We currently have a 7 month old Cocker Spaniel bitch and seeing her interact with other dogs when we're out and about has bought about the feeling that she would benefit from a companion. Added to this is my desire to have more of a "guard dog" for the family home. Could anyone offer their opinion as to whether introducing another puppy would be wise at this point in our Cockers development and if so what about the suitability of a Labrador?

Hi Marie
I think most people will agree that 8-12 months is a adequate age gap in puppies
this makes training and socialising easier they will not bond with each other
As to suitable OTHER BREED TO GET i CAN NOT ADVISE
but others will esspecially those with cockers
or guard breed's
karl

Hi Karl/Climber,

We're relatively new to dog ownership and are trying desperately not to make a complete hash of it *lol* so we appreciate all the advice. Thanks for your response.

I would wait until your pup is 1 year old, I have two pups just now one age 10 months and one 4 months, Never Again, too much work trying to train them, its double trouble as well, they only want to play with each other at training classes, so ive to take them seperatly, my older dog is nearly 2 now and is fine with both pups but does put them in their place if they go "over the top" with her, I find she growls quite a lot at the younger pup especially if she is annoying her.

Hi Irene,

Do you mind me asking what breed your dogs are? How did your older pup react when you first got the new one?

Much as I would like to provide our Cocker with a companion, another of my worries is that she'll feel like she's "had her nose put out" by us getting another pup but part of me feels she's too young to feel that way and that she'll just appreciate a play-mate.

Hi

I have two Cockers with 10 months between them. Although I adore them both - I have had real problems as they both fight for top dog status and lead each other into trouble rather than obey my commands. I would say that unless you are an experienced owner then you need to allow 18 months to two years between dogs of this breed. You are about to hit puberty with your bitch and the dog you once thought was well adjusted and well behaved is about to become "Kevin"!! Waiting until she is 18 months to to years will allow her to mature fully and for you to really bottom her training so that you can totally rely on her to obey you. If you bring another in before you have that control you are giving yourself one heck of a job. A well behaved controlled dog will lead the puppy by example. A partially trained well behaved dog will be led astray by the puppy and make the problems grow.

What type of dog is really up to you. Sticking with a gun-dog is not a bad idea. Cockers get on well together generally although two bitches can be a bit argumentative. By having a larger age gap you reduce the risk of supremacy battles as they each believe they are the top dog.A dog and a bitch get on very well together - but unless you can keep them apart when your bitch is in season - you would need to have one of them neutered unless you were planning on breeding. As you have mentioned Labradors, then I assume you do not wish to breed.

I think a Lab would work well and they would make a nice pair.

hth

Pam n the boys

PS - I couldn;t get in at all last night so sorry for the late reply

Hi. I've got three dogs, male working cocker who is 2 , male springer who is 1 and a male gsd/collie cross who is 8 months. My cocker and Springer are obviously one year apart and get on fine, I have never had any fighting or squabbles between them both are neutered, but as pam says they do lead each other astray, if one decides to go chase the birds the other isn't far behind, and now with the pup they all egg each other on. I train them all separately, because I have had trouble with them listening to me when the others are about, if we are out, so installing some basics on a one to one level helps a lot and then practising it with them all together. I think the gundog breeds do go well together. I had a Golden Retriever first before I go the cocker and there was a year between them too, I sadly lost her to cancer, but they got on fabulously too! I am going through the 'kevin' stage with cookie (the cross) but have been really fortunate with the spaniels, they have never been through it (touching wood, hoping not to tempt fate) don't get me wrong, I have had various problems along the way with each and every one - but on the whole I love having more than one dog, and agree with Pam on the age gap. Julie:)

We had a Lab first, then when she was 6 months old (she was EXCEPTIONALLY easy to train) we got another puppy. And had no problems at all. I suppose it depends on how well-trained you've got the first one, as you won't have nearly so much time to concentrate on only one. (The second pup took longer to train, but it worked).
Can't advise as to what breed to get, but if you like gundogs it seems sensible to stick with this group.

Hi Marie,
Ive got westies, the oldest bitch was roughly 18 months old when I bought in the dog at 9weeks, and she was fine with him, but, when I bought the puppy Cookie was only 6 months old, and he really annoyed the young pup, would not leave her alone, I still need to keep them apart when I go out, or my house would be trassed with them tearing up papers, etc. they love getting into the bathroom and chewing the sponges, if any old toothpaste is in the bin they pull it to bits and just love loo roll !!!! he still does not leave her alone, but, she has learnt if she growls he backs off, but, they really get on well, I find its the older bitch thats a bit left out. As I said before never again, will I get two so close in age. I did not have this problem when I introduced Cookie to Midget (18months old) at the time.

After reading through all your responses we have now decided to wait until Becks (our cocker) gets through her "Kevin" (lol) stage and we've had the time to get her fully trained so we can hopefully rely on her to set a good example for the new pup.

It's nice to have somewhere to get some good advice from those in the know! Thank you all for your replies :-)

Glad to have been of help Marie. Hugs to Becks.

Pam n the boys

Good for you Marie, its really nice to know that someone does listen to the advice given on doggy boards. Just let us know when you are ready for a puppy and Im sure someone here can recommend a reputable breeder for you.

Irene sorry for butting in on this thread but I've been put on a list for another puppy from a bitch whom I adore:) The breeder isn't sure whether to breed the bitch on her next season which is March or the following one which is Sept- if she breeds the bitch in March then it would be roughly the end of July/beginning of Aug when I get my pup- Kassie will be almost 18months old- do you think I would have problems with this age gap? I know you say you didn't have problems introducing Cookie to Midget but I'm talking about GSD's who are slower at maturing?

Stacey x x x

Hi Marie,

Good to hear you taking all the good advice on board - we were so keen on getting two pups together & two completely different breeds aswell that we've had a really tough time.

We've got a little beagle (Bert) & a dobermann (Hugo), both 18 months. The beagle is a wonderful tracker for when we've lost leads/ keys/ Hugo on walks and the dobe successfully guards the house from those pesky hedgehogs, postmen & paper boys...

As many people are probably aware, beagles don't take kindly to obedience training and we nearly weep with joy if our little bugger comes back to our call or lies down for a treat. However, the dobe was a lot easier to train and he tends to listen to us whilst the beagle just follows him about so we've been seriously lucky. Two young, frisky pups will tend to lead each other astray rather than listen to owners.

I can fully understand why you've chosen to get another pup as it's wonderful to watch the clumsy litle oafs play together in front of the fire. Our two have obviously bonded but they also enjoy being apart and hvaing all the attention to themselves - so again we've been lucky. Many others would just pine/howl/become destructive if one has to go to vet or be apart for some reason.

Good luck, hope this endorses what you've already been told.

Lady G

Instead of wondering about the breed I would perhaps get an opposite dog to yours in personality. Another words if you have a dominating dog then a submissive one would be better. Two alphas are so very difficult to get to interact nicely.

regards
Jackie