i have been doing loads of research. i found 2 fab dogs my family and i love.
they are:
Soft coated wheaten terrier, and a cocker spaniel.#
I know they arwe totaly different, but they are both totaly lovely!
i have been to see a wheaten in a home, so we could get used to their "jolly" side.
What do youm guys think?

Sorry dont know much about either breed but I'm sure someone will, always fancied an american cocker spaniel myself as they are sooo cute but full of character.

Nikki

thanks nikki. no one seems to reply really. do you know anyone who does know these? what breeds do you specialise in?

I dont specialise in any breed but I am the proud owner of a 17 week old newfoundland pup, I did the same as you when it came to picking my next dog I also had two breeds in mind and went to see both in a home environment, as you have seen a wheaton go see a cocker as well it might make the decision easier (or harder). I just contacted the breed societies for both and they couldnt have been anymore helpfull.

Well they both have coats that can need a lot of grooming & temperaments are totally different

Prefer pastoral breeds or my cavaliers personally

I have a cocker (english) and I personally think of the 2 you have mentioned that they are better (prbably biased). They are extremely loving and loyal ( as are most breeds) but I just prefer them.
If you need any help ( if you decide to go for that breed) just send me an email. I will help as best I can.

thanks. well, i do have a question on cockers.
some have really short ears, others, long...?
some have straight, others, curly coast...?
and, lastly, what is the difference between working and showing?

You can't beat a Wheaten:D
But then perhaps I'm just a tad biased, having owned
(or maybe even BEEN OWNED BY) them for the last 20+ years.

You've made the right start in your search,by going to visit one in its own home and chatting to its owner and now, as a previous poster suggested, it would be a good idea to do the same with a cocker and then you can compare them better.

Wheatens, are a bit bigger and also possibly a bit noisier....they are terriers after all!! But all said and done, they are a good family dog and always ready for a walk or a game.

Why agonise - have both!:)

Hi saffy

Yes, you are right, some cockers do have shorter ears than others, and different coats.
Often the blacks have particularly curly coats...whereas the roans tend to be more sleek (although this doesnt always apply, it may be a case of ringing different breeders to find out what the parents have)

Millie is from a showing background rather than a working one.
She is slightly smaller than working ones, who tend to be almost springer like sometimes. Also their ears tend to be shorter ( showing cockers have longer ears and the fur on them is, generally, kept longer)
The majority of cockers are showing ones.....

Show cockers tend to be easier to get hold of, but make sure you get a good one. A lot of "breeders" dont know what they are doing.

Try ringing around and find out about the parents coats etc. I personally prefer the sleek coats, long ears look.

Any preference on colour?

The in-laws have a wheaten 'Candy' she lives with a puli! Anyway, she is absolutely gorgeous, she is 6 years old and still carry's on like a pup sometimes - her favourite past-time is sock stealing :D She gets walked three times a day and is full of energy (heaven forbid you forget her ball!) She always comes back smelling of pond whatever time of the year. She is just a fun, loving dog......Only thing is her coat-yep the dreaded grooming, she is left to grow naturally, the feeling in the household being that wheaten's look better when they are not clipped with their heads left long, however if you want to show you may not have a choice! So her coat is groomed most days, because its so soft it tangles easily.
Hope this helps,
Sarah

Can't say much about cockers, but wouldn't change my wheatens for the world! Don't get carried away by looks, though - they are terriers which is a whole different ball game from gundogs! Think stubborn, digging the garden, chasing rabbits etc, which terriers do. Add to this lots of grooming, twigs, leaves and seeds entwined in their coats, beards wet and drippy after a drink, or covered in dinner (or worse) and the need to be more stubborn than they are when it comes to training.
Good points? With the right effort you will have a loving companion who will adore all your family and friends equally and will attract attention wherever you go! As one of my puppy owners said "I now have some idea what it must be like to be seen out with David Beckham!"

"Think stubborn, digging the garden, chasing rabbits etc, which terriers do. Add to this lots of grooming, twigs, leaves and seeds entwined in their coats, beards wet and drippy after a drink, or covered in dinner (or worse) and the need to be more stubborn than they are when it comes to training"

Sounds like a cocker to me, but just change 'beards' to 'ears' here. I've got 2 English cockers who are very strong willed and spend most of their time trying to train me! They are fantastic dogs and always like to be in the middle of whatever everyone else is doing. They love stimulation and are so full of character. But then I am biased as my grandfather bred them as well eons ago.

It goes to show then, that Saffy has, after all, chosen two breeds which are quite alike, although from different groups! I have always found it fascinating how some breeds have similar traits when in fact they should in theory behave completely differently. Admitedly, wheatens were originally bred as "all rounders", but it is surprising how "differently alike" (if you see what I mean) some breeds are to others when they should in theory be total opposites.

I don't know much about either breed but my aunt is a dog groomer and i stayed with her a few days ago, during that time she had an amarican cocker and a wheaten, they were both lovely! :) The Cocker had big bushy legs that made it difficult to groom and the wheaten was easy. I stayed before an she had a Cocker Spaniel. He was matted behind his ears though and she has said it happens quite often in those types of dogs if you don't groom them so whatever you get (especially if its a cocker though) remember to groom it often!

I think that the difference your aunt found was in the owners! Wheatens need a LOT of grooming especially when younger before the coat matures (which can take up to four years despite what the breed standard etc. says) and will mat and tangle if left. It is quite a fine coat and grass seeds etc get caught in it and create tangles. The wheaten was probably "easy" because the owner was combing properly and regularly.