New Cocker Spaniel puppy

Oh, how exciting for you ReadandCook! New pups are a lot of work, but worth the effort for all the love (and exercise!) you get back from them. He's a wee ball of delight.

I have a dog-loving friend whose current dog is a small black labradorite, so well-behaved that you'd hardly know she was there. My friend remarked, "A labrador is born half-trained, a cocker spaniel dies half-trained."

Your puppy is adorable! Its 20 years since I had a puppy so things have probably changed, but I found taking her to dog training classes was excellent. A bit like going to Mum's and Toddlers. I met people with young dogs, she met other dogs in a controlled environment and it was great fun.

Congratulations I'm sure you'll fall head over heels and have a lovely future of waggy tails and unconditional love. I have had a black cocker a wonderful dog loved him to bits. When he passed I got a cocker cross as I still wanted something similar with cocker in but smaller he's crossed with a lhasa apsa. I adore him. You'll be fine it's daunting at first but give it time you'll wonder what you did without him!

When we got our puppy she slept next to us in a box so we could reassure her if she cried. Didn't want her stressed and unhappy after leaving her mum. It was so much fun despite needle sharp teeth and a lot of puddles. Still a great companion at age 7 and full of fun. Such a lovely thing to do, enjoy your new baby dog and if puppy parenting is stressful, well, they do grow up so quickly.

A little ticking clock nearby , mimics the sound of their mother’s heartbeat - so we were told ..

What a stunning pup! We have had cockers all our married life and currently have our 6th and 7th. All different but all wonderful dogs. Like children they are all different - number 6 is 'free spirited' and has taken time to train, number 7 is an absolute delight and hasn't needed any training she just wants to please. I walk the hills and dales of North West England with the girls and we also do Dog Agility. I thoroughly recommend The Spaniel Guru to get you started on training. Good luck and enjoy your pup!

My DD and husband have dogs.
Housetrained from puppies.
They use a cage as their sleeping quarters while very small as they sleep a lot. Keeps them safe. They are just like babies too. They have 2 cockers and a Labrador. All trained this way from 8 weeks old. Just keep in the locked crate and let out when they have had naps after meals. He/she will soon get the hang of it.
They are very well housetrained. The youngest still likes to sleep in his crate from time to time. In fact they all do. He always asks to go out into the garden. I know people who have used puppy pads. Wasn’t a good idea as their dogs expected them to be down wherever they were. Not good. Also a great expense you really don’t need.

Get a crate - I have Labs and they have all slept in a crate for the first year of their life. Put their bed and toys in there and feed them in there so that when you go out you can shut them in it and they will be happy and secure. Also a good help for house training as they usually don't want to mess in the crate. All mine have absolutely loved their crates and sometimes the older ones have tried to squeeze in with the puppy. I leave the door open during the day and they often retire there for a little nap. Cockers are lovely bundles of energy. My son and family have one that they adore.

Good luck with your new puppy Readandcook hope you have lots of happy times together. In my experience puppies just need lots of love, patience and training. I have never bought expensive items for a dog until they were out of the puppy stage, those little teeth can do a lot of damage. Let us know how you both get on .

Aww, what a lovely cuddly looking puppy, Congratulations. Would love one myself, but not up to what it could entail. Enjoy!

We have had 4 Cocker Spaniels of the Show type. Three were puppies and one was two year old. Their colours have been varied - golden, black and white, black and sable. All four have been loyal, affectionate pets and good with children. Our son and daughter in law have a working cocker spaniel pup, very.much like Woody to look at - he is far more energetic than our show cockers have been but they have been training him and take him to training classes now.
This is our current cocker spaniel Bells.

* Bella

As long as you're very active as spaniels are active dogs needing lots of exercise and interaction. They are working dogs

A show cocker is easier

This pup was one in 10 million I’d say, so very unusual for a Cocker, they are the most personable and delightful breeds ever.

Why don’t you get a rescue dog?

Show cockers tend to be less in need of high levels of activity than working dogs. Same applies with labradors.
My cocker loves scent work. She comes to training groups but her face tells the picture - she’s affectionately known there as the Princess. She can do obedience but comes alive when asked to ‘find’ something in the scent games . Dogs are happier with a job an other than throwing affection at anyone, especially the children, sniffing and finding is what she enjoys and is good at

LeslieL

Why don’t you get a rescue dog?

Nearly all of ours have been rescues and all were lovely little mongrels.

A friend of mine loves spaniels and has rescued several.

LeslieL

Why don’t you get a rescue dog?

Presumably because Readabdcook doesn’t want to rescue, she wants a puppy.
I rescued 6 dogs over the years and fostered others. When grandchildren started to arrive I stopped fostering, when my 12 year old labradoodle died, I decided to buy a blue roan cocker so the pup would grow up alongside the children. I went to a breeder recommended by a friend who knows the breed. We were checked out before we could have a puppy. She’s a sweet natured little girl, as we anticipated

My rescues have all come good. Finding the kind of mongrels most of us grew up with is increasingly difficult. Many dogs in our shelters /rescues have awful histories and problems as a result. Many are crossed with various bull breeds, with unreliable temperaments. It’s awful, very sad but I wouldn’t take a dog like that to my children.

My DD’s Cockapoo at Christmas. She’s very good natured. She’s coming to stay with me for a week in the summer while the family are on holiday. It’s a responsibility, so I’m a bit nervous.

So exciting, I wish I was fit enough to have a dog, they are the most wonderful companions. It's all the rules and regulations around keeping dogs these days I couldn't cope with either. Years ago when I had dogs, my dogs were always neutered but apart from that an occasional flea collar was all the medication they had. They ate scraps and survived happily without expensive food designed for different ages breeds etc. One particular boy I had lived until he was 17, he loved spaghetti bolognese, onions are now a forbidden foods for dogs! He would also pinch any chocolate left where he could find it, another no no. Nuts, raisins,grapes it was all fair game to him. He only ever attended a vet's once before he died for a medical emergency. It's a wonder he survived by today's advice on keeping dog.

I had never had a puppy before I got my darling Cavapoo at the end of last year. It has been hard work but well worth it. I would recommend the following
A playpen
A carrier for coming home and for vet visits
A sling for days when he can't go on the ground but you want to introduce him to noise outside the home.
The book " Your new puppy, the first few weeks" by Edd Dawson
Toys that are designed especially for puppies. They can choke on ones that are for older dogs.
The food your puppy is used to.In my case the lovely breeder gave me a month's supply.
Lots of puppy pads if you decide to go down that route.
A cosy bed preferably with something small that smells of his mum.
Poo bags
Good insurance. Also if your vet has a scheme I would join it as it keeps you on track with treatments for fleas etc
Lots of gentle handling. Helps with vet visits.
Cleaner for the floor that removes odours that might make him pee in the same place again and again. I used Simple Solution Extreme stain and odour remover.
Sorry have to go now.
Hope that helps.
Puppies are wonderful fun but very hard worth, It's all worth it.

Oh I am so happy for you and envious. My first dog as an adult was a working cocker called Woody! I had him from a puppy too and he was a doddle to house train. They are very intelligent dogs as I’m sure you know and you are in for such a lovely time. Woody saved my mental health! We later adopted a 9 month old worker Willow who whilst much harder work was a little poppet. They are both gone now and I miss them both every single day. We now have a blue roan show cocker called Alfie who came to live with us aged 5 he is now 9.

I can understand your apprehension a puppy is a bit like having a baby in the house, but having grandchildren give me a pup any day. Have a wonderful time with your beautiful boy who like all dogs only needs 4 things food, a warm place to sleep, time and love. Much like children really and puppies love old cardboard boxes too just like toddlers no expensive plastic toys required.

I have 2 cocker spaniels who are brilliant with everyone including children and other dogs. One is the mother of the other as I bred a litter.
Previously I had a cockapoo with major problems, guarding, very attached to my husband, dog would chase you out the room to keep OH with it alone.
Why? Warning signs were there, as when I picked the cockapoo up as a puppy it was trembling all over. Had not been well socialised. Realised this when I bred my litter and tails were wagging furiously when new people picked them up. Puppy should be confident in your arms, wriggly, and chewing at your clothes. That's a confident well socialised puppy. Preferably bred in the house as then they will be confident with household noises, like the TV, washing machine etc. Sharing this to help you, if it's timid walk away
I wish I had known this