Question:I am wanting to get a dog for my kids and love the look of cockers, but have heard they have very nervous bladders? Any Ideas
Answers:
It really really depends on the Breeder, I adopted a cocker spaniel form an abusive home. She Had a nervous bladder, she would piddle when she got excited. She was nervous around kids, especially the little ones...we kept her away from kids. She originally came from a pet store, and I think bred the brains out of her, she had what they called idiopathic aggression. She was unpredictable, but we know how to handle her. I am only telling you this because I want you to know where you are getting her/him. Do your homework. I have many friends who have cockers that are sweeties and do well with children, but they came from reputable breeders. I loved my dog, she lived to be 14, and I miss her, but I will never get a cocker again, unless it is from a known breeder. Good Luck...
Other Answers:
excellent house dogs but they do shed a lot
Wonderful dogs! =)
They do, and a couple cockers I have met are mentally unstable. Make sure you meet the parents of your new cocker, or if adopting have a meet and greet with the kids and dog before you bring them home. My standard poodle growing up had a nervous bladder. I made sure she was socialized, so when a stranger came over she wouldn't have an accident.
I had one when i was little and it was a really great family dog, calm, gentle, and loyal- i've never heard about them having nervous bladders though, i think its definatley a good choice for kids. good luck ;)
The shedding for them sucks. My friends got one and it's a really great dog, but wearing black never really works. I guess thats part of being a dog owner though.
They are fun and lovable, go for it. I had a Springer Spaniel once when I was very young and she was practicaly my older sister. But cancer claimed her. Spaniels give a whole new meaning to the man's best frined saying, and once people have a spaniel( Cocker or Springer) , they'll understand.
English springer spaniels are better pets. They're much cuter too.
I have had 3 Cockers. Two were great, one little beauty bit my kids...no provocation....( all were from reputable breeders.)I take care of a seven month old in the doggy day care. He does pee all over in excitement.
You might consider the English cocker.. they are known to be stable...Here are their pics>> http://images.google.com/images?hs=r5Q&hl=en&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official_s&q=english%20cocker&btnG=Search&percentage_served=*:100&sa=N&tab=wi
Or, if you love the look, how about the Cavalier King charles Spaniel::>>http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&q=cavalier+king+charles&btnG=Search
They have the look of a Cocker puppy that stays a puppy.
Super gentle companions.
Always loved mine as a kid and still do but need lots of care thier coat is easily matted and they can have problems medically if not from good breeding. nervous bladders in dogs can be trained out. We never had any that had that problem till they were 12 or 13 yrs old or had a health problem. If a mid or large size is acceptable I suggest Labradore retrievers due to the loyalty and ease of training due to inteligence.
Cocker Spaniels are merry little dogs. happy and sociable. to take care of the bladder problem just make sure to socialize them. take your puppy on walks, introduce her to other dogs, big and small, at an early age. don't smother her too much. make her walk on her own and if something scares her don't comfort her right away, let her come out from hiding and sniff the scary thing then praise her for being brave.
keep in mind, they are prone to ear infections so keep them clean.
I've been around a few of them and always thought that they were a bit too high strung for me. Nipping and being very anxious. Personally for a childerns dog, labs and retreivers are a great way to go.
Yes they have nervous bladders. Carin terriers make excellent family dogs as well and they're small and don't shed too much. You could always go for a cocker mix.
Cocker soaniels are great house dogs because they're freindly and good with kids. But, they may have accidents in the house if they get excited. Just make sure you let him out to relieve himself on a regular basis, and you should be okay.
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