How to Know If a Cocker Spaniel Is Suitable for You?

Answer 1

A cocker spaniel is a perfect dog for many households. However, before you decide to add one to your family, you will need to consider many factors to make sure that you are prepared to train and take care of a cocker spaniel which will accompany you to up to 15 years.

As a sturdy medium-sized dog, a cocker spaniel is good either as a house pet or as a working dog. However, do not think that this means a cocker spaniel will be ideal for you. You need to consider its temperament before deciding whether a cocker spaniel will be a valuable addition to your family.

In general, cocker spaniels tend to be a little bit shy, but most of them are very obedient towards their owners. If you don’t want to have a shy dog, you will need to spend extensive amount of time to socialize the dog when it is still a puppy. A cocker spaniel is good for households with young children and elderly as it has a sweet and gentle disposition. Since cocker spaniels are good work dogs by nature, they need plenty of daily exercise. They also need firm leadership, so you will need to read up on books on how to become a good pack leader.

Without proper training and leadership, a cocker spaniel may develop common negative behaviors such as shyness, dominance, or submissive urinating when it is overexcited. As a result, you have to make sure that you are ready to become a good dog trainer.

In addition, you should expect to devote plenty of time to groom your cocker spaniel. Pay special attention to areas under the eyes. You may choose to keep your cocker spaniel’s coat long, but it still requires daily brushing, weekly shampooing, and quarterly trimming.

Cocker spaniels are prone to cataracts, liver disease, and hip dysplasia. Make sure you have the resource to take your dog for regular health check-ups.