Would a cocker spaniel be suitable for my family?

Pipsqueak T: Thoughts on Cocker spaniels?
Hi i may be getting a cocker spaniel quite soon for my kids. I would like to know what everyone thinks about this breed. A few months ago we lost our labradoodle to cancer and i think its time they had another dog in there life. My kids are aged 12 and 15 and have lived with many pets including birds and rabbits. I would just like to know wheather a cocker spaniel would be suitable as i have only read about them it articles and websites and from past experiances i dont really trust this form of advertising dog breeds. Thanks for reading and i hope you can help!

Answers and Views:

Answer by Bells - Psychic Advisor to the Ignorant
I had one ...he was wonderful...minus the epilepsy that he developed at a rather young age, something that cockers are prone to

We got ours from a TOP TOP notch breeder, thus no behavioral problems that are pretty common in your back yard bred cockers...he was a wonderful pet

my tips...find a good groomer lol.....and make sure you get one from a GREAT breeder, with all necessary genetic health testing done on the parents/grandparents...etc

Answer by Toya
They are hyper and high strung, but so loving and so sweet. They are also fun and smart. They are a great addition to a family with kids. I say go for it!

Answer by Jessica
I had one, she was VERY well behaved! Her tail wagged like crazy though, it was quite annoying for some as it whacked you a bit and into other objects, lol. She was very good natured and calm most times, and was extremely good around children. :)

Answer by Harley
Cocker Spaniels are nice dogs, if you like going to the vet often. They are usually not a very healthy breed, they are prone to skin disorders and seizure disorders.I have had several clients with Cockers and they all had some sort of health issue. If you are looking for a smaller breed of dog then I would suggest the CockaPoo, they are great with kids and are heartier than a purebred Cocker. Otherwise, you can never go wrong with a Golden Retriever. My personal favorite, their gentle, loyal spirit makes them ideal. Always get a female. Your kids are of the age that you need to be thinking of what kind of dog you want to have around when they move out, trust me, it happens in a blink. Good Luck

Answer by Avis Senior
Hi

Sorry to hear about your labradoodle. Cocker spaniels are lovely dogs, active but they have lovely temperaments.

Answer by CanineTruth
I've always liked the Spaniels - Cockers, Springers, etc. They all have excellent, social, outgoing temperaments!

Make sure you buy from a responsible breeder who either shows OR works their dogs and does all relevant genetic testing. The dogs should have a steady, stable temperament when you meet them. This breed is very popular and there are MANY people out there taking advantage of this, thus resulting in a ton of dogs with poor health and/or temperament.

Also keep in mind that this is a dog that was bred to retrieve game for hunters. They have more energy than you would think! They also require a bit of grooming. Other than that, sounds like it might be a good match - talk to some reputable breeders!

Answer by Medusa
I had a Cocker Spaniel when I was 8 years old. He was a rescue pup, and ended up being extremely aggressive. About a year later my family and I had trained most of it out of him, and he turned out to be an excellent family pet. Even with the aggression we knew he was an excellent dog, and he was well worth the extensive training.

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