Cocker Spaniels
As one of the top five dog breeds in the UK, cocker spaniels are well-loved for their good nature, activity levels that can keep up with and entertain even the most active child and of course their very strokable fur when they stretch out to nap at the end of a long walk! Their enthusiasm knows no bounds and although they are working dogs, they certainly know how to have fun, with people and other dogs.
Cocker Spaniels
As one of the top five dog breeds in the UK, cocker spaniels are well-loved for their good nature, activity levels that can keep up with and entertain even the most active child and of course their very strokable fur when they stretch out to nap at the end of a long walk! Their enthusiasm knows no bounds and although they are working dogs, they certainly know how to have fun, with people and other dogs.
One of the Top 5 Breeds
At Royvon, cocker spaniels are one of the top breeds that we take care of, in boarding and more importantly with our training options. As gun dogs, they relish the chance to carry out tasks but without appropriate training, these natural tendencies can go awry.
Cocker spaniels are named after woodcocks, the game birds they were bred to help with hunting. Set to work flushing them out and then retrieving shot birds, waterfowl and rabbits, it is in their nature to work hard, as well as to run fast across varying terrain and be resilient in the great outdoors.
The 2 Types of Cocker Spaniel
There are two distinct blood lines for cocker spaniels: working cockers and show line cockers. Working cockers are more athletic and driven, having been bred and raised over generations to be cooperative, intelligent and faithful companions on a shoot. Show line cockers are usually more stocky and may be recognised by their fuller, curly hair. They are still very active dogs, despite their variety in temperament, and require a lot of mental stimulation to be content.
As a cocker spaniel owner, it is the deep-seated drive of the breed that you are likely to find yourself contending with. These gorgeous dogs are in their element outside where they are powered by their nose and the enjoyment they get from running quickly. As a result, there may be issues with focus outside the home, impatiently pulling on the lead, getting over-excited and displaying very hit-and-miss recall as they get carried away by a scent.
Does your Cocker Spaniel bring you socks?
Inside the home, you will likely have seen the cocker spaniel gun dog tendencies at work, faithfully collecting socks and slippers and safely delivering it to you, whether you asked for it or not! This behaviour goes beyond obedience and the desire for praise for bringing you gifts – they actually achieve a sense of personal satisfaction from holding objects themselves!
If you are finding the sight of your dog parading your belongings around to show you what they have found is a regular occurrence, you may also be noticing that encouraging them to drop their prizes is becoming increasingly difficult. This is where their playful nature comes in once again, as they may choose items that will stand the best chance of you chasing to retrieve them, a favourite game! On the other hand, in cocker spaniels, this tendency has the possibility of turning into possessive behaviour, guarding their objects, territory or family with undesirable aggression. In this situation, appropriate training with an experienced expert is essential. Left unhandled, this behaviour can accelerate and become part of your dog’s understanding of the rules of the house – the longer it continues, the harder it is to break. If your beloved cocker spaniel displays growling, snapping, lip curling or excessive barking over things, places or people, we would urge any owner to reach out for expert help. Positive reinforcement training is the best approach for aggression in any dog and your dog can learn to break this new habit.
Hone their recall and retrieving skills
Training cocker spaniels requires patience and energy, for which they will reward you with a strong bond, calmness and keen ability to learn. Core skills include walking to heel so that you can enjoy a calm walk to an open space. They love open, natural spaces but it is essential that you work on recall together so that they enjoy the return run to you as much as the exploration.
With engaging owner training a regular part of their routine, you can achieve the very best out of these active, fun-loving dogs, helping them to hone their retrieving skills for more useful objects that you would actually like brought to you!
