From a previous thread, (which we have all agreed to abandon) I know that Hazel and one or two other people have recently got Cocker pups, and were looking for info. Just read the new issue of 'Your Dogs" which has a nice, straight forward article about them - ideal for new owners.
Gwen

Thanks Gwen,

As I will be a new Cocker owner in about six weeks time I will definately go and purchase a copy today.

Can you normally find it in your local newsagent or is it only really stocked in WH Smith etc.?

Regards

Nicky xx

Martins on West Street should stock it, Nicky - it's the September 2002 issue with 2 very cute puppies on the front cover and a head line about Stress-Buster! How pheromones can help your dog.

Fiona
x x x

Thanks Fiona, I look forward to getting it and seeing what else I can learn. Look forward to putting all this into practise next month. Pretty nervy though as you read all the ways to train the puppy and worry that you will remember everything. I really want to do it how the experts say but need to convert Malcolm as he is set in his ways on how his family dogs have been trained. I'm sure he will learn when he see's the results.

Did you ever go to any puppy classes or obedience classes when you lived in Horsham?
The vet that you recommended (I think your parents went there) does not run a puppy class and I really want to find a good one and then start obedience or agility with him when he is suitable.

Nicky xx

There used to be a puppy obedience class in the British Legion Hall behind the Arts Centre but I'm not sure if there still is. Your best bet would be to ask the receptionist at the vets where the nearest one is.

Fiona
x x x

Nicky, some classes are held at Little Brockhurst Canine Centre, just outside Billingshurst. He's a reputable guy, and can also do day/night boarding, so may be worth having a look at. I've been to a couple of them, and he uses choker chains. Now I know they are sometimes frowned upon, but he does teach their use properly, and it seems to work, at least on the other dogs I saw there.

As you're getting a cocker, don't be in too much of a rush to get training, as they are usually extremely lively, and to be honest, often too immature to take much in for a little while. But by all means give it a go.

HI all

Regarding articles about Cockers, there was a very thought provoking, insightful and i felt poignant letter about an owner dealing and living with a Cocker with Rage Syndrome. It doesn't have a happy ending but I felt showed the realities maybe of living with a Cocker with this problem.

It was in Dogs Today, Letters Page.

Best wishes
Lindsay

Hi Lindsay,
I think this is one of the problems some of us were trying to tactfully convey to a list member who had just bought a new puppy from a breeder who has perhaps a questionable reputation (no visible health tests etc). Have also recently heard about a not too happy outcome for another new cocker owner who had recently posted here, and had decided not to buy his booked puppy - was contacted "off list" and bought an older bitch for a fairly large sum of money as a result of the e-mail, and she had turned out to be far from ideal (very nervy)! It then turned out that the original breeder would have been willing to supply papers anyway (this had been the original sticking point) but the "e-mailer" had done a total character assasination on them. Some very self interested people out there, never mind the pet buyer, just get the cash regardless of well being of dog or owner.
Gwen

HI Gwen

It's diffixult isn't it!!! And not very fair when people do "character assassinations" - I found this when I was researching breeders for purchasing my own Terv pup, luckilu i was able to stick with my known breeder who decided to breed for one last time, and I knew she produced sound pups :)

I have a friend at the moment who has taken on a self coloured Cocker male, he used to fight with his brother badly but it was obvious it was a bit of a resource thing....and they only fought when the owner was there :(

Now my friend has him - she really was not the best person because she has a CKCS and guess what, the dogs are now fighting....anything the Cavie has, the Cocker wants. Yet the rest of the time he is such a sweet natured dog it is incredible.

She is getting some help but I don't know if she or her family ( as she has a special needs boy) will cope....

Sorry, blabbing on a bit so I'll sign off!!! :)

LIndsay

Oh Lindsay, This sounds like a recipe for disaster. Cockers can be very dominant, and if this one has a history of behavioural difficulty he realy needs to be in a home with the experience to handle a difficult dog. The child with problems cant help, I am sure, your poor friend must be frantic. Had to try to re-home a young dog recently who was in a home with an Austic child age 6. When they got the puppy (not mentioning the little boys difficulties) it seemed like an ideal home, older kids, big garden, Mum & Dad never away from home at the same time (she worked part time, he worked flexi shifts) The pup travelled up from a breeder in the South to the North East. I arranged to be 'on stand by" for in the area help if needed. No problems for 2 years, then frantic phone calls - the little boy was attacking the dog! Because he was autistic he could not realy be reasoned with, and just kept launching himself on the dog, who was behaving like a perfect gentleman, but everyone was terrieifed he would be hurt, and that he would then go for the child. New home was found for the dog, which was very sad for the family, but safest all round.
Gwen

HI Gwen

I am very worried as i feel so sorry for her CKCs; he is a lovely little fellow and so sweet. The 2 used to play together but now of course the Cocker has his feet under the table a bit more.

Luckily - sorry I should have made this clear - the little boy is 15; I call him little 'cos his mental age is about 9! He hates it when his mum trains the new dog as he wanted the dog for himself...oh dear!!! :(

I am so glad ot hear the Cocker you mentioned was rehomed, sounds a very good natured dog to put up with being attacked by the little boy. AS you say an autistic child can't be reasoned with....

Anyway I'll post if there's any news on this Cocker.

Best wishes#
Lindsay

I can never understand why any breeder would sell litter brothers to the same home -it's so often a recipe for trouble. Sounds like this dog needs to be in a home without other dogs/kids with an owner who has the strength of personality to deal with this "bossy" Cocker. Some Cockers can be dominant (not all by any means!) & too often they end up in homes with inexperienced owners who seem unable to say "No" - not that this is the case here but it happens so often :-(

Jane

hI Jane

I am not sure where the Cockers came from, although he is a lovely looking dog.

I definitely agree he needs a home without any other dogs or kids, he would probably then mellowout and as he is normally so sweet and gentle would be happier himself :)

So far my friend has tried all sorts of things, I know she has smacked him, yelled, and the little boy kicked him because he was after the cat.....:(

She has now taken advice from our WT's instructor who does behavioural work so we shall see what happens. Personally i think the dog has got a long way to go and she will need to be very brave. i am not sure she has the dog "reading skills" to sort it all out, but I am trying to suoport her as are the rest of the WT group. She took the dog on out of the kindness of her heart, as she knew him and couldn't bear for him to be sold to a stranger.

Lindsay

Thanks Gwen. I will go and look for it. By the way, Chester's parents are eye tested but I don't want to go back to that thread really.
Thanks for thinking of us
Hazel

Good glad to hear it Hazel - when you get your KC reg document, the details of any eye-testing appears after the sire & dam's names. If these details don't appear, then the parents have not been tested under the KC/BVA scheme. Just thought I'd mention this as many buyers (& I dare say some breeders) are not aware of this :-)

Jane

PS It's a good article in Your Dogs but you'd probably find one of the many Cocker books more useful as they go into more detail on things like grooming, ear cleaning etc

I had the boys eye tested at the weekend - they both passed - but what a pullava - they didn't like it one jot - grerat girly wusses that they are.

Hope all is well with your pup Hazel:)

Pam n the boys

Eye testing is one of my least favourite times of the year. This year, for the first time, we had the whole lot done together, arranging for a testing session at my partners kennels in the North West. It was nerve racking! We had 4 generations of some family groups. It turned out to be a great day - everyone at the testing passed (ours and visiting dogs!) apart from my old boy, who only got a half-clear, (1 eye OK, 1 eye having to be re-tested) but he is over 7, and vet says not to panic!
Gwen