Are cocker spaniels the worst dogs in the world?

Answer 1

Maybe not the worst, but they must be close to the worst: they are insecure, prone to cherry eye (some kind of gross condition where part of one eye bulges out of the socket and gets infected), have constant yucky (disgusting) eye discharge that gets all black and crusty (my wife refuses to touch it). Their hair grows like crazy and gets all over. If you cut them in proper cocker style or just let the hair grow out it gets all matted unless you constantly groom them. They are too big to take everywhere (like in the car on longer trips like a lap dog) and too small to be cool or to provide security. And in my humble opinion, when they are cut and groomed in traditional cocker style they look ridiculous, like some bad wig from the 80s. The hair grows so fast on their paws which means almost every time you take a cocker for a walk they are sweeping the sidewalk and pathways and get home requiring a bath unless you like dirty footprints all over the house. They can tend to be piddlers too (ours is and it drives me nuts, pees instantly anytime it gets nervous like when a new visitor comes to the house and tries to pet him). The only good thing is they are loyal and not bad with kids, though we were advised to neuter ours for assurance of better manner with our young children. Now more on our particular cocker, which may be just ours, but it is so insecure that it follows either my wife or I every footstep. I swear I can walk up and down three stairs 20 times in a row and he'll just keep doing it step for step without catching on. Ours also randomly decides he hates a person, no rhyme or reason to it, and when he sees that person he lunges at the window or at the person barking like a seal that got run over by a truck- it's just embarassing. He also took a nip at a passerby once while on a walk and it was really awkward getting the lecture from the guy (afraid of a cocker, what a pansy) when we had no way of seeing it coming and he was on a leash. Ours also always jumps up and claws at people, mostly my wife and I, when we're sitting at the table or talking to company- like he's begging for attention. It's that insecurity thing (as well as occasionally trying to mooch food). But it's also super annoying because if his nails aren't filed he can scratch or tear your clothing. He also always wants to climb up on beds and sofas to sit next to us, which I'm not crazy about with all his hair. I know, dog fanatics, I'm too uptight and complainy, and that it's all our fault for being irresponsible dog owners and not providing proper training etc, but rest assured we still love him and treat him very well. But I would sooner stick a fork in my eye than ever get another cocker spaniel.