can anyone please help me, im looking for a cocker spaniel but have been told several times that self coloured can have a very viscious streak in them.is anyone familiar with this.and also should i expect to pay the same price (£550) for either ??????

If you buy from a careful breeder you should have no problem, contact one of the breed clubs for contacts. There was a time some good few years ago that some solids did have a problem, think only the reds, but responsible breeders have, I think, managed to breed it out of their stock.

Buying from a puppy farm, warehouse or back yard breeder may still be a risk.

As long as you buy your pup from an experienced reputable breeder, you should have no problems whether you choose a solid (self-coloured) or a particoloured puppy. A reputable breeder will be more than willing to show you their other dogs so that you can see for yourself that they have friendly, happy temperaments. A good breeder will also take the time to socialise their puppies properly (important if you want an outgoing puppy) & will do the recommended health-screening tests such as annual eye-testing & hip-scoring. It is better to contact a breeder via a recommendation from one of the Cocker Breed Clubs, a full list with contacts can be found here. Avoid commercial kennels selling a number of breeds & be very wary of adverts on free ad websites or in free newspapers. As far as price goes, this varies with location but £550 is reasonable for a KC reg puppy from a reputable breeder (whatever the colour).