Are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs? Perhaps you are asking yourself this question over and over. Perfectly trained and socialized Cocker Spaniels can adapt themselves to any family setup. Their top goal is to please their owners. Their good temperament enables them to do that.
Although Cocker Spaniels are ideal family pets, do they fit homes with kids and other animals? Do they have anger issues? This detailed guide explains why Cocker Spaniels are reliable family dogs. It also reveals this dog breed’s cheeky side so you can remember it when buying your first puppy.
Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed – An Overview
The original Cocker Spaniels appeared in Spain in the 14th century. They were thriving bird hunters who went after woodcocks. No wonder their name starts with the word “Cocker”. This dog breed’s popularity across England spread like bushfire. Expert breeders from there improved and turned it into a large-sized, energetic dog.
Later, the breed reached the USA and underwent further developments. The recognized Cocker breeds in the USA are the English Cocker Spaniels and American Cocker Spaniels. The American Cocker Spaniel, generally called Cocker Spaniel, makes either a show dog or a family pet.
It is a medium size, unlike the original English Cocker Spaniel, which is stronger and more of a hunting dog. Cocker Spaniels are physically attractive and obedient regardless of their type. Their most appealing trait is temperament, which makes them gentle, kindhearted, and friendly.
Are Cocker Spaniels Good Family Dogs? – Five Reasons to Choose Them
Cocker Spaniels have been attractive family pets since the mid-20th century. Here are five reasons people choose them:
1. Temperament
Cocker Spaniels attract many people with their temperament. A dog that has received proper training and excellent care is a gentle soul. It will charm you with affection, friendship, intelligence, and positive energy. A Cocker Spaniel’s adorable temperament aids in its training and socialization.
Temperament is the main reason these dogs become perfect family pets. Their playful nature is attractive to children. Since they are tolerant and patient, they are among the safest dogs to keep around kids.
2. Training and Socialization
Cocker spaniels are intelligent dogs. Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychology professor at the University of British Colombia, gave the Cocker Spaniel the 20th position. From one hundred and thirty-eight dog breeds, the Cocker Spaniel is the 20th most intelligent dog in the world. That explains why it learns fast during training.
Its high intelligence and admirable temperament help it excel in training and socialization. They can get your cues fast because they live to please their owners. Training becomes more enjoyable and effective if these dogs receive early socialization from breeders. Are Cocker Spaniels good for first-time owners?
Since these dogs receive training easily and love to get their owners’ attention, they are impeccable pets for everyone. First-time owners will enjoy if they handle these dogs gently during socialization, training, and daily life.
Show them preliminary obedience commands and how to stay on the leash. Also, you should help them learn to live with other pets and people. Your Cocker Spaniel will have good manners and live happily with your family if you dedicate enough time to training and socialization.
3. Can Live in Most Residences
When selecting a dog to live with, most people consider the structure of their homes. Somebody with a large family home may not make the same choices as those living in small rental apartments. Since Cocker Spaniels have medium and compact bodies, they fit different environments.
Prospective owners can get this canine into their homes or apartments without trouble. These animals are relatively energetic and lovers of outdoor life. If you can play with your dog or walk it to stimulate its brain, it will cope with your family life.
4. Mental Stimulation and Exercise
American Cocker Spaniels are smaller and not as energetic and vigorous as their English cousins. However, they still need regular exercise to stay physically and mentally healthy. If you are ready to do that for your Cocker Spaniel, it will be the happiest companion.
You can jog with it in the morning or evenings when exercising. Walking your dog or engaging it in interactive games at home is just about what you need to keep it happy and contented. If your family loves the outdoors, any Cocker Spaniel would love to accompany you everywhere.
5. Good with Kids and Pets
No family that has children wants an aggressive dog. So, are Cocker Spaniels good with kids? The Cocker Spaniel’s temperament allows it to stay around kids without hurting them. Their ages do not matter, as this pet’s gentleness enables it to make friends with everyone.
It will cuddle on the couch or bed with your child or play the fetch game in the yard with them. Are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs if you have pets? Cocker Spaniels that have received adequate training and socialization will mingle with other pets easily.
Whether you keep cats, parrots, or any other pets, this dog will accept them. Ensure you rebuke the pet for bad behavior while keeping your actions gentle and voice down.
Why Cocker Spaniels May Not Always Make Good Family Dogs
As hinted earlier, these are some of the most popular family dogs. They can blend well in any family setup and offer you friendship for up to 15 years. Nevertheless, some Cocker Spaniels are not fit to live with families because of these reasons:
Mishandling and Mistreatment
Cockers are calm and peaceful by nature. However, they do not take harsh treatment or mishandling kindly. Cocker Spaniels dislike rough handling, yelling, and other agitating treatments.
They can switch into a defensive mood and develop aggression. If your Cocker seems to snap quickly these days, you have done something differently. For instance, your children could be engaging it in rough games or forcing it to play when it wants to rest. Cocker Spaniels do not bite humans without a warning.
If you start testing their patience, they will toss the first warning. This can be growling. Some kids find a growling puppy cute. So, they might pester it some more to hear another growl. The puppy will respond with a second warning_ barking or roaring.
If the child does not understand the cue, the puppy will bite them. Therefore, we can deduce that Cocker Spaniels have no problem with family members until they start mistreating them. Based on this, are Cocker Spaniels good dogs? They can be the ideal man’s friend if their environment feels loving, comfortable, and pleasant.
Unchecked Aggression
Cocker Spaniels are reliable pets until they become aggressive. Aggression comes from daily treatments that could push a happy puppy into timidity.
Rough games, rowdiness, and similar behaviors from kids or unkind adults could aggravate the aggression in the dog. It will reach a point where the pet will not hesitate to bite. Then, you will realize you have an angry Cocker in your house. The pet might use aggression to have things his way.
Continued abuse may lead to fear aggression. A dog with fear aggression is timid, withdrawn, and distrustful. If you are new to aggressive Cocker Spaniels, you may not understand their behavior or know how to assist them. If you do not correct early signs of anger in Cockers, they might escalate to fear aggression.
If your pet has reached this level of aggression, you probably cannot get it to trust you again. It will no longer be a good family dog. You might take the pet to a rescue center for rehabilitation as your last resort or it will run away from home.
This is something you can prevent at home. Treat your Cocker Spaniel kindly, especially during training. Applaud the dog for good performance and behavior. Lastly, teach your children how to handle it well.
Separation Anxiety
Are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs when abandoned? Cocker Spaniels are social animals that cringe to their human parents. If you want a robust relationship with your Cocker, do not abandon it for hours or days. These dogs love the outdoors and all its wonders and elements.
If you lock up your dog every day for hours, it might develop separation anxiety. It will start craving your presence and become stressed if it cannot. Separation anxiety is a human creation in the dog’s life. If you keep the bond between you and the Cocker Spaniel strong, it will not become a bad family dog.
Sometimes you have no choice but to leave it for several days. In such a situation, get your dog a dog-sitter who will attend to its needs in your absence. This can be a relative the dog has met or someone who can treat it right. Alternatively, take your dog to a daycare center where it can relate with a loving caregiver and other pets.
You can curb separation anxiety by involving your Cocker Spaniel in family fun activities. Go with it to picnics, camping adventures, road trips, and other amusing activities. These family dogs are ideal pets when they have no human-instilled separation stress.
How to Help Cocker Spaniels Cope with Family Life
Are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs for children? The Cocker is usually not the problem; the kids are. If your Cocker has enough training and discipline, its temperament won’t allow it to bite anybody. Young children are as playful as the Cocker Spaniel puppy.
Some may not know when the puppy has had enough play. They will force the puppy to play or engage it in rough games against its will. If you want to make your home hospitable for a Cocker Spaniel, teach your kids how to handle it. Here are points to consider:
- Children should not play with the Cocker Spaniel as a toy. They should understand it is a living thing with likes and dislikes.
- Ask your children to respect the pet’s private space. They should not touch their bed or bedding, feeding dishes, or toys. Additionally, they should wait to play with the puppy when it wakes up. Otherwise, it may get aggressive because of insomnia.
- Rough play marks the beginning of aggression in Cocker Spaniel puppies. Children cannot read the warning cues, making them the leading triggers of dog aggression. Tell your kids to avoid rough games with the animal or else expect bites.
- Screams and yells are deafening to a dog’s ears. Your kids should be kind and calm when handling your Cocker Spaniel puppy. The pet might become timid and hostile if they shout or yell at it.
- Kicking and hitting the Cocker puppy should never happen. No child or high-tempered adult should try these acts. If they do, a loving and gentle dog might develop fear and withdraw from humans.
- Food aggression is real in dogs, including Cocker spaniels. Children must stay away when the pet is eating. If not, it could snap and bite them.
- Involve your kids in dog training, especially when giving obedience lessons. They will understand these commands and use them when playing with the pet.
- Lastly, your children should learn to detect when your Cocker Spaniel puppy wants to rest rather than play. Sometimes, the pet wants a peaceful and calm environment even when awake.
Apart from teaching your kids how to treat a Cocker, there is more to do. Now you can answer this: are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs? Next, ask yourself if they are your only option. For instance, should you get a cocker or cocker Springer as family pet? Educate yourself more about the Springer breed to do a fair comparison.
Another point to consider is if you can handle its health issues. Cocker Spaniels have health issues like hip dysplasia, ear infections, and eye problems. Moreover, Cocker Spaniels require regular professional grooming because of their beautiful, fluffy coats. They are high-maintenance dogs because of regular grooming needs. If you can afford regular grooming costs, get your Cocker today.
FAQ
1. Which Spaniel is the best family dog?
The best Spaniel dogs to buy if you have a child are Cocker Spaniel and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Both breeds are gentle and loving.
2. Are Cocker Spaniels easy to train?
Can you train them easily? Cocker Spaniels are generally calm and loving. They are easy to train because of their pleasant temperament and high intelligence.
3. Are Cocker Spaniels good dogs?
Cocker Spaniels are reliable family dogs in homes with kids and pets. They are the best pets if you can meet their dietary, medical, and grooming needs.
4. Are Cocker Spaniels good with kids?
If you want a Cocker Spaniel for your kids, you are right to get it. This dog can cuddle with kids, play with them, and tolerate silly games to a higher degree. However, ask kids to treat the pet respectfully.
Final Say
Are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs? We believe you have gathered answers from this comprehensive guide. The biggest reason these dogs cannot live with families is aggression. Humans trigger this aggression, as Cocker Spaniels’ are calm, gentle, and kind.
Teach your children to handle a Cocker puppy gently and avoid disturbing it. Secondly, get your puppy from a responsible breeder. They will choose their breeding pairs wisely and give puppies early socialization skills.
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