Category / Choosing a puppy

Cooper, 3 months old red gold sable english cocker spaniel puppy, good reasons to have a puppy / first published on perfect cocker spaniel blog / story and photo (c) Natalia Ashton
by Natalia

5 good reasons to have a puppy

Why did you decide to have a puppy?

Last night I was lying in bed – Netflix on, boys piled up next to me, dreaming of something… possibly their favourite walk and biscuits… who knows… It was a moment of pure bliss. A kind of moment that makes every effort that goes into raising a pup totally worthwhile.

It got me thinking… Why do we decide to have a puppy in the first place? What are the best things about having a dog – and cocker, in particular?

Here are my personal top 5:

1. Puppies make us happy. Cuddling them triggers release of oxytocin – the “love hormone”. Newborn babies have the same effect on their mums to create a bond between them.

2. Puppies make us active and fit. Running after a little cocker is way harder than having a workout in the gym. Plus, you use your entire body (and feel like a corpse by 9pm…)

3. Puppies are the best weight watchers! Remember that cup of coffee you made in the morning? You were hoping to drink it before the pup is awake… Well, it’s lunch time now – and that coffee is still there waiting for you. Food? Don’t even think about it! Pointless!

4. Puppies make us feel young again. You cannot build a real bond with a pup unless you let yourself be YOURSELF! Run, play, roll in a grass together, laugh, cuddle, act like a kid!

5. Puppies improve our social life & skills. Just think how many people you suddenly get to chat with during your walks! The only problem is most of them will never recognise you without your dog or remember your name (you are destined to be known as “[insert your dog’s name here] mum/dad”

WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO HAVE A PUP?

Photo source: Cooper photographed by me

 

Fred, 7 week old chocolate and tan English cocker spaniel puppy / how to find a cocker spaniel puppy / cocker spaniel puppy ads / first published on Perfect cocker spaniel blog / (C) Natalia Ashton
by Natalia

Q&A | How to find a perfect English cocker spaniel puppy?

WHERE & HOW DO YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR THAT PERFECT COCKER SPANIEL PUPPY? I’ve talked about the subject a lot in my book Perfect cocker spaniel, but since the question is one I get asked a lot, I wanted to cover the basics here, too.

True, these days you can find puppies online easily enough. Social media and websites give you a quick access to dozens of puppy ads.  These, however, can bring a lot of problems, especially if you never had cockers before and this is your first ever experience of finding a pup.

The safest way I recommend is to look via the Kennel Club website. All good breeders & pure-line litters are registered there. If you like a certain breeder, but they don’t have litters at them moment, leave your details with them. Waiting lists are very common!

If you choose to look for a pup elsewhere, always remember a few simple rules.

Good breeder will…
… be KC listed + council licensed if they breed to sell or have more than 3 litters a year;
… have each litter KC registered (note: puppy farms can do it, too, so check for other signs & use common sense);
… ask you questions to ensure that you’re a suitable puppy parent;
… be knowledgeable about cockers;
… introduce you to puppy’s parents (I like to see BOTH dogs of I’ve never met a breeder before);
… have pedigree certificates for both parents;
… have valid health test certificate for both parents;
… take extra precautions when showing you the pup;
… will not let you see a pup in person before the pup is at least 5 weeks old (personally I feel it’s best to wait until a pup is 6-7 weeks old);
… have pups health-checked by a vet;
… never sell you a pup before he’s at least 8 weeks old;
… offer life-time support & advice.

Avoid breeders who…
… do not meet all of the above rules;
… offer pups at an oddly low price;
… have pups that look unwell;
… offer to meet half-way or bring a pup to you;
… sell puppies through shops;
… have too many dogs & breeds;
… have untidy & dirty premises;
… refuse to show you pups mum;
… don’t care about mixing working & show lines;
… sell pups that aren’t KC registered;
… breed from “a family pet” without pedigree or health certificates & are listed as “a private individual”, not a “breeder” or “business”.

Photo source: Fred at 7 weeks old, photographed by me

 

Can / should I get a cocker spaniel puppy if I work full time? Cocker spaniel and separation anxiety training and tips (C) Image by rawpixel from Pixabay
by Natalia

Q&A | Should I get a cocker spaniel puppy if I work full time?

One of the most asked questions is SHOULD/CAN I GET A COCKER PUP IF I WORK FULL TIME? In short, no.

All dogs are pack animals & feel happy as a part of a family, not on their own. Cockers, known to be naturally prone to separation anxiety, are even more sensitive to loneliness and spending hours in solitude. Here I won’t even go into keeping a puppy in a cage for hours “to avoid mess” because it simply should not cross your mind.

Young pups need a company most of the time and young and grown up dogs can stay on their own for an hour or two provided they had a lovely walk, meal and entertainment.

Personally I feel that a perfect family for a cocker is the one where family members can be at home most of the time either working from home (my case) or working shifts.

If you have to leave your dog alone for hours, find him a dog sitter, friend or relative and let the pooch get used to this arrangement over a period of time. Worth remembering that your cocker will naturally become more independent and detached from you when he becomes a junior, but he will still need to know that you’re somewhere around or about to come home.

How do you find balance between work & keeping your cocker happy?

Photo source: image by rawpixel from Pixabay