Hiya! Is it ok to get a 8 weeks old english cocker spaniel in the summer holidays while the kids, me and my husband are off work for 6 weeks then when my husband goes back to work i shall stay of for another 2 weeks to look after the pup. When i go back to work, i shall be working 8am-12pm then 1pm-4pm. For the hour in between i can walk him and play with him. All me and my family want a dog and i know i can give it a loving home for all its years.

It can work out.  OUr dogs have no problem being in the routin of being left 8:30-1:20, 1:55-3:45.  As long as you are prepared to give the dog along walk before and after work aswell as lunchtime I can't see a problem.

I have heard cockers arn't the best dogs for being left though, but I do not know from experiance, but do know a very happy cocker that is left, not for hours apon end, he is also well and truely spoilt!!!

The only problem you have is wanting it for a certain time.  Don't go out and find a puppy just because it is 8 weeks start of summer holidays. 

ALso is it possible first few weeks after you have been back to work to have someone come into the house to let pup out in garden.  Only needs be 5 mins 2-3 times while your not there.  Just to let a pup do his business! :)

I would say yes :D - but that lunch hour goes very quickly ( my wife pops back at lunch time to see our dogs and it is difficult to fit in a walk during that time ) - we have used dog sitters/walkers in the past when work was too far to pop home at lunch time- they would come in to check on the dogs and let them out for a good run each day ( the one we had also did some house work so our weekends were clearer :D ) we hav'nt found anyone since we moved to 'the sticks' but it could be a possibility for you.

Having had experience of cockers for many years I would say no, they are not a suitable breed for this sort of life.  It may work out but I think the odds on it not working are very strong.  You really have to consider what it would be like to have to return a puppy that you have grown to love in a very short time and wonder how he will get on starting again with another family.  Sorry if this is not what you want to hear but you did ask :)

Sorry, I have to say no too.  I have cocker spaniels and they are dogs that thrive on human company.  You can't take a pup, be with it 24/7 for 6-8 weeks then suddenly leave it on it's own.  At max you will be giving the pup 45 - 50 minutes in the middle of the day, that is not enough for a 4 month old pup in my opinion.

I also don't let my pups go to people who work full time either, sorry if it's not what you want to hear.  :-)

Hi Guest,

You should be fine.  I have 2 cocker spaniels and me and my partner both work full time.  My parents do look after them from around 11-3, so they're not left too long on their own, but have always been fine.  I think as long as you pop home at lunch and maybe get someone to pop in on them a couple of times a day you should be fine.  Both my dogs are very stable and loving.

In an ideal world I know we would all like to stay at home and look after our dogs full time, but in reality this isn't an option, especially how much dogs cost to look after.  I'm sure you'll be fine, best of luck with your new pup.

How can you be so "sure" it will be fine as you say yours are not left for anything like as long as guest is intending.  Couples today do choose to both work full time but that does not change the nature of cockers, they have never understood the concept that people have a "right" to own a dog whatever their arrangements.  For every one that says this kind of lifestyle suits their dog there are many more that do not thrive, indeed we had a post here recently about a cocker that was not settled in this kind of life.
Like SharonM I have never let a puppy go to a full time working home and neither does any of the breeders that I know so it also begs the question where is this puppy going to come from?