LIFESTYLE

Cockers are fairly high on the sociable scale - most really want to be with people! They aren't very independent. All dogs are pack animals - they want to be with their pack (you & the family!) but in our experience, Cockers seem to be more dependant on "their" pack than some other breeds. Please don't get a Cocker if you are looking for an outside dog or an aloof character. If you don't like a dog following you around & always wanting to be in the same room as you - Cockers aren't for you.

Do not leave your dog for long periods of time. They need to play, exercise & the benefit of your company. It's best not to consider a Cocker if you work full time or are away from home for more than four hours per day.  Puppies should not be left for more than 2 hours in any working day!

If you have a demanding job you may be too tired to exercise a dog twice a day, to groom him & to train him. You will need lots of patience with a new puppy or an adopted dog for house & obedience training. Another thing to ask yourself is do you actually like walking? Cockers are a busy, active breed originally bred to work all day as a gundog. They are not a "couch potato" breed & will do best with owners who can offer plenty of opportunities for regular exercise.   Having said that Cockers are very adaptable & do not expect 5 mile hikes every day! Please remember though that young puppies should not be over-exercised & care should be taken to not to overdo walks to begin with (up to about the age of 9 months).

Does everyone in your household want a dog? All members of the family (but especially all the adults) need to be 100% committed to the idea of having a dog. Having a dog in the family is a serious undertaking & it's not fair on other people if they have to be "talked into" having a dog & it's certainly not fair on the dog to find that he/she is soon re-homed because someone in the family feels the dog's been "foisted" upon them!

Please don't buy a puppy at the request of your children!  If you don't want a dog then say "NO".  Whilst it's true that dogs & children can & do get on well it's quite probable that your children will tire of the responsibility of having a dog in the household or indeed begrudge the change in your routine/lifestyle needed in order to accommodate a dog in your lives.

Find out if any of your family are allergic to dog hair or dander before getting a dog. Cocker's do shed coat, there are breeds that don't.

Do you have a safe & secure garden? A securely fenced garden is very important as it provides a safe area for play & exercise while a puppy is too young for long walks. A garden is also essential if you want a house trained puppy - it is so important to have an area where you can teach a puppy to relieve himself.

Cockers are "keen" gardeners.  You will need to be prepared for the fact that your beautiful garden could be reduced to a barren landscape in very quick order!  If this worries you then you should either fence off a portion of your garden & make a "dog area" or perhaps get a different breed!

If you are fussy about your home & do not have time or the inclination to clean away dog hair (& muddy paw prints) do not get a Cocker! Please remember that even short coated breeds will have "accidents" & saliva dribbles etc. etc. Occasionally older dogs also suffer from incontinence as they seem to forget they need a toilet trip until it's too late!  Young puppies are also prone to the occasional nibble of whatever is close to hand - this could be your furniture!

Do you have young children? Cockers make excellent family pets because of their friendly, sociable natures & size.  However, it must be remembered that puppies are hard work & someone who already has their hands full looking after young children (under 5's) may find they don't have the time or inclination to look after a puppy. Very young children must be taught that puppies are not play things, so they must leave the puppy to rest if asleep, they must not poke or prod or tease & they must not be left alone unsupervised with any puppy or adult dog.

TIME

You will be responsible for the dog for the next 10-15 years.

Dogs often like to get up & about early in the morning (especially if they go to bed early!), do you!

Having a dog is like having a child! Can you cope with the responsibility? Are you prepared to sacrifice quite a lot of your "free" time to devote to a dog?  Will you still want to do this when you are tired, ill or if & when you add a child to the family?

Puppies require more time than adult dogs. You will have to house train him/her, provide obedience training & play time. Adopted dogs may require more training & lots of patience.

Cocker puppies are lively & demanding of your time & attention. They need lots of company & are not suitable for people who are away from home for more than a few hours at a time,  unless of course arrangements can be made for someone to look after the puppy for the duration. All puppies like to chew & a bored, lonely puppy will chew even more to relieve his boredom - this is why puppies left alone for long hours can become destructive &/or noisy.

In their first year, dogs will need 3-4 twenty minute play sessions a day. Adult dogs require lots of exercise - about an hour per day. Large breeds, terriers, herding & sporting dogs require 2 to 4 times as much exercise.

All dogs require grooming. Long haired dogs will require grooming once a day. Short & medium haired dogs need to be groomed at least once a week.

COSTS

Buying a dog - well bred cocker puppies can cost anything from £650 upwards (prices are regional to some extent). If the price of a puppy is a struggle financially for you then you should also be aware that there are on-going costs associated with dog ownership and you should seriously consider whether your budget will accommodate these costs?

Health care - all puppies need to be vaccinated with primary vaccinations. They will also need annual booster vaccinations (if appropriate). Please check with your local veterinary surgeon to find out these costs before you buy a dog. Your dog will also have to be wormed regularly. Dogs have accidents & illnesses as they get older - get your dog a veterinary pet insurance plan to help with these costs.

Food - some dogs may require special food due to food allergies. Food costs increase as the dog gets bigger. A large dog may require 6 times as much food as a small dog. Older dogs may require special diets & medications.

Grooming - there will also be grooming parlour fees (approx. every 6 weeks) - coat trimming, toenail clipping & ear cleaning for long-eared dogs.

Holidays - if you do not take your dog on holiday with you & your family cannot take care of the it while you are away, there will be pet sitting/boarding fee costs.

Equipment - you will need a dog crate, bowls, collar & lead, toys, grooming equipment. You may also need a dog bed or dog run.

SELECTING A DOG

Think about how the dog will fit in with your family, lifestyle & other pets.

Get to know the general breed traits of dogs (this web will give you an idea about Cocker's!) before you make a selection.

Once you have decided upon a particular breed, please don't go around each & every breeder looking at litters.   By visiting several breeders you will be transferring potentially harmful germs between "kennels" & this could pose a serious threat to the lives of the puppies. 

Conscientious breeders put a lot of time & effort into their litters & are busy people. Once you have made contact with a reputable breeder, by all means go & view their puppies but unless you see something to cause concern you should consider your search for a puppy over!  Be prepared to contact a reputable breeder weeks/months in advance, they often have long waiting lists!  Obtaining a good quality puppy from a reputable breeder is not as quick or simple as "popping to the shops for a tin of beans"!

Do not buy a dog as a surprise for someone else as they may not like your choice or be as ready for a dog as you think they may be.  Reputable breeders would not sell you a puppy under these circumstances.

If you are adopting a dog find out about its background. If you are selecting a new puppy find out about the parents' temperaments.

Before you bring a new dog/puppy home make sure you have all the required food & equipment.  Also ensure that you have "cleared" your diary to allow time to settle the puppy, play with him/her & generally "get used to each other".  If you work part-time it's a good idea to plan annual leave to coincide with bringing your puppy home.  Getting off to a good start will ensure you lay good foundations for the relationship with your dog!  Don't plan to get a puppy/dog when you know there are busy times ahead i.e. Christmas, house moves, changes in employment or when a new baby (human) is expected!

Put expensive items in safe places so the dog cannot break them in play or chew them!

Dog proof your home & garden!  Identify any hazards & deal with them i.e. household chemicals/cleaning materials, trailing wires etc..

Are you considering buying two puppies at the same time? 

Many people have the idea that two puppies will be company for each other, but  underestimate the  hard work needed to train two puppies successfully. Puppies the same age will tend to bond more with each other than their owner. They can often become dependant on each other, unable to cope if separated (as is sometimes necessary e.g. for veterinary treatment).

There is also a very high risk that same-sex litter mates (two dogs or two bitches) will end up fighting as they get older. You will find that many reputable breeders will not sell two puppies from the same litter to one home for these reasons. Please think very hard about the possible problems & consider the view that it is better to buy one puppy first & then add another to the family when the first puppy is mature & has settled into your family & that you have the time & resources to devote to another dog.