Hi

I think I should join this site as I have been looking on it most of the day!

I emailed earlier asking for breeders of Kooikerhondje and thanks to those who replied. I have started making my enquiries.

Please could anyone who has a Kooikerhondje let me know what they are like to live with and any good/bad points. I was reading your questions and answers on the English Cocker Spaniel (which was going to be one of our choices) and the feedback was most useful as I don't think it is the right breed for us. So, I need to know about the kooiker breed.

Also, if you can suggest any other breeds that may be suitable for us that would be great too. I will tell you what we have and what time we can give. We live in Jersey, Channel Islands, so have use of lovely beaches and lots of woodland walks. We have a small cottage with a yard at the back - not a garden. We would be able to check in our lunch hour that the dog is okay and take for a short 20 min walk, so it wouldn't be on its own for more than 3/4 hours at a time during the week without a break/attention. No problem with spending and hour or more on exercise in the evening. Good for us too!

Please let me know what you think. Is this the right breed. After researching many breeds we think it is.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Ginette

Hi Ginette,

The Kooiker is very similar to a Cocker, but the coat care is alot less. They are a similar size and have a similar temperament. They are very busy little dogs and need a lot of mental stimulation. It's not recommended that they be left alone for any length of time. Also due to the rareness of the breed would you be prepared to do anything to promote the breed? It's by no means essnetial but with only 50 in the UK and 6500 worldwide the breed needs a lot of promotion.

What was it about the Cocker that made you decide they weren't for you? I have a 9mth old Cocker and the kooiker will be a perfect complimentary breed for her. If you register with the forum, then you we can help you better.

Fiona
x x x

Fiona,

So sorry for the delay in replying back. Not being rude. Honest. I had to join because I couldn't reply. This is a great site.

Anyhow, thanks for your feedback. I absolutely think the kooiker is adorable and kind of knew it was very similar in temperament to a cocker, but didn't think it was as manic. I had discovered the coat was easier to look after on the Kooiker. I really don't know what to do as I we can't be around the dog all day and I certainly don't want an unhappy dog. My husband in fact said it might be an idea to breed them as they are so rare. What a shame they are. I didn't realise until I started researching them. Shows how keen I am to get the right breed, but equally we want the dog to be happy in its home.

What put me off the cocker is that they bark quite a lot and tend to be, well..... a bit mad! My aunt has one. Also, I was reading the feedback from this site regarding them. The thing about the kooiker breed is I don't have any feedback about them because they are so rare, hence making my enquiries on this site.

Sorry to waffle. But we don't want to take more than we can chew. So, what do you think now??????

Chow
Ginette

Hi Ginette,

To be honest with you your best bet would be to talk to Sheila Rees as she lives with a Kooiker, and a Duck Tolling Retreiver, so she can tell you more about living with a Kooiker.

I can tell you that they are wonderful family dogs, who love company and are great with children and other dogs. They're not terribly noisy but being a working breed they need a lot of stimulation both physical and mental. They are very spaniel like in their mentality and can be wary of strangers. They're very owner devoted and wouldn't really make good guard dogs.

With regard to Cockers being noisy - they can be, but like most dogs if you tell them 'no' from an early age they won't bark that much. My parents 14mth Cocker is a lot noisier than my 9mth old because they never told her off for barking, so she barks at everything. The only thing my puppy barks at is intruders in the garden or strange people that we meet when it's dark out side. Holly is quite mad but my 3 children tire her out by playing with her during the day and the 3 walks a day certainly help!!

The Kooiker is about the same size as the Cocker, in height, weight and head size with a similar type of coat. They're very soft and silky with lovely warm tufty ears :D

If you're happy to wait for a puppy and don't have any time frames in mind for getting a puppy then I can't see any reason why a Kooiker wouldn't be for you. You really do need to try to come over to the mainland to see some Kooikers in the flesh before you make a final decision. My hubby was all for getting a Hungarian Viszla until he met one and couldn't get along with their feet. There was something about them that really put him off. I'll email you the address of another Kooiker owner who's involved in the importing of the bitches next year, they're also involved in the Kooiker club as well and do very well with their two Kooikers that they show.

I hope that I've been of some help to you, if you want to know anything else please feel free to email me at home.

Fiona
x x x

Hi Fiona

Thank you so much for your feedback. I emailed Sheila Rees today and await her reply. I still think we could give a kooiker a very loving and happy life. You are right in the fact that we must see one. We have every intention of visiting the breeder or contact we manage to find so that we can go along and have a proper chat and be around the dog. If we do decide it is still the right breed for us then we will wait until a puppy comes along. If it the right dog it is worth the wait. We would ideally like a dlog and would be happy to use him for a stud at some stage if needed, we couldn't cope with breeding ourselves as we haven't really got the ideal space which I am sure you would need.

Thanks every so much for getting back to me and I will keep you posted and how we get on.

Ginette

Hi Ginette,

I really hope that you're able to get a Kooiker - they're gorgeous little dogs with a lovely nature. Sheila has a beautiful boy Tallas, I think he's 7yrs old now, and isn't showing any signs of old age.

There is a Yahoo! group about Kooikers that you might be interested in joining - the members are internationally spread and there might be someone who could help you get a Kooiker quicker than the puppies that are coming into the UK. I'll email you the address.

Hope to see you in the group soon,

Fiona
x x x

Ginette

Where abouts are you in Jersey, I'm in Gorey Village :D

Natasha

Hi Ginette

Welcome to Champdogs from a fellow Channel Islander !!! (Guernsey though, it has to be :D :D :D)

What are you looking or in a dog ?? Something on the medium/small size, which doesn't require too much coat care ?? Doesn't mind plenty of exercise ??

Maybe a Hound - Beagle, Basset, Whippet, Italian Greyhound, Dachshund Standard or Mini - smooth, wire or longhaired ........ or a Terrier - Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Westie, Cairn ........ or a Mini Schnauzer, Toy Poodle, Minature Poodle, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel etc.

I have three Cocker Spaniels and yes some of them can be very busy but my middle one is as quite as a lamb and doesn't bustle about like the other two. They are all different so saying that they are too busy is just picking up on one point of a Cocker that you have met :)

Just my thoughts

Dessie

Thanks Dessie for your reply.
Good to hear from another Channel Islander. We have looked at those breeds you mention, we have thought about a West Highland Terrier. The jury is still out on that one if we cannot get a kooiker. I am currently chatting with Fiona about this and make numerous investigations.

I agreed about the comments you make on the cocker. My husband saw two beautiful dogs when he was last over in the UK (belonging to a friend of a friend). They were English Cocker Spaniels and he said they were just gorgeous and the right size etc etc. They are show spaniels which is probably why they were more attractive looking than some we have seen. It is all such hard work and can be very confusing this dog thing. We are determined to do it right and are looking into matters early enough to be able to make the right decision and we are no rush if we can find the right breed for us. I never thought it would be this hard when we first started looking. Unfortunately, when I didn't realise how rare the kooiker dog was. Now I do!!

Anyway, gotta dash as going away today for a long weekend to visit family in the UK. So, hopefully catch you later on the forum.

Ginette

Just adding my tuppenceworth about kooikers - I believe they have a bit of a breed problem with a soft pallette, so that's something to check up on. I did think that they might be suitable dogs for KCJO activities at one stage - very bright, trainable little souls of moderate size, but was told they could be a bit feisty.

Just second-hand advice, but worth checking on.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hi Ginette

Most of the Cockers that you have seen would be what is could an English Cocker Spaniel by the American's etc. (just a regular Cocker to us) but there is also an American Cocker Spaniel which has lots and lots of coat and a more domed shaped head.

There is a fellow Jersey girl on the list and she has two Show Cockers - a Blue Roan and a Black :D :D The other Cockers that you may have seen might be Show Cockers but they may have had all the coat clippered off so they will not look much like the posh Show relatives if you see what I mean.

Enjoy your weekend break :D :D

Dessie

Is there any chance you could fit in a visti to the mainland in order to atend the Kennel Clubs Discover Dogs event in London in November?

Alternatively at the NEC in March where it is helf as a part of Crufts!

You will be able to see most breeds that are in the UK, and speak to people that live with the breeds.

My saying is one mans meet is anothers poison.

I have had friends spaniles, coker, Welsh springer, and English Springer, and I wouldn't want one permanenetly! On the other hand my double coated, more independant breed wouldn't suit some people, but I think them the perfect family companion!!