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Cocker Spaniel

Working on The Puppy Rating System has presented us with a great many challenges. In part because we love all puppies and want to give all breeds the best rating, but also because we do not wish to upset people who adore any given breed. However, the goal of this system is to provide people with the most honest information possible. This said, we must point out something very important about The Cocker Spaniel: within the dog training, dog grooming and veterinary community these dogs are known to be aggressive, and it has been said that they bite more than any other breed. Moreover, the levels of aggression in this breed have become so prevalent that special syndromes have been named to explain why this breed so often becomes dangerously temperamental.

This said, and as you will read below, The Cocker Spaniel can be one of the most loving canines you will ever experience, and if you are able to locate a good breeder and puppy trainer the Cocker Spaniel can be one of the best dogs you will ever own.

Sadly, this is a popular breed, puppy mills and inexperienced breeders have caused a great deal of damage and it may prove impossible for the common person to avoid these dangers. We have given this breed a "R" rating NOT because of who they are, but because of the irresponsible people who often breed and sell them. Never buy a Cocker Spaniel from a pet store or an on-line puppy broker. You need to contact an excellent breeder personally and make sure that you are getting a good puppy. You need to ask the right questions and do a little research to ensure you are buying a puppy that comes from a good family. This basic advice applies to all dogs, but it is particularly vital when you are seeking to buy a Cocker Spaniel.  Simply put, 'the Cocker Spaniel world' has become contaminated with poor examples of the breed, as a woodbe puppy owner it is your job to shovel through the thousands of unhealthy puppies that have been tragically placed on the market and find a good breeder. If you are able to do this you will end up with a "G" rated puppy, if not... you may end up in a nightmare.

Temperament
 

Bold and keen to work, the American Cocker Spaniel is equally suited to life as a gundog or as a household pet. Cheerful, sweet, and sensitive, the Cocker Spaniel is an inseparable friend of children, and respectful of its master's authority without much challenge. Merry and endearing. A happy tail-wager. Gentle and trusting, with average intelligence. They are lively, playful and devoted, but should be socialized well when they are young to avoid a tendency for timidity. Cockers love everyone and need people to be happy. They can be difficult to housebreak and some like to bark. However they are mostly easy to train and get along well with other animals. This is a very popular breed. Beware of poorly bred puppy-mill Cockers as they may have bizarre temperamental changes and behavioral problems. This would include shy-sharpness, which is a combination of fear and dominance that can cause viciousness. Also Submissive urinating; aggressive guarding of objects, people and places, hyper-sexuality and roaming.

FEEDBACK

Since we have posted this web page we have received many letters from Cocker Spaniel breeders around the world. Clearly, some them are unhappy about the rating we have given this breed. Of all the letters we have received one had a special impact. We would like to post a part of that letter here.

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"I did read up on your Cocker page and I feel that Cockers have gotten a bum rap over the years. I don't think they have any worse dispositions than any other breed. Cockers can be afflicted with many genetic problems and one is low thyroid. which can cause abnormal behavior. But all in all most cockers are very friendly dogs, but they can be very manipulative and tend to attract maternal-type people who have a bad habit of overindulging a cocker and allowing it to get away with murder while it is a pup. Then of course, the dog decides it is the alpha in the family and they have created a monster.

Cockers do like to run the show, but with the right type of owner they can be very happy and submissive loving dogs. Back in the 50's Lady & the Trap came out and many breeders jumped on the bandwagon to breed Cockers. Cockers were the #1 breed in the US for many years. Unfortunately, breeders who were out to make a buck just bred two Cockers together and did not bother to pay attention to temperament or genetics and created little Cujo's. Later on, ethical breeders started picking up the pieces and tried to breed out the bad temperaments and other problems the mass producers created. Generally, most cockers today are much better, but there still are some who are nasty, partly because they are so in tune with people and so sensitive that the wrong treatment can often ruin them at a young age."

Connie - C'Lestial Cockers
 

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We would like to thank Connie for her letter, we agree with everything that she wrote. We would like to point out that Connie has a clear understand of her breeds history and the problems that bad breeding has caused her breed. We have been to her website and it is clear that Connie's understanding of past problems prevent her from breeding new problems. Our rating of this breed will remain the same, not because we feel the breed is bad, but because we believe that all future Cocker owners need to realize that inexperienced breeders exists and must be avoided.

We would welcome any other comments on this subject. Email us. . .  dogtrainer@sympatico.ca

 

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