A friend is considering getting a second breed and she quite likes the look of american cockers, but she isnt what id call active. Do they require lots of exersize or mental work? her other breed lhasa's seem to be right couch potatos well at least hers are lol. I said id ask at discover dogs but think ill be too busy to so thought id ask here.

I have an American cocker and he is the most wonderful dog! He was pretty active (at least compared to my Cavaliers!) when he was younger, always mooching from room to room looking for trouble. My husband does a lot of long distance footpath walking so he usually gets short walks with me during the week before work, and on fine weekends he might be doing anything between 5 and 15 mile walks (stopping to sniff and having rests if wanted of course, and having built up to that over time). He is nearly 11 years old now and still enjoys a couple of hours walk at a weekend, though he is much quieter and more willing to relax and snooze in the house. Grooming is non-trivial, but if she has a Lhasa she should be used to brushing. They are terribly greedy dogs, he has stolen or scavenged a lot of food over the years! But he is the most beautiful dog (when freshly bathed!) and so enthusiastic and loving, he has a real zest for life!

Thank you, so for a young one would one shorter walk a day be ok? She lives in a town and don't drive so not many places to walk. Also would  they be ok if the didn't get a walk every day? Her current ones don't seem to care if they miss a day or two, where as if my vall missed a day's walks I'd know about it lol so would they be more the level of mine or hers. That's the part she is not sure about as she wouldn't want to get one and find she can't give it what it needs.

Yep grooming is no prob, the coat is one think she really likes, she is happiest with brush in hand lol

Yes, I never noticed a difference with my boy if he missed the odd walk. He was always up and ready to go anyway, so whether or not he got a walk, he was always wanting to go and poke his nose into something. We just walked round the local park when I lived in London and he was fine with that, some days it would only be 15 or 20 minutes if I was rushing to work, then longer at weekends (or if the weather was nice, haha!). Many cockers are paper or tissue shredders, and a lot are ball mad, though mine isn't.

Great I'll let her know, the ball mad would be good as she wanted to try fly ball when I started but none of hers bother with balls except the one with bad knees so she couldn't try it.

We used to dabble in agility with ours. Tried a flyball 'have a go' once - he loved running out and back over the jumps, but just looked at the ball and said 'I'm not picking that up, I can't eat it!' :-D

I have an American and compared to my English, he does have less energy and is more laid back overall. He is often busy indoors, but that is more with chewing toys etc rather than getting into trouble, he is a proper spaniel though and will always be under your feet if given the chance. He is one of these dogs that take as much exercise as they get, but doesn't mind missing a day here or there.

Having said that they are gundogs and they do need a reasonable amount of exercise to keep them healthy and happy. Mine will walk as long as you let him and he loves any activities (agility, obedience, doggie dancing etc), but he isn't adverse to a day in peace and quiet at home.

My guys (all of them, including my American) get a one-hour walk a day and sometimes more at the week-end (and during the summer we are often at obedience shows all day on Sundays) and one or two training classes a week. 

As long as they get some play/excercise on the odd days walks are not possible it should be OK - fetch in the garden, for instance.  Almost every Yankee has an inbuilt fetch feature :) .  Your friend needs to be aware that there can be big behaviour difference between colour types.  As a rule of thumb parti colours can be much more energetic and verging even on manic than the solids, and sadly there has been a lot of tempermant issues in some chocolate lines.

George must be the exception that proves the rule Gwen, I've tried but I've never persuaded him to fetch anything. 3 of my 4 Cavaliers have learned to fetch, but not him!! :-D

I'll let her know about the colour differences Gwen thanks, think she would avoid the partlys anyway due to keeping the white nice, I know she has that problem with one of her lhasas white paws.

I can recommend buffs for not showing the dirt, it's usually only when I get him in the bath I realise just how filthy he had got! :-p

In 20 plus years of breeding  them I have only had 1 without the fetch feature Lucy :)

Hehe, just our luck then! I don't mind really. Though it might be nice if our next one came without the scavenging dog poo on walk feature....

Oh dear..........yours too eh

Dawn R.

Very much so! And he's incapable of snuggling quietly like the Cavaliers - he's either in my face standing on my leg demanding cuddles, or sulking on the other sofa. :-D But we love him to bits!