own. As I stated on our homepage, our Jewels was pretty certain that her name being called out was the perfect time for her to run as fast as possible in the opposite direction. I am a huge advocate of positive training methods taught by Victoria Stillwell of the Animal Planet show "Its Me or the Dog" By gleaning from her teachings we were able to come up with a fabulous "game" to teach recall training.
*We armed ourselves with a zipper baggie of food (we used packaged treats cut into tiny bits, but honestly you can use cut hot dogs, sliced sandwich meat, etc. Anything that's just a bunch yummier than their regular food. We used bits about the size of a pencil-top eraser.)
*The kids & I sat in a circle with Jewels between us. If doing this with 2 people, just have the puppy with one person & the other sitting not far away. Again, everyone playing the game has a bag of treats hidden behind their back, or sometimes a toy like a ball will be useful for this. :)
* One person holds the puppy. ONE other person starts calling the puppy, clap or pat the floor, bend towards your pup & you might show them the toy you have & generally make sure they know it will be super fun if they come to YOU! :P I'm sure you might feel a bit silly, but your baby will love it!
*When the puppy gets really excited about the person calling them, then the person holding the pup simply lets go & the baby will "come when called" :) Remember to use the cue words of the pup's name & then "come" and no other command. When the pup comes, give them LOADS of praise, pat them. You may or may not decide to give them a bit of treat or allow them to play with the toy you used to get them excited to come to you.
*If your pup veers off to the side or goes its own way, do not scold them or spank them. It is possible that they might be tired of the game. It is POSITIVE that if you give a negative response and chase them around they will either learn to fear you, or they will believe the game is actually about running away & you following. Both are not results that we're looking for, so simply stick to the positive reinforcement. Make sure to limit possible distractions that are in the room. Try again & if they repeat the behavior just chalk it up to needing more practice .... put the game away & try later on. It might help to play again right before or after a nap... if after nap time, just let them out to potty first ;)
What about potty training? This can be a challenge for ANY breed. What we do is follow their sleep & feeding schedule. Generally, whenever a puppy wakes up they will need to go potty within a few minutes. When our puppies wake from a nap or first thing in the morning, we take them right outside. Also, about 5-10 minutes after they eat they will potty... generally, but not always. (Once in a while we even take their food tray outside, let them eat out there and then we wait for them to potty before they come in for a nap.) When training your pup, take them outside & as you see that they are in the act of voiding or eliminating, say "go potty". They will begin to associate the words "go potty" with the act of going potty and eventually they will come to the point where you will be able to go outside, say "go potty" and they will simply do their business. Another tip: if you keep their food on a steady schedule and keep their trips outside on a schedule as well it will be a great help. ***Especially if after a nap: do not play with the pup at all until they are finished going potty. You want them to associate being outside with where potty is FIRST. Play time comes later. :) It is a bit of work. It takes dedication and consistency. Don't give up, you'll get there. :)
For lots more info, tips and training advice visit the puppy pages of Victoria Stilwell's site Positively.com Victoria is from the Animal Planet show "It's Me or the Dog" and has founded the positive training methods to conquer even the most difficult doggie issues. :)
How do I teach my "stubborn" cocker to come when called? Cocker spaniels are notorious for having a mind of their own. As I stated on our homepage, our Jewels was pretty certain that her name being called out was the perfect time for her to run as fast as possible in the opposite direction. I am a huge advocate of positive training methods taught by Victoria Stillwell of the Animal Planet show "Its Me or the Dog" By gleaning from her teachings we were able to come up with a fabulous "game" to teach recall training.
*We armed ourselves with a zipper baggie of food (we used packaged treats cut into tiny bits, but honestly you can use cut hot dogs, sliced sandwich meat, etc. Anything that's just a bunch yummier than their regular food. We used bits about the size of a pencil-top eraser.)
*The kids & I sat in a circle with Jewels between us. If doing this with 2 people, just have the puppy with one person & the other sitting not far away. Again, everyone playing the game has a bag of treats hidden behind their back, or sometimes a toy like a ball will be useful for this. :)
* One person holds the puppy. ONE other person starts calling the puppy, clap or pat the floor, bend towards your pup & you might show them the toy you have & generally make sure they know it will be super fun if they come to YOU! :P I'm sure you might feel a bit silly, but your baby will love it!
*When the puppy gets really excited about the person calling them, then the person holding the pup simply lets go & the baby will "come when called" :) Remember to use the cue words of the pup's name & then "come" and no other command. When the pup comes, give them LOADS of praise, pat them. You may or may not decide to give them a bit of treat or allow them to play with the toy you used to get them excited to come to you.
*If your pup veers off to the side or goes its own way, do not scold them or spank them. It is possible that they might be tired of the game. It is POSITIVE that if you give a negative response and chase them around they will either learn to fear you, or they will believe the game is actually about running away & you following. Both are not results that we're looking for, so simply stick to the positive reinforcement. Make sure to limit possible distractions that are in the room. Try again & if they repeat the behavior just chalk it up to needing more practice .... put the game away & try later on. It might help to play again right before or after a nap... if after nap time, just let them out to potty first ;)
What about potty training? This can be a challenge for ANY breed. What we do is follow their sleep & feeding schedule. Generally, whenever a puppy wakes up they will need to go potty within a few minutes. When our puppies wake from a nap or first thing in the morning, we take them right outside. Also, about 5-10 minutes after they eat they will potty... generally, but not always. (Once in a while we even take their food tray outside, let them eat out there and then we wait for them to potty before they come in for a nap.) When training your pup, take them outside & as you see that they are in the act of voiding or eliminating, say "go potty". They will begin to associate the words "go potty" with the act of going potty and eventually they will come to the point where you will be able to go outside, say "go potty" and they will simply do their business. Another tip: if you keep their food on a steady schedule and keep their trips outside on a schedule as well it will be a great help. ***Especially if after a nap: do not play with the pup at all until they are finished going potty. You want them to associate being outside with where potty is FIRST. Play time comes later. :) It is a bit of work. It takes dedication and consistency. Don't give up, you'll get there. :)
For lots more info, tips and training advice visit the puppy pages of Victoria Stilwell's site Positively.com Victoria is from the Animal Planet show "It's Me or the Dog" and has founded the positive training methods to conquer even the most difficult doggie issues. :)